At the end of last year I made a predictive boast in front of the Braidwood Central School community that real success for our rugby league boys was at hand. After years of poor referee's decisions that would make the present day NRL referees look like geniuses and near misses on the field and a run of bad luck that would lead you to think we killed a thousand crickets, on Wednesday the 28th July our Braidwood Opens/ Under 16 team travelled three hours to Boorowa to play in the Southern Division Finals. We were there to complete against three other small schools for the title of CRL Southern NSW Small Schools Champions.
Our boys had advanced by winning the Cooma section of the knockout in June. In freezing conditions, our boys played teams from Bombala, Jindabyne and Monaro High schools. Stoic discipline, hard tackling and sparkling attack highlighted our team performances that left the other teams flat and disenchanted. Being the best performed team of the day at Cooma, Braidwood Central advanced for our fifth successive finals to Boorowa. Every boy aimed up, and played out of their collective skins. Special mention must go to Brendan Clarke, Luke Turner, Mark Hare, Joe Walden, Billy Hatzis, Ricky McCurley, Andrew Crisp and Pat Martin. Another two players have also earned special praise. Year 9 student Andy Harris who made his debut on the wing and scored a try with his second touch ever in organised rugby league, and a young man from Bungendore named Pat Pryor. Pat is our captain and inspirational leader. He was named player of the day and his class in attack and crunching defence paved the way for our victories.
Three games stood between our boys and the ever-elusive trip to Dubbo. Our boys prepared well for the first game against Coleambally. Going in as underdogs suited our team and they showed great composure hitting an early lead in the first half with well structured offensive plays that resulted in two tries to captain Pat Pryor. Central held out in a scoreless second half with brutal defence to win 8 - 4. Pat Pryor again led the way with a mountain of tackles.
Backing up against Cootamundra for our second game was a highlight. This game started well with hard working hooker Mark Hare scoring a great solo try to open the scoring. Further tries to Brendan Clarke and Bryce King with a Brendan Clarke conversion saw the lead stretch to 16-0 at half time. Again strong defence dominated the second half to a final score of Braidwood 16-0. All players did their part in this victory with Pat Pryor, Billy Hatzis, Brendan Clarke, Mark Hare, Ricky McCurley, Pat Martin, Andy Harris, Luke Turner and Justin Brownbill standouts.
A 15 minute turn around saw our boys take on our nemesis of 2009; Murrumburrah High. It was all or nothing again as the winner would progress to the State Final. Last year it was Murrumburrah...on a count back. The boys kept their focus on winning this game saving their best efforts for last. From the kick off, Braidwood Central was on the front foot. Hard running and great passing led to the unstoppable Pat Martin's first 60 metre try. Great lead up work from Brendan Clarke and Pat Pryor (who again was voted the player of the day), and hard direct running from our forwards created opportunities that saw Bryce King score a great solo try and Pat Martin score another 60 metres try. Marto was unstoppable in this game and caused great trouble for the opposition defence every time he touched the ball. The first half ended with a tidy lead for Braidwood 16-6. The second half started well with Bryce King scoring a great try down the left hand side. Further tries to Pat Martin and a great team try to Luke Turner on full time sealed a famous victory with Braidwood Central winning 32-6.
A large crowd watched this dominant display and officials said that this was the best performance from a schoolboy team they had seen at this level in many years.
For Braidwood Central to make the NSW State Finals of the CRL Small Schools at Dubbo rugby league challenge is a Herculean effort. For such a small school like Braidwood Central to get to a state final with no organised schoolboy weekend rugby league in town, is a testament to the talent and dedication these young men have towards this sport.
The team includes students: Joe Walden, Luke Turner, Bryce King, Andy Harris, Brendan Clarke, Justin Brownbill, Billy Hatzis, Mark Hare, Ricky McCurley, Pat Martin, Andrew Crisp, Pat Pryor (c), Joel Britten, Clay Williams, Jesse McAllister, Brayden McKay, Sam McGlone, Cameron Bradley, Will Turner, Joel Pearce, Jason Cattoi, Ben Roach, Sam Potter, Nathan Oldfield, Max Charlier our new Belgian speedster, and Lachlan Ashworth. Special mention goes to teachers Kevin Lang, Dimity Borra and Mick Flakelar who do a lot of behind the scenes work as well as travelling with the team around the state. Who can forget the dedicated parents of the boys who attend every game no matter where or what kind of weather and offer their unbiased support on every occasion. Thank you. See you at Dubbo for the state final on the 11th August. Go Braidwood.
Damian Roberts (coach)
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