NORTH Footscray claimed the WRFL division two premierships after one of the most tense last quarters in recent memory.

After being down for most of the game, the Devils shot out to a 13-point lead in the final term before hanging on to a five-point win over Parkside, with the final score reading 11.13 (79) to 10.14 (74).

It was the first time since 1983 that North Footscray’s first team won a grand final, and all the built up emotion of the past 27 years spilled forth from players, coaches and fans as a sea of red and white supporters flooded onto the Chirnside Park oval when the siren rang.

The siren could not have come any sooner as the ball was locked in Parkside’s forward 50 for the final two minutes – two long minutes where the ball was lost under a mountain of players fighting desperately to either get it out of the scrum or keep it locked in.

The Magpies were valiant losers – they had the better of the Devils for much of the match, but could not get away to a commanding lead.

North Footscray’s dynamic on-baller Samuel Kater, playing in his first year for the Devils and incredibly in his 10th successive grand final, won the Rex Swann medal for best on ground.