There were emotional scenes in Narooma last weekend when the Snowy River Bears Rugby League Club ended a long 28-year drought to win the Group 16 first grade competition.

The game was a true grand final encounter, the Bears fighting until the very end to defeat the Eden Tigers 20-12 in what was a tense encounter for the entire 80 minutes.

When the fulltime siren sounded, players were hugging each other and the large crowd of Bears supporters who had made the journey to the coast erupted with applause and rushing the field to congratulate the team.

The Bears last won the first grade premiership in 1996, when a Mark Wakefield (ex Cronulla player) led side defeated the Eden Tigers 18-0.

To start the game the Bears endured constant pressure from Eden, the first ten minutes of the game saw Eden on the front foot and threatening the Bears, but they could not convert their early dominance into points.

The game turned when Bears winger Jake Hedger scored a brilliant try in the right corner on the 13-minute mark. Having to beat two defenders from several metres out, Hedger spun in the tackle and used pure strength to plant the ball down for an emphatic individual try.

Bears break 28 year drought to claim first grade league premiership. - Snowy Mountains Magazine