The Winter chill hung in the air over Alfred Oval in Young, but the atmosphere was anything but cold. This past Sunday, the highly anticipated Group 9 First Grade clash between the beloved Young Cherrypickers and their fierce rivals, the Tumut Blues, unfolded. With both teams eyeing crucial ladder positions as the season progressed, the stakes were incredibly high, and the large crowd, a sea of red and white, vibrated with an electric energy, promising a classic encounter. By the final siren, however, it was Tumut who clinched a tight 22-18 victory, leaving a lingering sense of what might have been for the home side.
From the opening whistle, it was clear this would be a bruising contest, and the Cherrypickers sprang into action. Their formidable forwards laid a strong platform, setting the tone for a dynamic offensive display. Young’s halfback orchestrated some brilliant early plays, putting one of their centres over for an opening try that ignited the home faithful. The Cherrypickers continued to exert pressure, adding another try building what appeared to be a comfortable early lead.
Tumut, however, demonstrated their competitive grit. The Blues, expertly guided by their astute five-eighth Callum Rossiter, responded with sustained pressure. Their hooker was a constant menace around the ruck, probing for weaknesses, and a powerful second-rower muscled his way over the line. Tumut’s fullback also capitalised on a sweeping movement, ensuring the Blues stayed within striking distance. Tumut’s formidable pack, featuring the likes of Zac Masters, consistently tested Young’s defensive line, while Jacob Sturt provided crucial moments of agility in the Blues’ backline. As the half-time siren sounded, Tumut had managed to claw their way back, setting the stage for a tense second forty.
The second half began with renewed intensity, but agonisingly for the Cherrypickers faithful, the momentum began to shift. Tumut’s attack became more fluid, and their defensive efforts stiffened, consistently repelling Young’s attempts to extend their advantage. The Blues’ strategic kicks and relentless chase kept the Cherrypickers pinned deep. The pressure eventually told as Tumut capitalised on a quick play-the-ball, allowing Callum Rossiter to put their fullback over for his second try, giving Tumut their first lead of the game. Despite the tireless work of Young’s lock and a late penalty goal from their halfback to keep them in contention. Tumut’s forwards controlled the final exchanges, denying the Cherrypickers any further opportunity to cross the try line. The final whistle blew, confirming the 22-18 triumph for the Tumut Blues, a result that left the home crowd stunned.
“They scored a couple of tries in the last 10 minutes, two or three, to get over us which is a bit disappointing. We looked like we had them beat,” lamented Young President Andrew Smith, reflecting on the agonising loss.
“The way it has been going we’ve been the best side for the first 60 or 70 minutes and then just taking the foot off the pedal in the last ten minutes and letting the sides back in.”
Smith also highlighted the obstacles the squad faces. “It’s very hard, we got blokes playing out-of-position as well as being on the wrong side of some 50/50 calls. At a certain point, we have to make our luck. We should be good enough to the point that no one call decides a game, we haven’t been at that level recently.” He commended their opponents, acknowledging, “Tumut has enjoyed a great season, it was only that one lapse against Roos where they had a bit of a score on them. They are a great side, they’ve got an excellent pack and a very similar side to us.”
The President also addressed the team’s struggle to fully assert themselves. “We haven’t been putting our stamp on the game like we know we can. We’ve got some great players and the side out there to win those games, but they are just not quite getting there as well as continuing to pick up injuries.” Indeed, the injury toll continues to hinder the Cherrypickers.
“Issac only lasted 14 minutes of the game before he strained his hamstring. He’s been good so far this year, it was a pre-existing injury from last year. We are hoping it’s just a strain but there will be monitoring for him and we will be calling on some more depth again this week as we are depleting the stocks so to speak.”
Further concerns arose for key players: “Jesse Corcoran had a bit of pain around his sternum area and we will be monitoring him as well. Che Hyslop dislocated his finger but we got that back in and we will be monitoring him as well.”
On a more positive note for the Cherrypickers, the return of Jayke Hogan from injury provided a much-needed boost.
“On a positive note, Jayke Hogan came back from injury and he made a difference in the middle and that was pleasing to see and he pulled up good after the game,” Smith confirmed. He also lauded another pivotal player’s performance: “Tom Giles had a great game for us, really stood up.”
Adding to the club’s good news, the Cherrypickers’ women’s tackle team recorded an impressive 52-0 victory over their Tumut rivals, solidifying their spot in third on the table. President Smith was thrilled with their dominant showing, exclaiming, “They were amazing. It’s the best game they’ve played all year.” However, even this triumph came with a setback. “We had an injury come out of that one as well with one of our best players breaking her collarbone unfortunately. That put a dampener on it, and we wish her well and hopefully she returns quite quickly,” Smith added.
Looking ahead for the women’s team, “They’ll have a more testing game this weekend against Estella who are one spot above them on the ladder. They will be looking to get back at them after losing to them in the first rounds.”
For Tumut, the victory represents a significant statement, showcasing their resilience and ability to stage a comeback against a strong Young outfit. This hard-earned win provides a crucial boost to the Blues’ campaign. The Young Cherrypickers, despite the disappointment and their growing list of injured players, will undoubtedly regroup, focusing on tightening their defence and maintaining intensity for the full match as they look ahead to their next Group 9 challenge.
-Tully Potts
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