The Outlaws may have defeated the Saints on Saturday, but the boys from Young hit their mark of keeping within 12 goals of the competition leaders.
The Saints – predominately made up of Under 18 players – travelled to George Park, Bathurst on the weekend in what they knew would be a tough and bruising encounter.
Nine vacant positions were filled by Under 18s players who according to clubperson Geoff Harmer performed like experienced first graders.
The hosts dominated the contest from the outset, kicking six goals to two in the opening term and were never headed thereafter, finishing 14-17-101 to 4-4-28 winners.
On the balance of probability given their respective positions in the competition, it was always likely to be a one-sided contest but given the conditions, Harmer was pleased with what he saw.
“They’re a good side but we put it to them, we dug deep and showed that good old Saints spirit,” he said.
“To contain teams in those kind of conditions it’s better to have a smaller side where you’re lower to the ground and closer to the ball, where if you come up against a team who play areal football in the wet it doesn't work so well.
“We’re good mud runners, they’re conditions we’re better suited for.”
The scoring for the Outlaws came largely at one end of the ground, as they backed up their six first quarter majors with another five in the third having been restricted to just one in the second.
They led 40-13 at quarter-time but Young to their credit had stemmed the bleeding up until half-time, trailing by 27.
The third proved telling as the result was put beyond doubt, and a couple of late goals put the sealer on a good performance.
“To get within 10-12 goals of the top team in the competition on their home ground, in absolutely horrible conditions, with nine kids under the age of 18 playing their guts out – four of which made their First Grade debut and another two having only played two or three games of First Grade before – is incredible,” Harmer said.
“The Under 18s have done the club proud.”
Goal scorers for Young were Philip Baumhammer, Zac Callaghan, Will Albert and Andrew De La Torre.
In other results the Saintees stuck to their Bathurst opponents to go down by 28 points, while the Under 18s recorded a 19-point win. Harmer praised the teams, as well as their coaches, for a phenomenal effort against two top sides.
He said both grades continue to show skill and potential beyond expectation.
