The Dungog under 9 years rugby league side was entered into the annual West Maitland gala day held at Coronation Oval on Sunday, July 18.
This side remains undefeated in their normal competition and was using the day as a bit of fun as well as a test against some sides they don't usually play to see how strong this side really is.
The day started against one of West Maitland’s first division teams and from the kick-off the boys soon realised the day was not going to be a day of big scorelines.
West Maitland scored first and grabbed another try later in the match. We were able to score four tries through Brodie Henderson, Jack Walters, Daniel Rumbel and Wyll Darr to win our first game 16-8.
Our second game was against Erina. This was a tough game and the boys managed to keep their try line intact for a 16-0 score line and, with shots at goal not being used on the day, this was crucial to get these types of scorelines.
Tries were scored by Brodie Henderson, Jack Walters, Daniel Rumbel and Jack Fisher.
The third and last of our pool games was against an extremely large and physical Macquarie side.
This was a much closer game, and to their credit once again, the boys kept the opposition scoreless to win 8-0.
The two tries were scored by Jack Walters and Wyll Darr.
Undefeated in their pool, Dungog now had to play Morpeth in the semi-final.
Talking to the opposition coach, they had not been beaten at all in the last two years and had won the gala day in their age group the last two years.
Morpeth showed why they are another first division team and were definitely different to any team we had ever played.
As is the case with our team though, they have become use to winning and have shown they will do what ever it takes to get a result and were able to win 20-12.
Tries were scored by Brodie Henderson, Daniel Rumbel, Josh Haskins, Drew Grant and Jack Fisher.
While these boys may have scored the tries, this was nothing short of a complete team effort.
Grand final time arrived.
We played West Maitland. The boys were sore, tired and running only on the excitement of possibly winning the whole day. It showed from the kick-off.
Defensively we did not give the opposition a chance and in the last minute of the game our line in defence was moving up as quick as it was in the first.
Each boy was made the captain for the game and given ownership of the result and every one of them played like it.
Jack Walters scored one try and Wyll Darr three times for a final result of 16-0.
Throughout the whole day, five games, the team only conceded five tries.
To hold a team as good as West Maitland scoreless in a grand final is typical of these kids attitudes and a result of the hard work they have been putting in since February, training two nights a week.
Our team motto is "Winning is not only everything, it is the only thing. There is nothing else".
When you work as hard as these boys do the look of excitement and joy are well deserved after such a result.
Congratulations to Jack Falconer, Damon Boland, Alex Rooke, Drew Grant and Jack Walters playing their first year of rugby league. They fit into this team really well and this result will only see their confidence grow.
Wyll Darr, Brodie Henderson, Daniel Rumbel, Josh Haskins, Jack Fisher, Hayden Badior and Matthew Edwards have now been together a little bit longer and all gel together well as a team.
The days result was built on the back of playing as a team the whole day.
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