The excitement that builds around the club in the week leading up to the grand final is something very special indeed I have been directly involved with the Wellington Juniors for about 12 years and in that time we have played in three grand finals, losing two in the 13s and winning one in the 15s two years ago.
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A day that will be etched in my memory for the rest of my life.
It is extremely difficult to make the semi finals let alone play in a grand final and actually win it.
For some of this remarkable group of boys this will be the fourth grand final they have played in and what makes it even more remarkable is the fact that a town the size of Wellington is competing against cities like Dubbo and Orange who sometimes have three teams playing in one grade, we have no such luxury.
We started this season with only 10 players in the 17s and with the help of the Rugby League boys who play both codes and a few new recruits we eventually fielded 18 players for the finals plus three boys who back up from the under 15s.
Just to put it in perspective Orange turned up at last week's semi final with their full squad of 28 players.
This Saturday we will travel to Cowra.
At 12.10pm our under 17s will run on against Dubbo Blue in the grand final, for half of these boys it will be the last time they pull on the maroon and white for the Wellington Junior Club.
I will hopefully be one of the lucky few who travel on the bus with them and will watch them warm up.
Disappointed because I have developed a back problem that prevents me rucking and mauling and being smashed by them, I will have stood in the dressing sheds listening to the coaches giving there last instructions before they run on and feeling the goose bumps cover me and my guts churning with a mixture of nerves and excitement as we wait for the referee to blow his whistle.
The story so far
Our two country representatives Lincoln Blackhall and Jake Styles leave us to go to boarding school Mackenzie Tierney and Oscar Beasley suffer injury at the beginning of the year both boys are out for the season, they stick with their team mates running the water and assisting coaches at every game.
The team travel to Mudgee for the first game of the year with only ten players they are thrashed 41 to 12 Dubbo Blue who will end up being there grand final opponent travel to Wellington where they are beaten in a boil over Wellington 27 Dubbo 5
Mudgee come to Wellington probably expecting to dish out another hiding, Mat Maher hobbles off, he's gone for the season needing a knee reconstruction it turns out to be one of the greatest games of the year, Wellington snatch victory after the hooter when Jack Baker kicks a penalty goal from the sideline thirty five metres out from the posts, final score 25 to 24
The second round Dubbo Blue game is forfeited due to wet weather
After six weeks without a game of football Wellington are soundly beaten in their last two games by Forbes 27 to 19 and Dubbo Red 27 to7
Now regaining some match fitness they take on Dubbo Red again in the first elimination semi unexpectedly Mat Maher makes his return and has an outstanding game, it's a nail biter but Wellington win the game 25 to 17 Dubbo Blue beat Orange City with only minutes left in the game to be the first team through to the Grand Final
The second elimination semi is played in Wellington against arch rival Orange City the two teams take to each other with picks and shovels Wellington are the last ones left standing, winning the game 29 to 25.
If you want to see how the story ends be at Cowra tomorrow at 12.10 sharp
KENNY IS REALLY EXCITED
