The Braidwood Redbacks finished the 2019 season on a high by beating another top four side in the Batemans Bay Boars.
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The comprehensive win came on a beautiful mild winter's day in front of another large local crowd at the Rec Ground.
Braidwood went into the game without in form Prop Kris Anderson and halfback Justin Dariol. This brought retiring prop Luke Cumming into the starting front row and Kiwi Hopkins back into his preferred position of halfback.
Robbie Bell started on the wing, again showing his versatility in swapping between the forwards and the backs.
Led onto the field by Cumming, the Redbacks started the game at a frantic pace and were soon rewarded with a fine try to fullback Harry Shoemark.
Ben Howard, who turned up on Saturday with his kicking boots on, converted the try which set the scene for a first half onslaught by the Redbacks.
Three minutes later on the back of some sleek backline passing Robbie Bell made a break on the wing and dove over for the Redbacks second try.
This was soon followed by a third to winger Will Shoemark again converted by Ben Howard taking the score to 21-0. While the Redbacks and Boars forwards were in a monumental battle up front led by number eight, Tim Moffitt, the Redbacks backs were firing on all cylinders as captain Jake Holland took control of the game.
Riley Turner was breaking apart the Boars Defence and was rewarded with a couple of outstanding tries before halftime taking the score to 35-0.
The second half commenced at a rapid pace with replacement winger Joshua Southwell-Nobbs pouncing on a Boars mistake and running the length of the field for a five-pointer in the corner.
The Redbacks were now freely throwing the ball around with a comfortable 40-0 lead when disaster struck. On the back of what appeared to be a high tackle by a Boars player on Moffitt, both teams came together in an all-in melee which resulted in the Braidwood number eight being sent off.
This was a huge blow to the Redbacks with Tim by far the standout forward on the pitch up to that stage.
With 14 players on the park, the Redbacks were suddenly defending their line and subsequently the Boars were able to put on two quick tries in the 50th and 60th minutes.
However, the Redbacks soon found their composure, calmed the game down and for the next 20 minutes played controlled rugby to deny the Boars anymore points.
In the 80th minute came what was to be the highlight of the game with big centre Riley Turner bulldozing over the line only to pass to inspirational captain Jake Holland to allow him to score his first try of the season, denying himself a hattrick in the process.
This incident shows how close the Redbacks have become as a team and how the priority of the team is to play for each other as opposed to themselves.
This is why this squad will be destined for grand final in the next couple of years.
Three points went to Captain Jake Holland, two points to Harry Shoemark and one point to Tim Moffitt. Players' Player went to retiring prop Luke Cumming.
Being the last game of the season the Redbacks would again like acknowledge all their sponsors including the Braidwood Servicemens Club, Braidwood Community Bank, Nova Systems, Pybar Mining, Greenhomes, Royal Mail Hotel, Mona, Landmark, Braidwood Rural and Braidwood Community Radio. Additionally the Redbacks want to thank all its local supporters that have supported the Redbacks in droves this season. The support the Redbacks have from the local community has contributed immensely to the success of the team this season both on and off the field.