For the 10th consecutive year the Orange Thunder reigned supreme at the Don Green Western Junior Championships, claiming a whopping nine titles and with them completing a decade of dominance in terms of the much-coveted Club Championship .
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Thunder fielded 14 teams across 12 divisions at Waratahs Sportsground last weekend, winning the boys' under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-18 crowns along with the girls' under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16 and under-18 trophies.
While the Thunder's stunning success last weekend was technically the opening of their 2019-20 representative season, it did also back up Orange's history-making Vawdon Cup Youth Boys' title from last month.
All our teams have been training hard and the performances and achievements are a good reward.
- Orange Thunder representative director Joel Begnell
"It's a wonderful start to the junior season for our club. All our teams have been training hard and the performances and achievements are a good reward for our teams efforts so far," Orange Thunder representative director Joel Begnell said.
Of course winning on their home turf made the triumphs all the more sweet for the Thunder outfits and club, and president Cathy Goodlock was stoked to see the tournament come to Orange, with sides from across the Central West and as far as Muswellbrook turning out.
"It's been great to bring Don Green Championships to Orange this weekend. We've seen all the kids enjoying their touch and Orange has turned on some great weather too," she said.
It was the first time since from Bathurst entered the prestigious, two-day tournament and Parkes also made their return after missing last summer's edition, with Goodlock lauding their attendance, along with other new competitiors'.
"You have the likes of Lithgow and Muswellbrook brings teams again this year. Hopefully we can continue to lure new teams to the event in future years," she said.
Orange's girls' under-10, under-12, under-14 and under-16 sides all rolled through the tournament undefeated, as did the boys' under-12, under-14 and under-18 sides.
Mackenzie Thornberry, Taj Jordan, Lucy Martin, Nate Davis, Georgie Barrett, Gus Staniforth, Jack Cole and Ella Robins all picked up player-of-the-final awards in their respective divisions too.
Begnell was equally as impressed with the Thunder's development sides though, all of whom proved the club's depth with stand-out performances. Of those development sides, the boys' under-14 and girls' under-12 outfits both made semi-final appearances.
The Thunder's boys' under-10 side made the final four as well and the under-8 outfit was beaten by Mudgee in the grand final.
"We have so much depth in our age groups now, it's great to see us enter multiple teams in some divisions. It gives more kids the opportunity to enjoy their touch and continue to develop as players," Begnell said.
The Thunder's focus now shifts to a Junior Gala Day in Canberra in mid-December, before a number of tournaments in the new year as well, through February and March.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS AND SPORT?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...