It's been a scintillating season for Hay Lions Football and Netball Club.

Not only are the Seniors football team looking down the barrel of a back-to-back premierships, but there are six football and netball teams vying for premiership glory.

Seniors and Under 14 football teams are throwing on the boots on Saturday to battle for premierships.

A Grade, B Reserve, Under 17 and Under 14 netball teams are also set to thrash it out for the win.

Read the Hay Lions Football and Netball clubs account of the game that led the Seniors into the grand final.

Hay Lions and Ultima Kangaroos played off to see who would take the first grand final spot.

The Lions were at full-strength and Ultima were only down their key forward Deveraux and still had enough quality listed to pose a serious threat.

Ultima took their chances early, bolting out of the blocks and catching the Lions out with their speed and spread of the ball from clearances.

The Lions were off the pace and within 10 minutes the Kangaroos had three unanswered goals on the board, in a near perfect start to their finals campaign.

Though Hay also had early chances, inaccuracy in front of goals resulted in points as the Roos dictated the tempo, while notching up majors to take a handy lead.

Needing something to spark some scoring action, Gus Gardiner steadied the ship.

He calmly slotted the Lions’ first goal from a set shot, to be closely followed by a superb snap from stoppage which effectively narrowed the scoreboard gap at a critical point of the game. Hugh Crighton added the Lions third also from a perfectly weighted snap just before the first break, to ensure the Lions went in with only a three-point deficit at quarter time.

The game swung more in favour of the Lions in the second.

Despite even possession from clearance and inside fifty entries, the Lions made more of their opportunities inside their scoring zone, adding three critical goals while restricting the Roos to four points in total. Jack Headon roved superbly on the end of some handy mid work, kicking the opening goal of the second quarter to put the Lions in front, and they led for the rest of the game.

Though the game was still in the balance at halftime, by the final change it had reached unlikely for the Roos.

Lions had almost doubled their first half total in the third quarter, piling on six goals to their one. The midfield hit their straps with their drive and elite ball usage, something to behold as the forwards got dangerous from all the supply.

While Ultima still had plenty of ball presented inside their fifty, the Lions defence stood up to the pressure, repelling and rebounding straight back out, setting off the attacking chain as they have done all season.

While the Lions took a comfortable 51-point lead into the last, the never say die Ultima still brought the heat. dominating clearances and inside fifty entries as they tried desperately to undo the scoreboard damage.

Despite all the possession and opportunity, they were unable to, and the Lions composed and business like, held tight to win by 49 points. Final score: Hay 14:17 101 Ultima 7:10 52. Goals: Declan Watson 4, Jack Headon 3, Angus Gardiner 2, Paddy Jubb 2, Hugh Crighton 1, Will Collis 1, Jacob Watson 1.

Looking to go back-to-back, the real business begins this Saturday when the Lions face off against the Kangaroos again, in their hunt for repeated September glory.

In the perfect scenario, it doesn’t get any better than a home grand final and the Lions will be counting the sleeps until D Day on home soil with all that local support.

Ultima have a brand of footy that can stand up under pressure.

Lions will have to be switched on from the opening bounce to counteract their play on style and ability to move the ball quickly and accurately into their fifty zone.

However, the key to stopping the Lions in September will be finding a way to nullify all of the midfield, forward and backline weapons.

If they shut someone down, another Lion will rise.

Picking where to start and which player to target defensively will give the rival coach plenty to think about over the coming week.