GLENELG Region Hockey Association capped off its 2023 season with an outstanding night of grand finals at Brian Roberts Field on Friday, with Bulls overcoming arch rivals, Rams to lift the men’s Division One premiership trophy after winning 2-0.

The two teams had met previously four times across the season and the Rams had held the Bulls measure by claiming victory on three occasions and the side came into the grand final as warm favourites on that form, despite Bulls finishing atop the ladder.

Only once had the Bulls tasted success against the Rams and that was way back in round seven when they won 4-2, but finals do strange things to teams that are expected to win and so it was for Rams.

The two teams were the dominant sides in the grade and finished first and second with the Rams trailing the Bulls by only a point after 15 hard fought rounds.

With the game played under lights and the conditions cold and damp, the players displayed great skill in both attack and defence as the ball raced from one end of the field to the other.

It was defence orientated game as each passing quarter going by without the scoreboard changing from nil-all as both goal keepers performing brilliantly to stop all shots on goal.

It was an hour into the game before the Rams defensive structure cracked and Tim Dean pounced on the ball to put it in the back of the net and put Bulls ahead by a goal.

From there Rams were playing catchup hockey as they looked to level the scores but Gordon Last put the final nail in Rams premiership hopes with a second goal for Bulls and leave them with an unassailable lead.

James Broad was named player of the match with a mercurial display that gave Bulls the edge, but the whole side played great hockey just as Rams had done also to give the season the grand final it deserved.