Keebra Park celebrate winning the Northern Confrence QLD gio Schoolboy Cup

Petro & Phil present gio Most Trusted Player of the Grand Final to Keebra Park's Paul Karaiana

Keebra Park Skipper David Fifita thanks his team and the crowd

Perhaps the most obvious manifestation of excitement was the incessant “BANG, BANG, BIDDELY BONG” of drums that gave the event a little of the razzamataz usually reserved for Cheer leading competitions or American College football games.

And as the last “BING BIDELY BONG” of the drum line subsided it was Keebra Park to kick off and they sent the ball rocketing down to Marsden’s in-goal.

The first encounters were hard fought with defenders working hard to win the tackle with the ball runners fighting equally has hard in finding their fronts and getting a quick play the ball.

A bomb off the back of Marsden’s first attacking set left all in no doubt that their game plan would be focussed on attempting to upset Keebra’s momentum rather than build pressure and while this method can yield results it can equally be fraught with danger and Marsden began to tread a fine line.

As the game progressed it was Keebra who despite Marsden’s best efforts of disruption, managed to keep their composure and crossed for two early tries that had a 15th minute score of 10-0.

On both occasions Marsden’s restarts were short and bobbly and while Keebra managed to negotiate these they did concede an intercept try while probably trying too much too early in an attacking foray down the left edge.

At 10-6, Marsden were right back in the game and a flurry of tactical, headgear removing and boot throwing saw them step up the disruption to a higher level.

Late in the half Keebra managed to regain the momentum and with another try and a disallowed effort, headed to the sheds at 14-6. Marsden had enjoyed some success with their game plan and all credit to them for defending in numbers and scrambling across field to deny the Gold Coasters.

The atmosphere was building and the scene was set for a second half with all still to play for.

The second half seemed to follow the same pattern as the first with Keebra first to score again, giving themselves an 18-6 lead that would blow out to 22-6 within 15 minutes.

Marsden dug deep and managed to turn the momentum yet again and looked dangerous and never out of the competition.

They crossed the line themselves in the 50th minute and at 22-10 were still a chance.

As the time ticked down, so did the likelihood of a comeback and with 4 minutes to go the big number ten from Keebra crossed under the sticks to seal the game and give Keebra a deserved 28-10 victory.

Having been lucky enough to be around elite schoolboy football for the last 15 years or so, I realise the time and effort coaches, players and the wider school community, put in to getting teams into State Finals and I have nothing but admiration for all involved.

Marsden had probably their best year of football and gave Keebra the game they needed as they head into the National Final against either the Hills or Westfields Sports High Schools. Many young men learnt valuable lessons today that will stand them in good stead to become better community members and in that respect they are all winners.