The Blacks defeated Wanderers 22-11 in the Newcastle and Hunter Junior Rugby Union under-16 season decider at Waratah Oval on Saturday after finishing the season in fourth spot.

The Blacks slipped into the finals series after surging home in the second half of the year.

The surge continued in the play-offs with a 34-19 win against Singleton in the minor semi-final and a nail biting 3-0 triumph over minor premiers Nelson Bay in the closing stages of the preliminary final last weekend.

The momentum carried over to the grand final where the Blacks proved too strong for the Two Blues.

Wanderers started well with two penalties, which gave the Two Blues a 6-0 lead, before winger Josh Bower scored the Blacks first try to close the gap to one.

Bower crossed for his second, this time from an intercept, on the stroke of half-time to put the Blacks ahead 12-6 at the break.

“He turned the first half around,” Blacks coach Grant Mahony said.

And Bower did so with an injured knee that almost kept him out of the big game.

“He could hardly walk but as he warmed up before the game it was a bit better,” Mahony said.

“But I said to him it was his call on what he wanted to do and he said he wanted to play.”

It meant that he was virtually chaired off during the second half but Bower had given his team a valuable lead.

Wanderers scored first in the second half to make it 12-11 but a converted try to Ben Youngman and a field goal to Grant Stewart put the result beyond doubt for the Blacks.

Mahony also praised the “booming” kicking game of Stewart and the work ethic of all his players, especially in defence.

“They were just so committed... and we were a bit more enthusiastic,” Mahony said

Nathan Mahony, Michael Bucklee and Charlie Redman - who broke his leg in last weekend’s final win - were all injured but watched the game from the sideline.

The Blacks under-12s 1s were not as fortunate against the undefeated minor premiers Nelson Bay going down 5-0 in a thrilling encounter.

The Blacks, who defeated club mates from the under-12 2s to reach the season decider, went close to Nelson Bay once again but could not quite get across the line.

The Blacks - the only team in the competition to get near the Bay - were beaten by the same 5-0 scoreline during the regular season and also had a 5-all draw with the Port Stephens based club during the year.

No senior teams qualified for this weekend’s Newcastle and Hunter rugby union senior grand finals.