By Alice Barker
Fifteen goals from Lions spearhead Rhys Nickalls has helped Moreton Bay power to win the QFA Division 3 Premiership in a 64-point affair against Wynnum.
Nickalls, who has now kicked over 100 goals on the season, booted multiple majors in every quarter to seal their way to win the Division 3 crown over the Vikings, 24.11 (155) to 13.13 (91).
The win caps off a remarkable season for both Nickalls and the Lions, who have engaged in an enthralling series of games against Wynnum this season.
In their last encounter it was the Vikings who schooled the Lions, outplaying them by 52-points, although the Lions boast the least wins of the season which put them in good stead heading into the top of the ladder clash.
The opening sequence of the Grand Final didn’t show a lot of promise, with both teams missing opportunities in front of their goals, but it was Wynnum who used the Lions inaccuracy to their advantage as Kehan Parris scored.
Then the game really began, as Lions forward Rhys Nickalls responded, scoring two goals for his side.
For the rest of the quarter, the two sides went goal for goal and displayed an evenly contested match, with Nickalls continuing to damage the scoreboard while Wynnum’s leading goalkicker Nathan Flynn added his influence on the score sheet.
The quarter finished with the Lions boasting a healthy lead, two goals ahead of the away side.
Wynnum came back from the first break with redemption on their mind as Flynn converted two goals onto the scoreboard within the first five minutes to cut the deficit to just four-points.
It didn’t take long though for the Lions to respond and it was Karl Brockman who added another six points to his team’s lead.
Sam Hughes added himself to the Vikings goal kickers booting a goal on the fly who was followed in quick succession with Parris, who scored again.
That run of Vikings majors woke the Lions attack who quickly reiterated their margin all before through and Lukas Ford.
The rest of the term was dominated by the Lions, who scored six of the next seven majors with the final goal of the term on the siren from man of the moment Nickalls.
The third quarter began with Nickalls scoring three goals within the first six minutes, which set the standard for the rest of the term with the Lions consistently capitalising on their healthy lead.
The Vikings picked up their tempo in the final stanza kicking four consecutive goals by the 13th minute, but unfortunately it was too little too late and the home side ran away with the victory.
The performance of the day came from Lions Nickalls as he added 15 goals to his total for the season, now counting 119 goals for his side in 2019.
Jackson Larkins was strong for the Vikings while Samuel Cabrera was an important ball mover for the Lions.
GOALKICKERS: Lions – R. Nickalls 15, K. Wall 2, J. Cullum 2, K. Brockman, L. Ford, K. Castle, H. Wood. Vikings – N. Flynn 5, S. Hughes 3, K. Parris 2, J. Vaughan, R. McCoy.
