First-year coach Matthew Ryan has moulded the team into a cohesive, effective unit, especially over the past month. They won their first premiership and Ted Eager Shield since 2002 in impressive fashion, despite losing key player Dave Fleming with a dislocated shoulder 15 minutes into the match.

Fleming was replaced by Bill Hines, who was also injured, meaning captain James Bell had to move into the front row.

The Boars scored their first try five

minutes into the match, and another one 10 minutes before half time, they lead 15-6 at the break.

Shark’s fly-half Joel Anderson missed two shots for penalty goal in the first half, perhaps an indication that it wasn’t going to be the home side’s day.

The Boars controlled the second half and added two tries to the scoreboard.

Ryan, a premiership coach at just 25, is delighted with the evolution of his side.

“This is what we have trained for all year, and we put it together on the day,” he said.

Ryan had said his side was capable of better football than they played in the final against Broulee, and they did so on Saturday.

“We picked it up a notch when we had to,” he said.

“I knew if we made it a try-scoring match rather than a goal-kicking match we could come away with a win.”

Sharks captain Rocky Allen had no doubt the better side won.

“The Bay wanted it more on the day,” he said.

“They came out and dominated in the forwards and we weren’t up to their pace at the breakdown and their vigorous breakdown itself. They gave their backs plenty of room to spread the ball and score points.”

Allen said the Boars performed well to a man.

“Their captain James Bell was effective, and Chris Ryan (scrum half) put a lot of pressure on our scrum half (Matt McGovern).”

Allen said his team played their best football in the semi-final win over Broulee.

“We couldn’t replicate that on Saturday.”

Sharks president Rod Walters said the atmosphere of the match was considerably enhanced by the two bus-loads of Batemans Bay supporters in the crowd.

“We’d like to thank the Bay supporters for coming down, as there were many of them and the majority of them were quite good,” he said.