The Lions won 33-30 to go a long way to securing the minor premiership and a home ground major semi-final.

They lead the Bears by two points with two rounds remaining after this weekend’s general bye.

In a game that ebbed and flowed, there was never more than four or six points in it until Matt Nean kicked a field goal in the 75th minute to sneak the Lions out to a 33-26 advantage.

Even still, the Bears kept finding, with captain-coach Zac Russ finishing off a couple of plays ignited by a long jinking run from halfback Scott Blanch.

West led 4-nil and 8-4 before the Bears struck to grab a 10-8 lead when Brock Wadwell grasped a bad bounce from a Bears’ line dropout  to run 70m and score.

West replied just a minute or two later, with captain-coach Phil Beaton crossing wide for his second try after a wide Sean Nean pass.

Four minutes later and North were back in front when Ky RuRu ran on to a neat short ball from Blanch to race 60m and score but West reclaimed the lead just before halftime when another Sean Nean pass found little winger Josh Moncaster unmarked and he scurried over for a 20-16 halftime lead.

Blanch levelled the scores at 20-all with a good dummy and run 12 minutes into the second half but then Tom Hine made a strong break which enabled Matty Nean to “show and go” and slide over for a six-point lead again.

Yet the Bears were far from finished and levelled up when Blanch dived over from dummy half.

At 26-all and 16 minutes left, it was anyone’s game.

Kyle Cochrane then imposed himself with a strong run from a standing start and was able to throw a brilliant hand-off to Hine for the lock to crash over under the posts.

It was a 32-26 lead that was enhanced by Matt Nean four minutes later.

The Bears refused to give in though and Russ was able to cross wide out.

While beaten,  Russ was elated with the performance of his side missing four key men.

“To go toe to toe with them with those blokes out and the amount of ball they had was outstanding,” he said.

“We got penalised out of the game and did well to stick with them, especially when Chinny (Shane-Leigh Wadwell) got 10 minutes in the bin.

“It was a good, tough game.

“To do that without Kieran Fisher, Brad Marshall, Nimo (Iliesa Navatu) and Jake Cocking was great.”

 Beaton thought his side’s “attitude” won a crucial game.

“It was a good, tough game,” he said.

 “But it was a big effort by our boys – two big packs of forwards went at it. 

“But our attitude was right. We had good discipline, didn’t give away too many penalties and we got a good roll-on at times.”

None was any better than Chris Vidler. 

The big Lions “tank” was enormous in attack and defence and made some pulverising tackles to stop some of the Bears forwards in their tracks.

 Hine, Cochrane and Jake McLoughlin also excelled in the tough stuff, with Matt Nean and Sam Taylor’s exquisite left foot providing some touches of brilliance.