Richmond Rabbits centre Zane Lyttle’s grand final winning try was something to enjoy for the man who’d battled to come back from injury.
His try with eight minutes remaining sealed the Tasman Rugby League competition win for his team 22-20 against a spirited Wanderers Wolves, at Trafalgar Park on Saturday,
The Wolves led 20-18 having battled back in tricky conditions from an 18-8 halftime deficit.
Zane’s try in the right hand corner sent the Rabbits fans into ecstasy. “The boys gave me the ‘get up and go’ chat, and I knew the ball would be coming my way and I had to step up.”
Zane is in his third year with the Rabbits having won the title with them in his first season at the club in 2014.
However, it was his first time in a Rabbits jersey in a grand final, having broken his ankle in the semi-finals last time.
“With the boys that we have it’s an honour just to be selected.”
The 23-year-old won a TRL title with the Stoke Cobras and praised God for giving him the strength and ability to play.
It looked like Wolves would win their first ever title when their gritty second half fightback, helped by a Rabbits’ sin-binning, landed them two points in front.
However, with four lead changes in the contest there was always the prospect of more points being scored and that’s what Lyttle’s try represented. Maloni Soane scored twice for the Rabbits, while Wolves’ Simon Duncan scored a try and kicked four goals for an impressive individual display in a losing effort.
