Royals got off to a bad start with Mary Wilson forced off in the first minute through injury. As the Nobles park side only had 11 players available before the game, this forced them into playing the rest of the game with 10 players.
The southerners took advantage of this with Dawn Georgeson scoring an audacious lob from 40 yards after just five minutes.
Siobahn Lockwood soon levelled the scores with a solild finish from a great right wing cross by Becky Cole.
The rest of normal time was a tense affair with both goalkeepers pulling off a number of good saves. Donna Harrison went close twice and Rushen Utd had a penalty claim turned away when Eleanor Gawne was brought down.
With the sweltering heat taking its toll on both teams, extra time made the bowl look more like a graveyard with injuries and cramp affecting most players.
The scene was set for captain Kym to secure the win half way through the second half of extra time. Hicklin pounced on a defensive error from a corner to bundle the ball past Elizabeth Stanley. The goal sparked jubilant scenes amongst the Royals players and spectators.
Hicklin was also awarded the Player of the Match award by Sure Mobile MD, Simon Last-Sutton.