Grand Final Wrap

By Di Sneddon

FOUR from four, you can’t get better than that in rugby league grand final victory and Scone Thoroughbreds’ secretary David Casson attributes much of that success to the attitude of first grade coach Aaron Watts.

“He is just a fantastic club person, he is a past premier winning captain coach, he is coach of the under 18s country side so brings that experience to the club and he has a couple of boys playing in the juniors as well,” Casson said adding that he has a holistic approach to the game of rugby league in Scone.

Opportunities for the talent in the Under 18s to step up to first grade during the season, not just reserve grade, to experience the size and pace of first grade was a decision that paid off and puts the club in a strong position for the 2019 season.

Casson said all grand finals were hard fought and he was reluctant to highlight any one performance.

“Conditions were such that it was a hard slog (in first grade) that if every player didn’t perform we would have been looking at a loss,” he said.

“There were some calls that were 50/50 that went our way but that can be said for the other side as well.”

Leading up to the grand finals there was a good feeling in the club but grand finals bring the next level to the game and anything can happen.

Take the Under 18s for example who had been well beaten by Singleton much of the year and certainly went into the grand final as underdogs only to win the grand final with a convincing 18-4 victory over the Singleton Greyhounds.

Reserve grade went into the grand final after winning their semi but it was no easy win with a close 20-14 win over Aberdeen Tigers.

Quiet and cautious confidence within the Girls League Tag side was warranted given their win over Muswellbrook, 38 points to four.

This was the fourth year Scone has won the League Tag of the five years the division has been included in Group 21 competition and Casson has nothing but praise for this decision.

“Some of the players have partners and husbands also playing, it brings a new dimension to the club that’s for sure,” Casson said.

Support from juniors through the ranks to those who just love the game is reflected across the club and Casson could not thank the fans enough for turning up to give their support to the Thoroughbreds at games home and away.

After game gatherings at the RSL Club were also well supported and only added to the strength of loyalty to the Thoroughbreds and the game.

Taking out all four grand finals is a tough act to follow but Casson has great confidence for the 2019 season.

“We have a number of Under 18s that step up from that age group next year, some have already experienced first grade so they know what this might bring and we have that strong connection with our junior club thanks largely to Aaron so there is that depth of players coming through,” he said.

“One of our fellows commented that after the final hooter went the first seven or eight players to congratulate him and slap him on the back were all juniors just as excited at the win as he was.”

Played at McKinnon Field in Aberdeen, results were:

• First Grade:  Scone defeated Aberdeen, 10-6.
• Reserve Grade:  scone defeated Aberdeen, 20-14.
• Under 18s:  Scone defeated Singleton, 18-4.
• League Tag: Scone defeated Muswellbrrok, 38-4.

A presentation will be held on October 12.