'We are playing so much better now', noted Locke Harbour flanker Josh Papanelo.  'We beat the Pirates, so we are like awwww give [us] a few more games to catch up'.

Yet alas it is not to be.  The Locke Harbour Dragons fought well against a Pearson Pirates squad.  After the first half it was deadlocked at 7-7.  The Dragons came out on fire at the start of the second half with winger Make Anderson scoring an early try.  With the convert missed however it stood at 12-7.

The Dragons for most of the half could not push it over.  At the 85th minute just as it seemed time was about out for the Pirates, lock Alex Thompson got a line out and punched through the Locke Harbour line and was gone.

________________________________________

'it is disappointing cause we are now the best team out there...'

-Keith Wright, Dragons coach.

________________________________________

'They kept jumping high to try and take our line-outs so we thought we would go a lot lower this time and it worked.  I got the ball and plowed through 'em quick,' noted Thompson.  This time the conversion was good and now it was the Pirates who had the lead at 14-12 with time almost out.

'I was worried,' noted flyhalf Owen Clarke.  Clarke soon however found out that he need not be worried.

The Dragons started pressing the Pirates again on the kick forcing a knock on.  The Dragons won the scrum and sent the ball out to their backs.  Clarke to inside centre Sam Walley and then as noted by Dragons sportscaster Jim Wilson, '...Clarke passes it to Walley, drop kick, it's through, it's through, Dragons take the lead on a beautiful drop goal by Sam Walley, the fans in Champions Heaven are going nuts...'.  

A few minutes later the game was done, Locke Harbour had won but still because they did not get the bonus point would miss the playoffs.

In the Dragons locker room it was extremely quiet after the match, despite winning.  Coach & GM Keith Wright noted after that, 'it is disappointing cause we are now the best team out there but we will be back next year.'

When asked about the Pirates chances in the playoffs he just noted, 'they're still not in yet', and walked away.

RUGBY CHAMPIONS LISTING

The Pirates managed to block this kick, however the Dragons were the ones in the end who, despite winning, got the boot from the post-season.