In an emotionally charged game, the Panthers took on the Taree Sharks determined to win last Friday night.

The players had extra time to stoke up their fire, after the women’s preceding grand final match went into extra time.

Within the first five minutes, Gloucester took hold of the lead with Paul Rosenbaum scoring quickly off a short corner.  

The Sharks were like fish out of water, not knowing what to do against a team they had beaten at the last two meetings.

Before the Sharks could respond, the Panthers were on the prowl. Jack Davis sat waiting at the edge of the goal to convert a perfect pass from Mark Coombes, taking the score to 2-0.

At this point the Sharks retaliated and stepped up their offensive pressure.

They closed ranks, keeping the Panthers out of scoring position.

Their first shot on goal, caught high in the back of the net, was disallowed as a dangerous ball. 

Shortly after, they returned to the goal and successfully scored.

At half time the score sat at 2-1 for the Panthers.

The second half of the game was a constant battle between the teams over possession of play.

Despite the Sharks continued ability to steal the ball, they seemed to lack the co-ordination to work as a team.

Their defence however kept Gloucester from scoring any additional points.

With a minute to go and a short corner to the Panthers, it became clear Gloucester would hold the premiership.  

Gloucester Panthers coach, Mark Coombes said the win was two years in the making after encouraging some new players through an indoor hockey competition.

“Then I threw the young ones in the deep end,” he said.

A decision that turned out to be the right one.

Gloucester men’s hockey team used to dominate across all divisions of the Manning Valley competition since the mid 1950s.

But they haven’t won since 1989, with the last division three win in 1988.