The Marist Brothers Rams and the Ballina Seagulls played out a nail biter in a seesawing match in Ballina on Sunday.

The Seagulls got off to a strong start with a try to prop Cam Copeland after just five minutes, but Rams halfback Jacob Follent was able to level up the scores just minutes later.

The Follent try was converted by winger Harry Cusack to give the visitors a narrow 6-4 lead.

Ballina hooker Mick Dwayne then strolled over beside the posts to give Ballina back the lead and Reece Riches slotted the conversion for a 10-6 scoreline.

Just minutes later, Isaac Lee scored down the left edge, which was converted by Cusack to see the lead change again 12-10 to Brothers.

Six minutes later, the Seagulls were then the first team to score back to back tries, with five-eighth Jordan Lee diving over, which was converted by Riches and then young centre Damon Coldwell barged over to see Ballina lead 20-12 at the main break.

The Seagulls came out firing early in the second half, running hard and straight, bending the Rams defensive line.

Man of the Match, Mick Dwayne scored his second try just four minutes after the resumption of play, with a strong run close to the line. Lock Caleb Kinna converted to give the home side their biggest lead of the match 26-12.

The Rams backline then clicked into action with two tries in three minutes. Fullback Hezakiah McKenzie was on the end of a good pass from Fred Pitt and this was followed up with a try to Cusack in the right hand corner. The Rams had reduced the score to 26-20 with 20 minutes left on the clock.

The match then turned into an arm wrestle, with plenty of feeling and passion shown between the two sides.

With just five minutes left in the match McKenzie scored his second try from a 20m scrum and the match was in the balance, with Cusack's conversion being waved away.

Fatigue began to play a part for the Rams, with just two interchanges used throughout the match and most forwards playing the full 80 minutes.

Unfortunately for the Rams, time was not on their side and the Seagulls eventually took the match 26-24, retaining the Dennis Meaney Shield for 2022.