Within minutes of Captain Courageous Richard Manion holding aloft the Monaro Rugby premiership trophy late Saturday afternoon it was full of beer.
Not just any beer.
It was that sweet tasting winning beer that many involved with any code of football long to taste, but very few get the opportunity.
Boorowa Rugby Club’s emphatic 41-18 victory over the Bungendore Mudchooks ended a 24 year premiership drought for the club and was the cause for much celebration.
The match followed what has become the usual script for the two sides in the last three occasions they have met.
In the early minutes Bungendore were given a penalty in front of the posts providing their number 10 a gift three points.
Minutes later Bungendore’s halfback chanced on an unsecured loose ball at the back of a Boorowa ruck and toed the ball ahead to regather and score in the corner.
The early eight-point deficit was cause for more than a few uneasy glances amongst the Boorowa faithful and had many looking at the ground looking for a stone to kick.
If that was the feeling amongst the crowd it was a completely different feeling on the field.
Boorowa remained composed but had to work hard to make up the difference.
An unbiased observer would suggest that Boorowa, despite being behind on the scoreboard, looked the most dangerous side throughout the first half.
Play was staged mainly in Bungendore’s half and it was only the Mudchooks’ spirited defence which fowled many Goldies’ raids on their line.
Boorowa started to find their rhythm and pushed phase play to the right and left of the Bungendore posts.
The technique paid off and, as Bungendore scrambled to re-align in defence, Richard Manion picked up Sam Burton-Taylor wide on his left to score a well structured try.
Boorowas’ backline were punishing in defence and Bungendore showed their hand early by resorting to putting the ball on the foot rather than keep it in hand to gain their ground.
Following Burton-Taylor’s try clever kicking by the Mudchooks placed play back in Boorowa’s half and a penalty gave the visitors another gift three points and put the score at 11-5.
It was about this point that the men in gold clicked.
The resume of play saw a turnover and Boorowa again had possession of the football.
From a Boorowa scrum feed close the Mudchooks line on the left side of the field, Andy Hewitt’s crash ball committed a number of defenders.
The ball was moved right where Richard Manion grubbered for the line and, with the Bungendore fullback committed, he won the chase for the ball and scored.
Corey Randall’s conversion shortly before half time put Boorowa in front for the first time in the match 12-11.
“I had a few anxious moments but I knew the blokes wouldn’t panic,” coach Bruce Nixon said after the match.
“They have confidence in each other and I felt at halftime they would just get on with it.”
And get on with it they did. Boorowa posted four tries in the second half, two to Richard Manion and one each to Corey Randall and Ben Patrick.
Rugby purists would argue that that’s the way it should be - the backs score the points and the forwards make it happen.
There were many highlights of the match, but few better than the tenacity and daring of the Boorowa outside backs Corey Randall, Ryan Kouvelis and George Gregory. A
s the match progressed Bungendore increasingly kicked for field position to relieve pressure from Boorowa’s attack.
The ball security and counter attacking of the trio were exceptional and often breathtaking as time after time they returned play to often well beyond the advantage line creating further opportunities to post points.
After the match club president and local agronomist Tom Corkhill was a happy man.
“What a year,” Corkhill said. “There is no doubt this is great for the players and for the club, but looking around at the moment it’s obvious what this means to our community. There are one or two happy people here.”
The 2009 players are by and large a humble group of local blokes.
They are very proud of their community and of what they have achieved.
They are immensely appreciative of the support they have received during the year, not only on grand final day, but from the first trial game at the start of the season.
The players were quick to share their victory and mingled and celebrated with the large crowd long after the match.
They also chose not to savour their spoils from the trophy for themselves.
Anyone walking within a five metre radius of the cup and had a connection to the community was slapped on the back and passed the trophy to drink from.
Great moments to savour and remember for a great side.
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