A big crowd gathered at The Entrance Stadium as the undefeated Central Coast Falcons played host to North Melbourne, whose dramatic last ditch win against Gold Coast saw them scrape into a final showdown with the Falcons and their Falconite army. After a performance by Frenzal Rhomb and a fireworks display, the game got underway, Braith Anasta lofting it high as the crowd roared with anticipation.

Both clubs are Bob Fulton Cup virgins, and it showed in North Melbourne’s early play- Mark Calderwood dropping it only two tackles in to give the Falcons an ideal opportunity to post first points. A solid set was repelled by an equally solid set in defence, with Desi Kadima charging onto a long pass and just missing it- averting a try but giving the home side six more tackles. It took five for Braith Anasta to palm off Kirchner and go in out wide for an early 4-0 lead. Hazem El Masri was unable to convert from out wide.

The try didn’t settle the Falcons down, and a few plays later they were guilty of stupid play and over-zealous passing, the ball going to ground and giving North Melbourne their chance. Stinging defence from Walker and Price had the Maulers’ rattling in their chests, before a late tackle on Ben Kirchner gave away a penalty on the last. The hero of last week stepped up, Dominik Bush hitting the conversion from in front to bring it back to 4-2.

In the eighth minute El Masri returned the margin to four with a penalty of his own, slotting one over for twenty five out after referee Bill Harrigan caught Nathan Long offside. The return set was poor, and a sloppy last tackle option saw the ball in North Melbourne’s hands on the halfway, before a piggy back penalty for play the ball infringements got their right downfield. A quick tap and some lazy defence was all it took for Robbie Kearns to storm over and score the softest of tries. Bush was again equal to the task, making it 8-6 in the 11th minute.

The ten twenty minutes of play were more settled, but no less exciting. The Maulers continually turned to their flashy backs to get easy metres, whilst the Falcons weren’t adverse to bashing forward with their tough as nails forward pack. Through all of this it was Matt Utai who really shone, continually pestering and punishing the Maulers defence. Two tries were disallowed in the passage- North Melbourne missing out due to a knock on in goal, and the Falcons found to be offside after Brent Sherwin slotted in a dangerous grubber.

The next points didn’t come until the 32nd minute, when last week’s big stars combined to put the Maulers in again. A quality short ball from Paul Sculthorpe put pacey winger Marc Calderwood down the side, and despite the pursuit of Hazem El Masri, he went dangerously close to scoring before Robbie O’Davis came across in cover defence. A quick play the ball and an amazing long ball from Bush put Kirchner into open pastures, the hooker sliding over virtually untouched to make it 12-6. Bush again converted, and the score leading into halftime was set at 14-6 in favour of the visitors and underdogs.

The Maulers were over again from the kick-off after Kirchner put up a cheeky bomb on the second. The spiralling ball was plucked from the air from Desi Kadima, but the South African international was ruled offside after racing the length of the field with Vagana and Walker in pursuit. The Central Coast’s miracles kept coming after another apparently legitimate try was denied for ‘double movement’ after it looked as if Paul Wellens had grounded it legitimately despite the attentions of O’Davis. Despite the suspect calls, the Maulers managed to close out the first half, and when the siren went- they lead 14-6.

HALFTIME: Central Coast 6 trail North Melbourne 14

If fans were admiring North Melbourne’s offensive capabilities in the first half, it was their brutal defence that had fans leaning forward in their seats from wo to go. The Maulers forwards knuckled down and delivered the big hits- resulting in Braith Anasta being helped from the field with a possible concussion after Jason Priest’s driving tackle. Norton experienced the tenacious defence firsthand as well, muscled into touch by Calderwood and Kadima while trying to make some room for Vagana.

The effort spent in defence drained the Maulers’ in offence however, and where they’d sparkled through the first forty, the 2002 premiers struggled to string passes together as the game wound on. Not that it mattered, the Falcons left directionless after Anasta’s departure. It really came down to who scored next. If Central Coast could score, they’d break North Melbourne’s spirits and lift their own. But North Melbourne held the hammer high above the final nail, ready to drive it into the coffin. The blow came when Marc Calderwood latched onto a stupid Sherwin long ball- the Falcons too tired to match the pace of the Welshman. The young star rushed downfield with only O’Davis in his way. To the former Queensland fullback’s credit, he kept up long enough to make the conversion difficult- and Bush missed it to leave it at 18-6 and give the home side some glimmer of hope.

The Falcons tried their hardest, but lacking their usual playmaker and tired from a defensively intense second half- they were never a real chance of a draw, let alone a win. As the game wound down, a few of Central Coast’s younger guns got a bit fired up- Dean Walker and Sebastian Azema both cautioned for fighting after they threw some sneaky blows at Kirchner and Kearns. The fulltime siren sounded and North Melbourne had won their first Bob Fulton Cup, and begun the long walk back to premiership success.

FULLTIME:
North Melbourne 18
Ben Kirchner
Robbie Kearns
Marc Calderwood
Dominik Bush 3/4
def.
Central Coast 6
Braith Anasta
Hazem El Masri 1/2

MAN OF THE MATCH: Robbie Kearns
Marc Calderwood.......2 points
Matt Utai...................1 point

A top Bob Fulton Cup Grand Final I think, full credit to the North Melbourne side and their coach John. They played their hardest and brought their best game with them but this isn't a lose for the Falcons. We've learnt alot thoughout this tournament which will help our quest for a Premiership. I personally am not disappointed about the result and although I would have liked us to win, just being in the Final is an honour.

We will be looking forward to the first round of the ASRL competition where we meet local rival Hawkesbury.

First off I would like to thank my boys for giving me my first taste of true success (2001 was my alter ego/coach John Wilson), some of the boys are still here from that game but the youngsters such as Calderwood, Preist and Ricardo its their first taste of big game football and they came through like veterans, I'd especially like to single out Marc Calderwood as being the Maulers player of the tournament, he really has blown me away with his performances.
I'd like to thank Coach Magro and his incredible Falcons for a great game, they really pushed our resolve to the limit, also to chris and his courageous crusade making to the final round only to be knocked out by his brothers right foot :) .
As for what this season holds for the maulers, we're looking for a very big year and start on the road to take the crusades mantle as the bench mark.