For many players it was their first game against the Bay and before the match Captain Coe stressed the Braidwood 'never say die attitude' and the unwavering team spirit which have always been hallmarks of the team.

As expected the game was a titanic struggle against the far bigger and more experienced Bay team which threw everything at Braidwood, who despite inexperience won the scrum and lineout contest all day. The Braidwood backs were magnificent and repelled attack after attack, with little consideration for their own safety, the likes of Ferret, Matt, Patrick, Toby and Taylor ran the ball back at the Bay team. A special mention of Michael Burke who although he weighs about the same as this paper, hurled himself into the advancing Bay players nearly causing captain and coach to have heart attacks.

If the backs were magnificent, the forwards were heroic. Ben and Mouse in the back row competed everywhere despite the Bay having a Brumby reserve in the back row - Ben even spilling blood for the cause.

The youngest second row in the comp Nathan, and Joel ensured we won the scrums and gave us the go forward against for bigger opponents. The experience of Coe and Royds was everywhere, and at times I swore there must have been more of them on the park.

A huge wrap must go out to Nick McGrath playing out of position at prop, his scrummage, lineout, breakdown and go forward work was inspirational.

This coupled with the zone's best half back combination, Blackie and Brendan, who took the ball on all day to relieve tired forwards. Braidwood's pressure had to pay dividends and sure enough Blackie picked up from a scrum and beat the Bay forwards to score.

The game was going down to the wire and a piece of individual brilliance nearly won the day for Braidwood. Some will say Nick McGrath ran 20 metres, beat 10 Bay players only to be tackled 1 metre form the line, then the never ever present Northcott swooped, picked up the ball and fell over the line scoring his first try in ten years. Others will say (actually just me) that it was a brilliant solo effort that will be etched in the memory of everyone who witnessed it, and it could have won Braidwood the game.