The Hunter River Times

BY ALEX TIGANI

To truly understand the significance of Scone’s under-16 girls’ tag grand final win you only had to look at the relief displayed by captain Makenzi Nelson.

For many years the Scone line-up had been in the premiership conversation only to fall short on grand final day.

Last year, the girls were prepared to avenge their recent 28-14 grand final defeat to Aberdeen only for the season to be cancelled due to the covid-lockdown. The kinor premiership went to Aberdeen as a result.

Therefore when Nelson held up the winning shield this month, she had lived out a dream which was years’ in the making.

“We were sick of coming second in every grand final so it was good to have a home game,” Nelson told The Hunter River Times.

“Everytime we have gone through to a grand final in 2018, 2019 and 2020 it has just seemed to slip through our fingers.

“This year we really did put in the effort and you could tell from the girls faces how happy they were.”

The home side led 16-6 earlier in the match and never looked back from that point.

Proud coach Ross Duggan believes the side’s undefeated season was a result of the group’s athleticism, skill, structure and desire to win.

“What I’ve seen in the last two years coaching girls in league has been mind-blowing, the way they have picked up the skills of the game their athleticism, the knowledge of the game and the will and want to continually learn and practising is amazing,” he explained.

Lily Adams, Sarah Shankley and Eliza Duggan also made their senior grade debuts in season 2022.