AN INJURY to New Zealand recruit Mitchell Sullivan forced Young captain-coach Neil Thorman to put the celebrations on hold after the Cherrypickers broke through for their first win of the season at Alfred Oval on Sunday.
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In a bitter blow to Young, Sullivan sustained a sickening compound fracture of the ankle as the Cherrypickers smashed Tumut 54-4.
With Young in full cry, and on target for a cricket score victory, Sullivan was hurt in the 65th minute, forcing the game to be prematurely stopped.
After consulting with the respective captains, experienced referee Max Biles allowed the game clock to run out as Sullivan was treated on the field.
Thorman later reported the Kiwi front rower would not play again this year.
“It’s a terrible shame,” Thorman said on Sunday.
“He (Sullivan) has a dislocated ankle and a compound fracture.
“That will be the season.”
Amid the drama, Thorman praised the ambulance service for the quick response to the incident.
“It would have only been a matter of minutes,” Thorman said.
For Sullivan, the injury came only a fortnight after landing in Young and was a sorry end to the team’s initial success of the premiership.
“It’s obviously taken the gloss off things,” Thorman said.
“There were a lot of positives from the game but the injury was a real negative.”
With Tumut without captain-coach Luke Srama and prop Jason Back, Young gave them a football lesson, piling on six tries to lead 32-0 at halftime.
The rout continued in the second half, only halted by Sullivan’s injury.
Ultimately, Young scored 10 tries to Tumut’s one try, but Thorman still described the score as “disappointing”.
“We let them score off our error,” he said.
“That was disappointing.”
As usual Thorman was excellent for the winners, scoring a try and kicking seven goals, while Aaron Slater, Kyle Richens and Denvour Kiel were also terrific contributors.
On the plus side for Young, two French recruits will arrive within weeks.
Fulltime
YOUNG 54 (J Bush 2, D Kiel 2, J Woolford, W Aiken, M Sullivan, J Hogan, N Thorman, R Hewitt tries; N Thorman 7 goals) defeated TUMUT 4 (T Swanson try) at Alfred Oval. ScrumsL 7-5. Penalties: 4-2
Reserve Grade
Tumut 24 defeated Young 10.
League Tag
Young 22 defeated Tumut 0.
Weissel Cup
Tumut 20 defeated Young 14.
Sullivan Cup
Tumut 34 defeated Young 14.
