Masters footballers from NSW and beyond converged on Young over the weekend for the ninth annual Masters Rugby League Carnival.
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Twenty-one teams made the journey to the cherry capital for the two-day carnival that continues to hold its title of the second most popular Masters Carnival in the country.
Players eased into the weekend with a meet and greet at the Young Services Club on Friday night ahead of lacing up their boots on Saturday.
Thirty-four games were played in great spirits at Keith Cullen and Hall Bros ovals on Saturday, topped off by a dinner that night with nearly 400 guests attending.
The carnival was capped off with the stand-alone Country versus City match on Sunday.
Local icons Stuart Norton, Steve McClymont and Jamie Canellis featured in the Country team and no doubt contributed heavily to the side’s victory.
“Jamie scored a couple outstanding tries, and Steve covered himself in glory – he rose to the occasion and played well,” event coordinator and Cherryatric Geoff Hill said.
“Stuart played really well too but he didn’t bring out his famous flick pass in that game.”
Hill said the weekend went off without a hitch and once again teams have indicated their interest in returning in 2017.
“You get so many comments from different players who say it’s absolutely great to get away with their mates after not playing footy for a while, they just enjoy it so much,” he said.
“There’s no tactic, no nothing, you just take the piss out of each other the whole time, it’s just fantastic.”
Hill said the weather and condition of the ovals added to the success of the weekend which enabled spectators and supporters alike to get out and enjoy the carnival.
“We couldn’t have asked for better weather and the fields were in perfect condition thanks to council,” he said.
“At one stage I looked out and the amount of people there was amazing.
“There was about 500 to 600 people there at Keith Cullen Oval at one stage, there were people absolutely everywhere!”
Hill extended a big thanks to council for preparing the fields, and to all the sponsors who continue to make the event possible.