The Mudgee Wolves second team defeated Panorama 1-0 in a tight grand final match at Bathurst on the weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Playing on a very wet pitch, the Wolves held Panorama scoreless through the game to claim the fourth grade title.
“The boys played nice football,” coach Michael Sandry said. “We knew it would be tight, but credit to them, they held Panorama off for the second half.”
The match winning goal for Mudgee Wolves was kicked by Brandon Roth.
“Unfortunately, they have a couple of chances to score in the second half, but couldn’t finish them off,” Sandry said.
The grand final win tops off a very successful season for the side, who had 10 wins on their way to the quarter and semi-finals.
“They have done extremely well with a lot of young guys in the side,” Sandry said.
Sandry said regular attendance at training sessions by the all team members had given them the edge in fitness throughout the season.
“Through coming to training, that has pulled the side together,” he said.
Sandry said the side had also been strong in defence, naming Johnny Murray as a “tower of strength” in the side.
“Without singling too many out, they have played nice football at times,” he said.
In the third grade grand final match, the Mudgee Wolves firsts went down 2-1 against Panorama.
Mudgee Wolves lost Daniel Lowe five minutes into the game after a collision with another player.
They have done extremely well with a lot of young guys in the side.
- Coach Michael Sandry
“That was a loss,” Sandry said. “I think we missed him in that game.”
Tom Plummer scored the Wolves’ only goal early in the game, but Panorama equalised just before half time with a penalty shot that proved impossible to head off.
A goal in the second half sealed the game for Panorama.
Sandry said while the Wolves played well in very wet conditions, Panorama was the better side and had the advantage of better ball control.
The Wolves went into the grand final after a two week break, after a semi-final match was cancelled due to wet weather.
As minor premiers, the Wolves went straight through to the finals.
Sandry said the two-week break and lack of game time had not helped the team in their final match for the year.
Sandry said the result was “gut wrenching” for the division’s minor premiers.
However, he said both Wolves team had played extremely well in the 2016 season and to have two teams reach the grand finals was a great result.
