Tri Colours premiership was a team effort all year

The weather dampened the day but the rugby did not on what was one of the coldest days of the year before a large crowd at Les Boyd Oval on Saturday for the 2019 Oilsplus Southwest Rugby Union Grand Final.

The Tri Colours went into the match undefeated taking on Harden, the side who had questioned them the most throughout the year.

Challenged to start the game well the Tri Colours opened the scoring three minutes in.

Early possession led to points with Cootamundra Centre Nathan Corby crashing over with Matt Berkrey's conversion giving the home side the lead 7 - 0.

From the kick off Cootamundra showed why they have been so hard to beat this year receiving the ball and denting the Harden line for 12 plus phases.

Their patience and structured play led to a blindside attack which saw flanker Cameron Stanley find winger Ash Hamilton who drew the fullback before passing back to Stanley to run 30m to score the Tri Colours second. 14 - 0 to Cootamudnra after 6 minutes.

Not to be left out of the game Harden showed their class responding with an amount of possession and territory.

For a good 10 minute period the Devils dominated possession and tested the Cootamundra defence.

The Tri Colours showed great discipline and resilience to absorb the Devils attack, not letting in any points.

In the 19th minute Cootamundra won a turn over, a chip and chase ahead by Cameron Stanley was reeled in by winger Ash Hamilton who coasted away to score, 19 - 0 to Cootamundra.

The remainder of the half was a war of attrition between both sides with the majority of play in the middle third of the field as both sides asserted themselves.

Cootamundra Prop Mitch Coleman Hardy scored a try after an amount of pressure and a penalty goal to centre Matt Berkrey brought the half time score to 29 - 0.

The second half began like the first with the Tri Colours piling on the pressure.

In the 49th minute Cootamundra halfback Charlie Booth picked from the back of the ruck barging his way over for a try, 36 - 0.

Five minutes later Cootamundra five-eighth Aaron Byrne found forward Sam Bush who dived over out wide bringing the score to 41 - 0.

Despite the score Harden continued to rally against the Tri Colours scoring two tries in the final 20 minutes of the match.

At the 73rd minute the score was 48 - 12.

A lineout 10m from the Harden line saw the Cootamundra forwards maul the ball forward, the pack surged ahead to fall over the line for the referee to raise his arm and award the try.

To the delight of the Cootamundra players and the crowd Tri Colours stalwart Greg Morton rose up with the ball in hand claiming the final try of the match, final score 55 - 12 to the Cootamundra Tri Colours.

In true rugby spirit the Harden Devils showed all class in defeat,.

They showed great character with the scoreline definitely not an indication of their efforts.

It was the Cootamundra Tri Colours day; they worked hard for each other, they were patient and they trusted their structures.

Man of the match honours went to flanker Cameron Stanley but there was not a bad Cootamundra player on the field.

Centre Matt Berkrey dominated the mid field, halves Charlie Booth and Aaron Byrne steered the ship and forwards Daryl Hemapo and Isaac Mitchell carried the ball with vigour.

Big bench minutes from power forwards Pita Herangi and Sam Bush gave Harden no respite.

The year was a squad effort, all members played a role and it was great for young squad members Isaac Tregear, Tom Miller and Daniel Raleigh to see plenty of minutes alongside stalwarts Alex Hardie and Mick Purtell.

Congratulations to the Cootamundra players, staff and families you have reaped the rewards for months of sacrifice and hard work.

Up the Colours !!! Bring on 2020.

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