The Newie Rednecks left it to the last minute, literally, to defeat minor premiers ABT’s 3-2 in the A Grade Touch grand final at John Oxley Sportsground last Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
ABT’s had been undefeated until Sunday’s grand final.
But with less than 30 seconds remaining on the clock, Steve Eveleigh completed a timely runaround movement to dive over in the corner for the match winner.
Player of the match Glenn Olrich opened the scoring to give Rednecks a 1-0 lead at the break before player of the season, Beau Abraham, sprinted the full length of the field to score early in the second session.
Tries to ABT’s Dean Kelly and Rednecks’ Tyson Smith had the decider tied up again, and it remained that way until well inside the final minute. When it was suggested to Eveleigh that he had left it to the last minute to score, ‘Dizzy’ replied they had planned it that way so ABT’s didn’t get a chance to respond. But he did have his tongue planted firmly in his cheek at the time.
Four out of the seven minor premiers went onto convert that into major premiers. They were Riamukka Mustangs (C Grade), Hawaii Try-O (E Grade), Caged Flamingos (F Grade) and Green Asteriods (Juniors).
Presentations were held at the New England Hotel following the grand final, where Beau Abraham was named player of the season, after he finished with 18 points, ahead of Tom Wicks on 13 and Troy Yarnold on 12.