Persistence Pays

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Winter 2008 was the 16th season for the Dunneworthy touch team. Since the 2003 Dunneworthy has known plenty of success. Playing finals in the top grade every season but two but not cracking it for success in the big one.

After a disappointing Summer beset by injuries to key players. 2008 brought a few new faces and the hope that this might finally be the year we would win another premiership. After being unsure of the skill level of the new recruits I asked for us not be be put in the top grade. After smashing opponents in the firts thfour games it quickly became obvious we were playing the wrong grade. I asked for us to be put up, we were (and we kept the points).

From there our regular season form was mixed scoring some great wins against the lower and middle teams but losing narrowly through poor defence against fellow finals teams. Our porr defence was the cause of several team lectures from your truly emphasising defence. However due to some refereeing bonus points we finished top.

In the semi after a dour first half the flood gates openned in the scond and we ran away with it. This put us into the Grand Final against the Tornadoes. Yep a team that trains, and one that beat us narrowly earlier in the season.

In the grand final we started on fire scoring the frist three tries however Tornadoes fought back (or maybe we relaxed) and it was all square at the break. In the half time speech I said to the team we just have control field position, complete our sets of 6, and work hard in defence. I was confdent we’d score enough itn the seond we just had to stop them scoring.

As “Hannibal” Smith : says I love it when a plan comes together. After an enormous amount of hard work and desparate defence in the second half against a team with plenty of subs we got the win 6-4.