Tom Giles crashes through the front door of the Brothers defence.
The Young Cherrypickers have launched their 2025 Group 9 season in emphatic fashion, steamrolling the Wagga Brothers 54-6 in a dominant display at Alfred Oval.
After finishing last year as premiers, the Pickers showed they’ve lost none of their momentum during the off season. Led by player-coach Tom Giles, the Pickers were in control from the opening whistle, building pressure through a powerful forward pack that laid the plat-form for a relentless attacking display. Giles himself crossed for both the opening and final tries of the match, bookending a performance that left little doubt about the Pickers’ intentions this season.
Also finding the line twice were Jesse Corcoran and Aborosio Navori, each contributing with strong individual efforts that helped stretch the margin.
With clinical kicking and disciplined structure, the Pickers continued to pile on the points without letting their foot off the gas.
“Honestly, I think Brothers might struggle to win a game all year, but it’s always good to start the season by putting 50 odd points on. We probably left another 20 out there, but it was great to get a solid run under our belt,” a confident Giles said.
Despite the one sided score-line, the match served as an important hit out for Young, who fielded what was close to a full-strength side. Only two players were unavailable due to minor injuries, both of whom are expected to return in time for the next round.
Jake Hogan turned in a stand-out performance, directing play with composure, while Ed Woods impressed off the bench with a strong stint in the front row. The team’s kicking game was also sharp, missing only a handful of conversions throughout the match.
“We were up 28-6 and didn’t ease off,” said Giles. “We kept building pressure, and that’s what you want early in the year. We’re pretty happy with how we played. There’s not too much we need to change in attack or defence at this stage.”
The Pickers now look ahead to a big home fixture against Albury this weekend at Alfred Oval. The match is expected to draw a strong local crowd, with all grades women’s, league tag, reserves, and firsts set to take the field in a full day of footy.
Kick-off for the main game is scheduled for 2:35pm.
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