Shoalhaven's perfect season continued on Saturday as they saw off a gallant Avondale 42-19 to advance to their second grand final on the trot.
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Keiran Brandon was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick of tries in the reigning premiers 17th straight win in 2023.
Brandon also set up a try for Jett Fraser in his man-of-the-match showing.
Shoals started the better at Shoalhaven Rugby Park and raced to a 7-0 lead after one minute and 30 seconds after Keiran Brandon regathered a kick from his brother Mark Brandon to score out wide.
Though the minor premiers'plans were soon thrown out as inspirational player-coach Will Miller limped off with an apparent hamstring injury.
He was already playing out of position in the centres for the unavailable Jack Watts,
Mark Brandon duly converted the opening try but it took the Wombats little time to hit back and they were soon level after Joshua King's try under the post was converted by fly-half Cooper Hansen
Keiran Brandon added two more tries, both after regathering kicks in behind, the latter from his own boot, to see the home side head to the halftime break 22-7 ahead.
![Keiran Brandon crosses for his first of three tries in Shoalhaven's 42-19 victory over Avondale. Picture by Sylvia Liber Keiran Brandon crosses for his first of three tries in Shoalhaven's 42-19 victory over Avondale. Picture by Sylvia Liber](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/kZL4qV6yTxfrWZJxKQxjSN/b54b4f67-7899-4e32-ad48-572b3162f976.jpg/r0_279_3809_2429_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Mark Brandon got in the try-scoring act when he picked up a loose ball midway through the second half to extend Shoalhaven's lead to 27-7.
But Avondale refused to lie down and reduced the deficit to only 13 points after Tevita Vea's barnstorming try was converted by Hansen.
Though Shoalhaven quickly showed why they have gone through the season undefeated , crossing for two quick tries to put the game to bed.
The first was created and scored by Harri Hibbs, with Keiran Brandon then setting up a brilliant try for Jett Fraser.
Avondale's best player and perhaps one of the best on the day, Tevita Vea scored his second late on to cap off another great personal outing.
Three-try hero Keiran Brandon said it was "surreal" to be playing in a second straight grand final.
"It's even better that it's happening with my brothers and all the boys," he said.
"When you got your brothers there to support you and play alongside, it's a really good feeling."
All three Brandons contributed to the qualifying final win, with Steven instrumental from the back and Mark contributing 14 points courtesy of a try, three conversions and a penalty goal.
Skipper George Miller was also a colossus up the middle, while his brother Will said after the match he hoped to recover from his hamstring strain in time for the grand final.
Miller said time will tell if the week off will allow him enough time to recover and play in the decider.
"It'll be good just for all the boys to get a week to rest and recover a bit and see how we go," he said.
"Jack [Watts] also didn't play so we're hopeful the week off will also be enough time for him to recover and play.
"Things obviously didn't go to plan for us today in terms of late withdrawals and injuries but the boys really stepped up and found a way to win. It was really good.
"Even when they get that momentum and roll on, we could keep working back and working for each other and I think that work rate sort of held us in good stead as they came at us late in the second half.
"I think it started opening up a little bit more for Stevie there a bit but that's all from the work that's been done early and the foundation early in sticking with them and then keeping that intensity when it gets later in the game, because they got some big boys.
"It's great to play really well as a team and be able to stand up to that and come away with the result."
Avondale live to fight another day and will play the winner of Sunday's elimination final between Kiama and Campbelltown Harlequins, next week.
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