“It was a very intense game,” teacher and coach Jeanine Nelson said of the final against St Patrick’s Gundagai.

Young Public School ended up winning the match 2-1.

YPS got across the line to score first before one of the strongest girls on the team was side-lined due to injury.

Gundagai not to be outdone managed to break through the YPS defence to score.

“Because it looked like a draw at the end we were then going to have to go into golden point, which means you keep playing until someone scores,” Nelson said.

“The girls skillfully got a try on the full-time hooter.”

Nelson and the students had to wait to see if the try would be allowed.

“It was very intense,” she said. “You’re standing there waiting for the ref to blow the whistle and gesture that its actually been awarded and then you’re still standing there going ok so, have we won?”

“It was extremely exhilarating for the girls we had them in tears.” 

The try was finally awarded and Young Public walked away victorious. 

“I’m just so proud of them,” Nelson said.

The win made it Young Public School’s third year retaining the Mortimer Shield and the third year that Nelson has coached the winning side.

“Three years in a row, that was my aim,” she said. 

“I can honestly tell you that there were times where I couldn’t watch the game, I did walk away because I was so adamant that the girls had to win.”

In yet another bonus, the win was a much wanted birthday present for Nelson who celebrated her birthday on the same day.

“I would really like to thank the parents who have supported us, to the girls who I am so proud of and Troy Lamb and Tim Davidson for giving their time and helping to train the girls,” Nelson said.

The girls had given up their lunch times during school to train for the side and Troy Lamb and Tim Davidson helped train and coach the girls helping them work on skills.