The Hunter River Times

BY ALEX TIGANI

The Denman Devils had two reasons to celebrate at Scone Park.

The visiting squad celebrated a 40-0 grand final at under-12 level before the under-14 line-up bounced back from a semi-final loss to celebrate a memorable 36-6 win in the season decider.

Ivy Hagan, who presented her under-12 mentor the winning shield, had to rush away from media duties when called to play in the following grand final.

“Andrew (Wright) has just been amazing all year, he been there all season training us and it has just been amazing,” Hagan told The Hunter River Times.

This was the first premiership medal winning coach Andrew Wright had collected since guiding the Muswellbrook Rams to their most recent first grade premierships in 2002 and 2004.

Yet he only wanted to remembered as a dad who loves helping his kids and praised the under-12s for their performance in trying conditions.

“We only played this Scone team in the finals and with the weather and the conditions it was an each way bet as to who started well first would go on to win,” he explained.

“We are very fortunate that Denman is such a tight night club and town and everyone is sticking out for each other.”

Though the under-14 decider was also anticipated as a final which would go down to the wire, the Devils proved to be a class above.

“It is good to see the new generation coming up,” co-coach Kyah Johnston added.

“It feels good because last season was cut short and as a result Scone won the minor premiership.

“I think this is Denman’s first under-14 grand final so this feels very good.”