A "tough" debut season for Barraba/Gwydir's under-19 side has turned into an "amazing" one - a year of constant struggle now tinged with a golden premiership glow.
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Speaking after the Ram-Rats beat Pirates 31-24 in the grand final at Walcha on Saturday, Barraba-Gwydir co-coach Andrew Woollett and Bingara (Gwydir River Rats) president Jason Lewis laid bare the side's travails in their debut season.
Woollett spoke about the unfilled feeling he had felt when the River Rats were a separate entity, after they failed to win a premiership.
Post-match on Saturday, Woollett said he and Lewis started the River Rats. "We played in a fair few [grand finals] but we were never able to bring one home," he said.
Finally winning a premiership was "amazing", he said.
Lewis said there were times when Barraba/Gwydir struggled to field sides, with the team made up of Farrer borders and locals. "At times we went to games with 13-14 guys," he said.
"Full credit. They're a bunch of great young blokes. They never had one training run together all year. We'd come together on the day. And they formed their combinations on the day over the year."
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Barraba/Gwydir held their nerve to beat Pirates in what was an absorbing grand final.
A strong five-pointer on the trytlne by Pirates No 3 and captain Koen Reiri and the conversion by No 7 Toby Maslen made it 26-24 with just under 10 minutes left.
But with about five minutes remaining, Ram-Rats fullback Liam Mack crossed for his second try after slicing through Pirates' defence. Dylan Butler converted: 31-24.
As they had done all match, Pirates looked to strike back quickly and put Barraba\Gwydir under pressure on their line. However, the Ram-Rats held them out.
Pirates opened the scoring when Maslen crashed over out wide from close range early in the first half: 5-0.
It was 5-5 after Ram-Rats captain Thomas Costello crossed from close range.
With just over five minutes left in the first half, Barraba/Gwydir No 10 Ben Ashley scored from close range. Butler converted: 12-5.
Pirates struck back when No 10 Lachie McCarthy produced a beautifully weighted kick and No 22 Nick Taggart won the race to the ball to touch down. No.14 Jackson Kent added the extras: 12-12 and half-time.
The Ram-Rats scored first after the break when Mack finished off a top backline movement to give his side the ascendancy early in the second half. He had backed up a break by Ashley, who provided him with an excellent pass under pressure. Butler converted: 19-12.
Pirates replacement Jimmy Schwager picked up the ball from the back of a scrum on the Ram-Rats' tryline and scored out wide with 16 minutes left in the match. Maslen missed the conversion: 19-17.
Barraba/Gwydir prop Jack Humbert then showed great strength to barge over the line. Butler converted: 26-17.
