SARAH Crowley etched her name into Port Macquarie Pirates rugby folklore with the matchwinning try in their heartstopping 20-19 grand final victory over Coffs Harbour on Saturday.
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With Pirates trailing 19-15 and after the full-time siren, Crowley dived over next to the posts to put Pirates back in front for the first time since early in the second half.
It was a match that followed a similar script to the previous matches between the two sides this season when Snappers surged in the third quarter to put their noses in front.
Pirates coach Michael Reed was ecstatic his side stuck to the script and stole victory from the jaws of defeat.
"The game is not over until the fat lady sings, is it," he said.
"We played to the death and scored on the bell ... it's a dream come true ... a three-peat, how amazing."
Reed and the Pirates would have been forgiven for thinking it wasn't going to be their day when Snappers held a 19-10 lead with 10 minutes remaining, but the Port Macquarie side were not to be denied.
"All year long in that third quarter, Coffs have come out and blitzed us," Reed said.
"We managed to hold on and the last five minutes was awesome football. Both sides played such high standard of footy, it was awesome."
Reed said the victory meant even more with a number of the Pirates playing squad likely to hang up the boots.
"A lot of the girls that we've got are playing probably for their last year," he said.
"They have been there since the beginning, so to send them out on a winning note is a dream come true."
