By Chris W.B
The Maulers and Cannons, two sides undefeated in the 2002 ASRL Finals Series, met with a Grand Final berth and a home Grand Final both on the line.

The game shaped up as a passionate and defensive game, highlighted by some big hits and some breathtaking passages of free flowing attack. Both sides exhibited plenty of flare early on, particularly Manly, who narrowly missed scoring a try after Stacey Jones chipped and chased, only to have his legs swept from beneath him centimetres from the line by Luke Phillips.

The first try came after ten minutes, Awen Guttenbiel making a half-break and scoring a freakish one-armed offload to put Matt Sing into space. The bench centre found Aaron Moule, who skipped away from the defense. To his credit, Luke Phillips chased to the death, forcing Moule to score out wide, and resulting in a missed conversion and a 4-0 lead to Manly.

The Maulers were struggling, and Manly looked like they were in control, a seventy metre passage of play, involving most of the team, ending with Mat Rogers running around to score underneath the black dot. Rogers converted his own try, and the Cannons lead 10-0 after fifteen minutes.

Manly were straight back onto the attack from the kick-off, the Maulers offside from the kick-off, but some admirable defence from the Maulers kept them out. A piggy-back penalty had North Melbourne on the attack, Ben Kusto dancing through some complacent defence to score a try. The conversion was waved away, and Manly lead 10-4.

Both sides battled for the remainder of the half, none able to score through scrambling defence from both sides.

HALF TIME: Manly 10 lead North Melbourne 4

It didn't take long for North Melbourne to equalise after the break, Andrew Walker capitalising on a 3 on 2 advantage to race down the sideline and score. He converted his own try, and the scoreline was 10 apiece.

Neither side could skip away to a clean break, exchanging penalties to have it at 12-12 with about twenty remaining. Manly's impatience hurt them, and Walker scored three penalties to finish it at 18-12 in favour of North Melbourne.

Scenes of elation were commonplace throughout Melbourne, the Victorian faithful rewarded with their side first into the Grand Final, and the promise of a full-house in two weeks time.

NORTH MELBOURNE: 18
Andrew Walker
Ben Kusto
Walker 5/6
def.
MANLY: 12
Mat Rogers
Aaron Moule
Rogers 2/3
PoM Points:
Andrew Walker 3
Luke Phillips 2
Mat Rogers 1