In a game where the lead was never more than six points – with just two minutes to go – it was a try from Matt Feagai that handed Leeton a perfect season and the under 16s Group 20 premiership with a 14-10 win over Yanco-Wamoon.
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The game had been locked in a stalemate at 10-all – thanks to the rain that was pelting down – for about 10 minutes before Feagai struck down the left edge.
The lead up to the try was a near replica of a play Leeton had put on just minutes before.
In that passage of play, Leeton swung the ball left and looked to have scored only to have the try disallowed due to a forward pass for the second time in the match.
The try put Leeton in the box seat as the Greens gathered the resulting short kick-off and played out the final 30 seconds to secure the win.
Coach Andrew Pauls said whilst he had “a few more grey hairs” after the win, he couldn’t have asked for a better game of rugby league.
“For two sides – aged 16 years old and under – mate, that was brilliant,” Pauls said.
“The ball security in this weather [was impressive]. It was great game to start off the whole day.”
Leeton’s Koby Eglinton scored the only points of the first half as the Greens held a 4-0 lead at the break.
Jayden Pippin levelled the score 90 seconds into the second half before the sides traded tries and the score remained 10-10 until Feagai’s late try.
Both teams threatened throughout and more points would have been scored if it weren’t for both sides back three.
Despite the conditions, both sides’ wingers and fullbacks were safe at the back and minimised their side’s turnover of the ball.
“We spoke about a few things at half-time. Ball security was one of them and, obviously, it was going to be hard in this weather,” Pauls said.
“Touching on the back three, I gave them a big wrap at half time.
“They got under the ball, they caught it on the full, they did not make one mistake.
“That went a long way to our whole game – the security back there.”
The win sealed an undefeated season for the young Greens but Pauls said his charges had to work for it.
“I’d like to thank Yanco for a great game,” Pauls said
“We’ve been toe to toe all year.
“We have beaten them three times this year but I just knew they’d bring their game and they did. They never left us alone for the whole hour.”
