MUDGEE White fought off a gallant Bloomfield Tigers challenge to claim Saturday’s Group 10 under 11s premiership and, in the process, completed a rare feat.
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The 24-12 win capped off a second consecutive undefeated season for the boys in red and white.
Coach Justin McCarney was full of praise for his charges, who hail from four different schools in the Mudgee region.
“It’s a fantastic achievement, I couldn’t be prouder of them all,” he said.
“All the way from one to 17, they all contribute and they all put in.
“It was a great season and they deserved to win.”
The title defence started in less than ideal circumstances, with Bloomfield’s kick off bouncing over the Mudgee dead ball line.
From there a first-half arm wrestle developed, broken only by a try to Mudgee dummy half Xavier Yeo, duly converted by Man of the Match Jack Nicholas.
The score remained 6-0 when the half-time siren sounded, but soon after the resumption Mudgee back-rower Cooper Devin crossed over, with Ned McCarney’s strike taking his side’s advantage out to 12.
The Tigers – who were twice beaten by the premiers 18-6 in the 2017 season – refused to bow, and hit back through a try to Jye King.
When Harry Greenhalgh added the extras, the margin was back to a single converted try.
But Mudgee kicked clear twice more, first courtesy of a Gilby Brown try, then another to Jay O’Brien.
Both tries were converted, cancelling out a great effort by Tigers’ Isaac Packham in between, which was converted by Harry Wald.
But despite twice narrowing the deficit to six points, time ran out for the Tigers.
Bloomfield mentor Jason Greenhalgh paid tribute to the winners.
“We tried to do the simple things well and we did that for a lot of the game,” he said.
“But a couple of small times there we let it go and they’re too good a side to do that against.
“A couple of things went against us, especially a disallowed try in the second half, but that’s footy.”
Greenhalgh acknowledged his boys were disappointed but was full of praise for their courage in defeat.
“We’re a large group, 22 players in total, and it’s been a team effort all year,” he said.
“They’ve improved all year and enjoyed the occasion today, so they’ll be better for it next year.”
McCarney was reluctant to single out too many of his players for special praise, but said Callen Martin and Nicholas were strong all game.
He said the Tigers had pushed his side, and their response under grand final pressure was pleasing.
“You’re never confident in a grand final unless you lead by three tries, and we never did,” he said.
“Bloomfield really played well and we had to dig deep to get over them.”
MUDGEE WHITE 24 (Xavier Yeo, Cooper Devin, Gilby Brown, Jay O’Brien tries; Yeo, Jack Nicholas, Ned Mccarney, Callen Martin goals) def BLOOMFIELD TIGERS (Jye King, Isaac Packham tries; Harry Greenalgh, Harry Wald goals).