THAT is cruel.
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Three words that best sum up Hastings Valley Vikings' heartbreaking 25-24 under-14 grand final defeat to Southern Cross University Marlins on Saturday.
The Vikings surged home after trailing 20-5 early in the second half with goalkicker Ethan Tombs' sideline conversion waving away after the siren to hand Marlins back-to-back premierships.
Hastings Valley assistant coach Mark Tombs admitted grand final nerves got the better of his side in the first half before they clicked into gear, ultimately falling just short.
"Sometimes there has to be a winner and a loser and today they lost," he said.
"The way they fought their way back in the second half showed a lot of courage to come back from where they were."
Harper Murray crossed out wide after the siren to give the minor premiers a chance of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, but it wasn't to be.
They couldn't get out of their own end in the first stanza which saw the Marlins hold a 15-5 lead at the break.
"Usually we come out all guns blazing, but this time it didn't happen so we had to do the catch-up again," Tombs said.
"They wanted it more than what we did."
A half-time rev-up saw the Vikings come out a more committed and direct outfit in the second half with forwards Mick Vandoros and Bede Munro leading the way.
"They had to do something to get back into it," Tombs said.
"They did well and I'm very proud of them, it's just the way things happen sometimes.
"You turn up to play and things don't go your way."