Balmain TIGERS - 2012 NSWRLL SG Ball Cup Champions (Photo : OurFootyMedia)

The Balmain Tigers have ended a 30 year championship drought by claiming the 2012 SG Ball Cup with a 42-20 win over a highly fancied Canberra Raiders outfit at St Marys.

Doubles to Nathan Milone and destructive second-rower Daniel Rakvin helped the Tigers to a 26 point second half which eventually blew the Raiders off the park.

Balmain's halves combination of Mitchell Moses, who was Man of the Match, and Mark Daoud were outstanding playing against a very physical Raiders outfit and there was plenty of feeling in the game with a number of scuffles breaking out throughout the match.

The Tigers were first to score through their centre Nathan Milone in the 4th minute but it was the Raiders who then dominated for most of the half as they ran in two tries to Rourke O'Sullivan and Scott Doyle to lead 10-6.

Balmain responded late in the half though with back to back tries to Leva Li and Rhys Armstrong to take a 16-10 lead into half time.

The best for the Tigers were Moses, second-rower Daniel Ravkin and centre Nathan Milone, while for the Raiders, Anthony Milford, centre Brenko Lee and prop Mitchell Shaw all put in solid performances.

The Tigers progress through to the National Junior Representative Championship against Townsville. The match will be played in Brisbane next weekend.

Balmain Tigers 42 (D Ravkin 2, N Milone 2, L Li, R Armstrong, A Zarounas tries; M Farrell 7 goals) def. Canberra Raiders 20 (A Milford, S Doyle, J Chudleigh, R O'Sullivan tries; A Milford 2 goals)