The lady Bears would not be denied this time.
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After Dungowan beat them in extra time in last year's league tag finale, North Tamworth made sure they would not suffer heartbreak again - edging Kootingal-Moonbi 10-6 in an absorbing contest at Jack Woolaston Oval on Saturday morning, August 19.
The match-winner came just before the midway stage of the second half and after 10 minutes of gritty football, with North Tamworth benefitting from a pair of penalties to give them much-needed momentum.
![North Tamworth celebrate a win over Kootingal-Moonbi in the league tag grand final at Jack Woolaston Oval on Saturday, August 19. Picture by Gareth Gardner North Tamworth celebrate a win over Kootingal-Moonbi in the league tag grand final at Jack Woolaston Oval on Saturday, August 19. Picture by Gareth Gardner](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/KUhQizDbwW8WqAyPP4x5yp/b09200b6-224e-4387-a28f-29d32d0e3946.JPG/r0_0_7378_4722_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
As she did in the first half, Leica Le Brocq produced a deft grubber. But this time it was Kate Walters who pounced. Amy Barraclough converted from out wide: 10-6 Bears.
With the tension rising, Norths star Dhalara Knox was sin binned for excessive contact - leaving the Bears down a player for the remaining five minutes of the game.
That was soon followed by Kooty's Nikki Berryman being sin binned.
And a minute later, North Tamworth celebrated raucously after a hard-earned victory.
Two weeks ago, Kootingal-Moonbi beat Norths 26-18 in the major semi-final.
Norths captain-coach Steph Halpin said she was feeling "bloody fantastic".
"I'm speechless," she said. "The girls were unreal today. It was a tough game, as you'd expect for a final. So glad to come away with the win."
North Tamworth opened the scoring via an early try to Halpin, who won the race to the ball after a Le Brocq grubber. Barraclough missed the conversion: 4-0 Bears.
Kootingal-Moonbi's reply was quick, with Abby Schmiedel crossing and Monique Corbett adding the extras: 6-4 Kooty.
So, really grateful to be a part of it.
- Steph Halpin
The Bears thought they had a second try when Jorja Barnett raced over in the corner, but it was disallowed.
The remainder of the first half was a back-and-forth affair as both sides probed for weaknesses, with none found: 6-4 to Kooty at the break.
Halpin said "the girls have just worked their butts off all season, and today dug really, really deep".
"So, really grateful to be a part of it," she added.
North Tamworth's Kate Ferguson was the player of the match.
NORTH TAMWORTH 10 (Steph Halpin, Kate Walters tries; Amy Barraclough goall) d KOOTINGAL-MOONBI 6 (Abby Schmiedel try; Monique Corbett goall). Player of the match: Kate Ferguson.
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