Yass Magpies under 15s win grand final

Belconnen finished the regular season as minor premiers and had an outstanding defensive record of only conceding 56 points for the entire year. They were also the highest scoring team with 347, just shading Yass by three points. 

Yass had played them twice for two losses of no more than 12 points on each occasion and both times had up to six players missing and never finished with a full complement of players.

Belconnen grew false hope from these results, while Yass had come to the realisation that with a full team of 18 players they would be ready and very confident that they could take down the Sharks next time they met them.

The unfavourable draw that Yass received over the last five rounds of the competition would also become the team’s biggest asset. Hard games back to back steeled their defence and as the coach would tell the boys at training, each game was a brick in the wall, which would lead to a premiership winning 'Great wall of defence'.

With a game plan that revolved around attacking the weak Belconnen right hand side and imposing their relentless defence and fast line speed, the boys were very confident.

Yass kicked off and from the first tackle (which was a great shot) Yass were up in their faces and pressured the opposition into the first of many mistakes due to the great Yass defence on the day.

Yass were quickly into their game plan and rhythm, and after a planned move scored through Kyle Danilczak three minutes in.

After a mistake from the kick off Belconnen were given possession 10 metres out from the Yass line.

After three tackles the ferocious Yass defence forced another mistake out of the sharks.

Hayden Skillen then received a shoulder injury and had to leave the field, he would bravely return and play in pain later and play a big part in the great go forward that Yass had. 

Over the next 10 minutes Yass enjoyed the advantage of winning the territorial battle and were camped in Belco’s half after some good combined work from all our forwards, who were rolling past the advantage point comfortably.

After more good work from the forwards a great inside ball from Daniel Kemp put Danilczak in for his second and with the Angus Warner conversion Yass led 10-0.  

Yass were ripping the Belconnen right edge to shreds and this resulted in two further tries to Warner and a conversion, which would take them out to a 20-0 lead at halftime.

With a composed halftime talk, the 'Pies' knew they were in a good position and not to slacken off.

Yass started the second stanza how they finished the first - on fire. Jackson Paton scored straight away before Danilczak crossed for a well earned hat-trick. With Warner converting both tries, the Magpies extended their lead to 32-0.

Belconnen scored a consolation try with a minute to go to make the final score line 32-6. Yass were the 2014 champions.

They saved their three best games for the last three games of the year to win the premiership. They had a for-and-against in the finals of 96 points scored and only 24 against, to show that defence does win games but scoring tries doesn't hurt either. 

The coach Peter Timmer wanted to thank the staff of Greg Perceval, Greg Clifford, Brendan Madden and Ian Kemp who did a great job all year, and also the teams sponsor Patricks Butchery.

Twelve of the 18 players have now won their second grand final for the club and this team has also played semi-final football every year since its inception, which is a great achievement in itself.

The full squad on the day was Daniel Kemp, Scott Loney, Angus Warner, Trent Wilke, Cameron Madden, Kyle Danilczak, Dylan Perceval, Bailey Timmer, Adam Clifford, Jackson Paton,  Hayden Skillen, Bayley Maher, Jack Ponton, Jayke Poidevin, Johnny Grannell, Josh Baldwin, Bailey Pennell, Jacob Basalama and Jayke Arabin.

Contributed.