With the names of two players Eddie Allen and Jay Stewart, who had died in the past four weeks, on the team sheet and facing the Minor Premiers, Byron Bay, Marist Brothers Rams Under 18s sided has reached the Grand Final in almost impossible odds.

Under 18s Coach John Love and his assistants Troy Macrae and Jamie Davis and the players deserve all the praise as their side won a memorable match against Byron 34-24. Byron had beaten them 28-14 on September 20.

After a tumultuous month which saw two team-mates killed, Marist Brothers Rams Under 18s are into the Grand Final. Photo: Christine Butcher

After an enthusiastic start with Byron forced immediately on the defensive, Marist Brothers crossed first with a try to centre Harry Sivewright. Sivewright's try was converted by Elliott Speed.

After Marist Brothers nearly crossed again, Byron Bay worked it down into the Rams territory and winger Sean Hartley scored a fine try in the corner, which was not converted.

It was 6-4 to Marist Brothers at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Brothers' Under 18s full-back Speed scored a fine try, bursting through on the right edge. He failed to convert his own try. Byron Bay came back with two converted tries.

However Marist Brothers Under 18s would not lie down and a kick through under the posts from Jye Davis was dived on for a try by Kyle Maluta, which Speed converted to put Rams ahead by two points. Byron then converted a penalty to level the scores.

From a penalty just inside their own half, Speed converted a penalty to put Brothers ahead by two points. Then centre Campbell Harvey took the resulting kick-off inside his own half, kicked ahead and chased down the ball to regather and sprint under the points for a fantastic try. Speed converted to make it 26-18 at half-time.

Campbell Harvey has regathered his kick ahead and is speeding to the Byron Bay try line. Photo: Christine Butcher

Byron Bay scored early in the fourth quarter, with a converted try, to bring it back to 24-26. However from the resultant kick off with the seconds counting down, Elliott Speed produced a brilliant kick that forced a Byron Bay player to take the ball into touch. Rams took the ball from the Byron Bay drop-out the Rams controlled the football. Then Jye Davis ran across and took the ball. As he took the tackle, Davis produced a magic pass to send second row forward Kurt Roberson over for a try, which Speed converted. The Rams led 32-24 and a place in the Grand Final was assured.

Marist Brothers Rams Under 18s: Elliott Speed, Kyle Maluta, Harry Sivewright, Campbell Harvey, Will Sivewright, Jye Davis, Zyd Thomas, Jack Elmore, Cooper Love, Lachlan Watts, Nyah Schrivelle, KurtRoberson, Hudson Love, Marko Andonov, Lennox Rowe, Riley Cox, Jaylan Stewart, Troy Hepburn, Eddie Allen