The on-field results for the Blayney Bears this season haven’t been great, a couple of wooden spoons in first division and premier league not ideal ways to end 2018.
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But there’s a small group of Bears still grizzling their way through this winter’s Group 10 finals series, and they’re a decent shot at a grand final appearance, too.
The Blayney under 18s shocked Bathurst St Pat’s with a 20-4 minor semi-final win at Sid Kallas Oval on Sunday, sending the Pat’s boys packing and progressing through to this Sunday’s preliminary final.
After the Bears’ league tag girls suffered their own minor semi-final loss on Saturday, the Blayney under 18s boys are the last Bears grizzling, so to speak.
And coach Cameron Hobby says the young group of honest toilers has captured the imagination of the small town.
“It’s been really great,” Hobby said of his side’s run through the finals, which started with a elimination semi-final win over . Mudgee.
“Unfortunately the girls got done (on Saturday) and they’re a big part of the club.
“We’ve had a good crowd here to follow us which is good and hopefully we can keep on going with this roll.”
The roll arrives at Wade Park on Sunday for the preliminary finals.
Blayney will take on defending premiers CYMS, an outfit smarting after a tough 26-14 loss to minor premiers Panthers in the major semi-final.
It’s a tough assignment, but one Hobby says his outfit will be up for.
“We’ll just show up and see what we can do,” he said, before admitting he was pretty confident he had a decent squad on his hands when taking on the coaching job.
“I did, we lost a few blokes but I’ve always had plenty of confidence in them and they’re starting to get that confidence in themselves, too, which is good.”
Against St Pat’s, Blayney scored first through Dylan Marmion but went into the sheds locked at 4-all with St Pat’s.
A commanding second term, though, lifted Blayney to a 20-4 victory, Joey Hobby scoring the final try of the game to book the Bears a preliminary final berth.
“They’ve beaten us by two points on both occasions this season so to come here and put in a second half like that was pretty pleasing,” Hobby said.
Louis Nixon was tremendous for the Bears out of dummy-half while forwards Hobby and Pat Duggan lead from the front.
“Louis’s not real big but he’s got plenty of ticker," the young coach said.
“And Joey’s probably our most critical player. If he stands up everyone follows. He and Patty Duggen are probably our two most experienced players.”
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
