Stand-off Paul Drake was the inspiration as Bramley Buffaloes put two years of disappointment behind them to win their second Co-op Conference National title.
Bramley Buffaloes 38Huddersfield Underbank 22Drake's kicks led to five of Bramley's seven tries in their 38-22 Grand Final win over Huddersfield Underbank Rangers at Warrington's HJ Stadium.
* Click here to sign up to free news and sport email alerts from Bramley Today.He also added five goals and booted a couple of 40-20's for good measure to claim the David Oxley Medal as Man of the Match.
* Click here to become a fan of Bramley Today on Facebook.Bramley were worthy champions, over the course of the season – having finished five points clear of second-placed Huddersfield on the league ladder – and in an unexpectedly one-sided Grand Final.
* Click here for latest Bramley news.The game was littered with errors and penalties, but Bramley were the stronger side, with centre Matthew Booth scoring a hat-trick and second-row John Elliker leading a big effort by the pack.
Underbank – in the club's 125th anniversary season – competed well during the first half, but four tries in 20 minutes either side of half-time ensured it would be Bramley's day.
Bramley went ahead after two minutes when, on the play after Elliker had been held up over the line, Graham Harrison and Drake linked to put Booth over at the corner.
Drake missed the conversion, but landed a penalty before Underbank levelled, totally against run of play, when Chris Thorley forced his way over between the posts and Neil Barrett added the extras, on 14 minutes.
Five minutes after that, Drake's kick to the corner was batted back by Nicky Fontaine and Matt Mulholland gathered to go over, Drake converting.
Thorley's second try put Bramley's lead to two points after 30 minutes, but Buffaloes commanded the game after that.
Lee St Hilaire dropped Drake's bomb to gift a simple score to Jon Nichols on 32 minutes, Drake improving and soon afterwards, yet another Drake kick was tapped back by Shaun Flynn for Booth's second touchdown.
Drake converted Nichols's try to make it 22-10 at half-time and it was game over just three minutes afterwards when Flynn crossed following good handling by Andy McGann and Simon Speight.
Drake added the conversion, then his pass was collected by Booth for the centre's hat trick, on 48 minutes.
Richard Aka pulled a try back for Huddersfield, goalled by Barrett, with 12 minutes left, but Bramley ended any prospect of a fightback when Elliker dived over from McGann's pass and Drake's goal made it 38-16.
Underbank refused to throw in the towel and St Hilaire stepped through for a consolation try in the final moments, with Barrett converting.
This was Buffaloes fifth successive Grand Final, but only their second success, following their 2006 triumph over Hemel Hempstead.
Bramley Buffaloes: McGann, Fontaine, Mulholland, Booth, Flynn, Drake, Nichols, Leese, Harrison, Gardner, Elliker, Speight, Hulme. Subs (all used): Caston, Pendlebury, Green, O'Connor.
Huddersfield Underbank Rangers: St Hilaire, Midgley, Knight, Mitchell, Aka, Thorley, Barrett, Valentine, Hawkyard, Lofthouse, Keegan, O'Brien, Senior. Subs (all used): Worthington, Vinaka, Bellas, Housley.
Referee: Craig Halloran (Batley).
