The Dayboro Cowboys secured the Open 1 Northside minor premiership with a rampaging 60-4 thrashing of Pine Rivers Bears at Pete Albrow Oval.
On an emotional day for the Cowboys club, the Pete Albrow Field sign was unveiled before kick-off in memory of former Vice President Pete Albrow who passed away recently aged 51.
The phenomenal year the Cowboys have had in terms of statistics, shows just how strong the club is leading into the Finals this weekend.
An incredible 18 game winning streak (10 of those being all of the Cowboys home matches) can only attest what the hard work the club from the country has put in not only for themselves and coach Adam Heathwood, but the entire Dayboro and surrounding community.
The home side made light work of the Bears defence early on with club stalwart Adam Harris shooting out of dummy half and sneaking in under the posts to put the Cowboys on the board.
This early try would then see an avalanche of points for the home side with elusive fullback Dan Prentice-McLeod spotting a yawning gap in the Bears defensive line to race in beside the sticks.
No sooner had the Bears restarted, the enigmatic and electrifying Jack White would then use his elusive step to punish the lazy Bears defence and cross unopposed to make it 16-0. Kane Zalewski made no mistake with the sideline conversion.
Pine Rivers coach Darren Price was however a composed man on the sidelines, mixing and matching his squad to try and battle it out with the rampaging Cowboys.
Full credit to the visitors who never gave up and their best on the park for the Bears were Livingston Tuigamala, Turlmanu Pearce and Farao Matafaa who were all superb in a losing side.
As the torrential rain belted across the field, Dayboro continued to pile on the points in the atrocious conditions. Star playmaker Zalewski set up the next try throwing a beautiful cut-out pass to find fullback Prentice-McLeod Who managed to lob the ball over the top to his centre Kieran Hicklin who went in for a fantastic Cowboys try.
Zalewski again would showcase his skills right on the stroke of halftime. Chipping over the top of the Bears fullback to find Prentice-McLeod who again in the slippery conditions, managed to offload to prop Michael Fields who crashed in beside the posts.
With the rain still hanging around in the second half, the Cowboys did not take the foot off the pedal. Coach Adam Heathwood’s expertly drilled side had a job to do and the players delivered in front of the boisterous crowd who had milled under the clubhouse.
It took the home side exactly 35 seconds to go in again after a neat grubber being put through by halfback Josh Hawkins. Second rower Ruben Sullivan superbly picked up the ball to slide in and score a well-rehearsed try.
At this stage the Bears were still hanging on by life support. Halfback Kye Dinte and hooker Luke Turner were still playing for pride and frustrated the Cowboys on occasions with their in your face type play.
It would take Dinte’s eye for spotting a lull in the Cowboys’ defence to put a neat grubber through for his winger Brendan Jackson who crossed amongst the whirlpool of water to finally put The Bears on the board.
But nothing was going to stop the Cowboys juggernaut especially on a day like this.
Jack white’s next try can only be described as brilliant. His 60m effort included beating 4 separate defenders, a goose step, an in and away and a foot race to score an unbelievable solo try in front of his beloved Cowboys supporters.
With Zalewski landing a terrific conversion the Cowboys were riding high at 42-4.
The ever reliable winger Kyle Razborsek managed to sneak in a try of his own, tip toeing down the sideline to outclass his opponent’s and plant the ball down under the posts.
Zalewski’s towering spiral bomb would be the catalyst of the Cowboys next try as it was magnificently regathered by Lee Cherry who touch downed for Dayboro.
Right on the fulltime hooter, Cowboys winger Blain Cleghorn was on the receiving end of a cut out pass by Hawkins and the speedy flanker inched his way over the line to secure an emotional win for the country folk of Dayboro.
Final Score: Dayboro Cowboys 60 defeating Pine Rivers Bears 4.
