Numero Uno: The mighty Under 17's celebrate their comprehensive win over Rivcoll in the 2010 Southern Inland Grand Final.

Yabbies crush Rivcoll in GF Whitewash

By Southern Inland Grand Final Correspondent - Luke Eldridge.

Too strong, too quick, too skilful. Last Saturday Young Yabbies U/17s were deservedly crowned premiers of the SIRU U/17s competition. On a day that was constantly peppered by torrential downpours the Yabbies wiped their opposition off the park.

In the opening exchanges Rivcoll tried their best to cross the Yabbies line but were repelled on numerous occasions by relentless defence. Running into a howling breeze in the 1^st half the Yabbies gradually ground their way up field. With tries to Cavanagh, O’Connor and Brown in the first half the Yabbies went into half time 19 – 0.

The focus at half time was to shut the Rivcoll team out of the game and use the huge wind advantage to pin them in their own quarter. A try 5 minutes after half time to half back McMillan extended the lead and on the wrong side of a massive penalty count the Yabbies then allowed Rivcoll to cross for their only points of the grand final. The following period saw yabbies get back on top but unable to take advantage of field possession due to continuos penalties against the team which at times confused not only the players but all supporters at the ground.

With less than 2 minutes remaining a scrum win in Rivcolls quarter allowed the Yabbies to perfectly execute a well rehearsed backline move and Thomas Woolford crossed for a try in the last play of the grand final, the final score being 33 – 5.

Best performers for Yabbies were Neil McMillan at half back who took out the man of the match award ( John Stewart medal ), No 8 Peter Curlewis, flanker Brendan McGrath and a very tactical and professional performance by five eighth Zac Williams.

The team finally demonstrated a 60 minute performance to totally outclass the opposition and prove why they were the team to beat all year. The players were ecstatic with the result, which was definitely obvious when captain Mak Cavangh talked about the game and the season as a whole as “bloody awesome”. It feels great to know that all the laps around the oval and effort over the last 12 months has been worth it. We knew that we would be good enough if we played to our potential and it was pleasing that we were able to put in a 60 minute performance in our last game together. Im so proud of the guys and im sure that we will never forget the feeling we have right now. We are so thankful for everything that Shoardy ( coach ) has done for us this year, todays effort was as much for him as it was for the players, everyone did their job today, I think we went so well this year because we worked as a unit and that was no different today”.

The season drew to an end for the team in the best possible manner, as premiers. As the team song echoed around Connelly park the players began to reflect on their amazing achievements from season 2010. The only team in any grade outside of Wagga to be crowned minor premiers/premiers, 2^nd best defensive record for any team in any competition in SIRU and the only club in the history of U/17s SIRU competition to make 4 consecutive grand finals. Congratulations to all involved with the team on a job well done, and to the players who worked hard and in the end got what they deserved, all the best to the players going into 2^nd  grade next year as well as the players who will remain in 17s, time now to work even harder to defend that premiership in 2011.