A little over two minutes left on the clock the chant begins "Parra, Parra".
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The Parramatta Eels trail the Penrith Panthers by four after a second-half arm wrestle.
The crowd is split almost perfectly down the middle, half letting out a roar of cheers and the others a gasp of desperation as the Eels appear to fumble possession.
However, the Panthers spill possession inside their own 30 and the Eels are back on the attack with about one minute forty on the clock.
Rookie John Fonua was the one to spin and twist his way through the Panthers' defenders to score the try as the clock whittled down.
But the conversion drifted right of the posts on the buzzer and the 5500-strong crowd were declared the winners as Parramatta and Penrith had to settle for a 22-22 draw.
The Panthers had earlier looked like the better team defensively, holding out good passages of Parramatta attacking pressure.
But, despite bombing a kick on the full, Mitchell Moses had provided some heroics to keep the Eels in the contest, bagging two tries with some neat stepping and speed.
Penrith had focused largely on the ruck, while the Eels were a bit more willing to push wide with their plays, but a few right edge options went wanting with Blake Ferguson having a hit-and-miss appearance.
Nathan Cleary and Josh Mansour had been able to cut through the Eels' defense and posted a try each for the Panthers, while winger Brian To'o had found just enough wiggle room on the flank to beat the blue and yellow to the line.
The Eels had got the edge by midway through the second half, but the Panthers had regained the lead with about 12 minutes to play when Brendan Hands made a spectacular break and stepped the Parra fullback in brilliant style to dive over the line in front of the roaring crowd at the southern end of the Bega Recreation Ground.
Those at the ground hailed the result as probably the best outcome possible with more than one Bega household split on which team they were backing for the day.
The game was televised and budding fans got the chance to meet announcers like Peter Sterling, Brad Fitler and Erin Molan out in force for their respective channels.
But a focus was the NRL showing solace with the Far South Coast for the Super Sapphire trial and performances by local acts Sam Stevenson and Daisy Boyle - with a little help from dual international sister Millie - hit the mark.
Cobargo's Blake Salway made the ball presentation before play, while Colleen Dixon had voiced the traditional Welcome to Country.
Minor league clubs also played at half-time in front of the sell-out crowd with Bega juniors facing Narooma, while Merimbula-Pambula and Bombala clashed on the other side of the ground.
The last piece of the puzzle was filled when both clubs lined up to thank volunteer organisations including the RFS, Ambulance Service, Police, the Australian Defence Force and others.
High profile guests also included NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Bega MP Andrew Constance, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and Fire Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.