Mudgee Wombats are Central West U15 rugby union premiers after putting their nemesis Dubbo Kangaroos to the sword for the second time in two weeks to win the 2008 grand final at Pioneer Oval, Parkes, on Saturday.
The Wombats were on a high after beating the previously undefeated Roos outfit in the major preliminary semi-final at Orange.
They carried that momentum into the grand final to outplay Dubbo in all facets of the game, running out comfortable winners 24-5.
Carrying out their game plan to perfection, the Wombats played to their full potential against a team who never gave up.
In the final analysis, Dubbo was only able to score once when winger Jack Wells scored right on the half-time bell and came at a brief moment of disarray in the Mudgee defensive line which proved impregnable for the remainder of the match.
With that elusive premiership at stake the Wombats started nervously with a few dropped catches and knock-ons, but tackled themselves out of trouble in the opening stages.
Mudgee’s powerful pack stuck to the pick-and-drive tactic that proved so successful in the major semi-final.
With the bullocking Mitch Devine, Amos Bryant, Tom Lord and Cody Boness hammering the ball up and Josh Harris, James Sheridan, Adyn Rhodes and Dylan Sanders working feverishly at the clean-out, the Wombats pack began making head-way against their tough and well-drilled opposition.
This allowed scrum half Doug McRae to finally bring Mudgee’s impressive backline into play for the first time in four outings against the Roos this season.
In the 13th minute of play one such attacking raid saw explosive winger Beau Shipley make the first of many big runs
Three minutes later the ball reached him again and this time he went all the way, breaking tackles down the far touchline to score in the corner.
Dubbo counter-attacked quickly but knocked the ball on when in a position to score. This bombed try was probably the turning point in the game, with Mudgee scoring a second try a few minutes later.
Brent Bartrim split the Roos defence wide open and ran 35 metres to score between the uprights.
The Wombats were to lose two players for 10 minute stints during the half, Nathan Daniels and Jack Lewsley, and started the second half scoring when Cookson landed a penalty goal.
In an ongoing physical struggle tempers frayed Mudgee’s No 8 Sanders was sent off.
Boness broke through to score after another burst by Shipley, and Cookson ended a perfect day with another magical conversion from the sideline.
Coach Sheridan praised his entire squad “for their commitment and selflessness in giving to the team,” saying this paved the way for Saturday’s grand final win.
“We were on the wrong end of the penalty count but the Mudgee boys kept facing up and grinding it forward,” Sheridan said.
“Full credit to them - they never gave up.”
In a game where every player deserved Man of the Match Status Sheridan named Beau Shipley and James Sheridan for his top award and commended the efforts of half Doug McRae, Brent Bartrim and Josh Cookson.
The return from injury of forward Mitch Devine gave the Mudgee pack its edge over Dubbo in the finals.
SCORES: Mudgee Wombat U15s 24: (tries - B. Shipley, B. Bartrim and C. Boness; conversion goals - J. Cookson 3; penalty goals - J. Cookson 1) defeated Dubbo Kangaroos 5 (try - J. Wells).