THE Young Junior Rugby League Club has reason to celebrate after taking out two premiership titles at the weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Under 10 and Under 14 Cherrypickers overcame their rivals in what was an outstanding achievement for both teams.
In their first year of competitive football - previous years not including grand finals - the Under 10s stamped their mark on the competition with a 20-point victory.
On Saturday, Young came up against the only team to have beaten them this season, Temora.
Temora were first to cross the line, but it wasn’t long before Young hit back to head into halftime on the front foot.
The ‘Pickers caught Temora off guard as they came out firing in second half.
“The boys defended really well, our attack came together and Cooper Anderson made a 50 metre break and scored a try under the post which sealed the deal,” co-coach Garry Lucas said.
Young continued to lay several more tries on Temora to run out 30-10 victors and premiers of the 2015 competition.
Lucas said it was a rewarding outcome for the boys - coached by Josh Powderly - who have strived on terrific defence throughout the season.
“Special mention to front rower Billy Corcoran who was a standout with his tracking and brilliant runs, and to Josh Madden who had six hit-ups in a row - they kept tackling him high, he kept getting the penalties, getting up and running again,” he said.
Cooper Anderson was named Man of the Match.
Tries to Jonny Kidd (2), Cooper Anderson, Jack Nicolls and Max Jones.
In the Under 14s Young celebrated an astonishing fifth straight premiership win.
And to make the victory sweeter, the ‘Pickers are pleased to say it was over neighbouring rivals, Cootamundra.
The 14s have an impeccable history on the paddock, only losing one game in five years, and they were determined from the start to keep that trend going.
Young were up 24-nil after a strong first half, but on going to sleep in second half the points began flowing.
The Under 14s managed to hold on to the points to win 43-10.
Josh Baker was named Man of the Match for his never-ending work rate and lots of good runs, while Will Hills earned Players Player, and Nic Hall also earned special mention from coach Garry Lucas.
“They’re a very well-drilled side - they’re easy to coach and would do anything you asked them to do, they’re always willing to learn,” Lucas said.
“We went through the season undefeated, scored over 400 points for, and only 110 against.”
The side will have their work cut out for them in 2016 as they step up a grade into the Under 15s, but Lucas has full belief they’ll continue to set the benchmark in the competition.
“It’ll be a tough one next year, obviously everyone grows a bit more, teams get a bit better as they start getting older, but they’ll be the team to beat,” he said.
Tries to Will Hills, Patty Mahoney, Nic Hall, Josh Baker (2), Jack Corbett, and Henry Berry.
Sadly Young’s Under 13s and Under 13 League Tag sides didn’t bring home a premiership title, but they didn’t go down without a fight.
The Under 13s lost 32-8, and the League Tag went down 18-12.
Young Junior Rugby League president Nick Hall said the club is equally as proud of all of the teams who competed this season.
“The 13s girls played some really good footy and were really unlucky - a try with two mins to go would have made them premiers but unfortunately it was disallowed,” he said.
“And the Under 14s also had a great game.
“We’re so proud of [our premiership winners], they’re probably our two best performed teams for the year, both teams have nearly been undefeated.
“For the Under 14s to win five comps in a row is amazing, it just doesn’t happen.
“We’re really proud of all of our teams.”
To top off Young’s successful weekend, the club was named Club Champions for the best performed club as a whole. It’s the first time the club has received the award since 2011.
“It’s a compliment to our League Tag teams who are much more competitive this year,” Hall said.
“Nearly all our teams made the semis, so we were the club champions which is something the club should be very proud of.”