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CASEY Warriors were left to take second place in Victorian Rugby League’s (VRL) First Grade competition following a 16-48 demolition by Sunbury Tigers.
With the match relocated to Sunbury turf – instead of the slated Casey Fields Rugby Complex after the Warriors’ concerns about the rain forced the switch – Sunbury had all the advantages and made use of the conditions at Langama Park.
Early nerves left Casey on the back-foot as Sunbury capitalised from the first pass.
Carrying on from the 42-22 belting the Tigers gave the Warriors in the semi-finals, Sunbury opened their accounts with four straight tries to leave Casey reeling and on the ropes.
The Warriors started to fight back as Ra Garmonsway crashed over from close range before Shaun Ngawini converted to cut the margin back to 6-18.
Casey had to wait an agonisingly long time to claw in a second as Leki Asa Leausa found some space in the corner to earn the Warriors’ second try.
Number three came once the game was well and truly out of reach as Casey’s Waka Sweet brought the margin back to 26.
Man of the match for the grand final was Sunbury’s Aaron Te Roi.
Casey’s tag women also suffered a defeat in the last match of the year, downed by Werribee Bears 6-22.
