Blues mix it with the best
MICK IRVINE and co were singing "The Blues" after wrapping up the 2006-07 First Division title at the Ryde Eastwood Touch Football Grand Finals at Morrison Park Putney.
The well-drilled Blues saved their best performance until last when they edged out reigning champions Holy Cross Old Boys 5-4 in a thrilling contest.
With the experienced Irvine and John Dalton calling the shots, the Blues bustled the premiers with swarming defence and slick passing rushes to pull off a memorable victory.
A potent mix of male and female talent proved a winning recipe for Irvine's Blues who have represented the Association with distinction at State League level.
Holy Cross showed plenty of enterprise to establish an early lead after a try double by teenage whippet Sam Raymond.
But the Blues stormed back into contention when the quicksilver Darren Forster used his pace and flair to cross twice after smart lead up work by Dalton.
The Old Boys gained the upper hand when Tim White and Bodine Hawau dashed over for tries but the lead was shortlived after Dalton scored to level the Cup decider at 4-all.
In a pulsating finish Simone Dalton nabbed the winning try as the Blues celebrated a maiden First Division premiership.
"To capture the trophy was a huge team effort and a just reward for the hard work we have all put in" reflected a proud Mick Irvine post-match.
"This team has been together for several seasons and we've built a good combination - our ball skills, positional play and fitness helped us win the competition against a classy Holy Cross unit" he said.
THE BLUES 5 (D Foster 2, J Bailey, J Dalton, S Dalton tries) d HOLY CROSS OLD BOYS 4 (S Raymond 2, T White, B Hawau tries).
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PUTNEY Pirates clinched the Second Division title when they outclassed Ken Morrow 6-3 in the Cup decider.
Boosted by the inclusion of Australian World Youth Cup star Cameron Nicholls, the Pirates led 2-1 at the break before flexing their muscles.
Cagey veterans Paul Jarvis and Darren Whereat produced vintage performances to spark the Pirates with the ever-alert Jarvis bursting through a gap to open the scoring and fleet-footed Whereat notching his customary try double.
Both sides showed plenty of enterprise before Putney ran amok with the crafty quartet of Nicholls, Jarvis, Whereat and Jarrod Farlow creating havoc.
Even the pesky Allan `Joey' Jarvis left his mark on the game - but for all the wrong reasons.
He was left grasping at thin air when Ken Morrow's evergreen flyer Ron Rust stepped around him and scooted 45 metres to score a spectacular solo try.
Chants of "Stick to training" reverberated around Morrison Park as the flashy - but out-of-touch - Joey struggled big time against the tough Ken Morrow line up.
Rumours were abuzz that Joey was contemplating retirement to concentrate on a promising career as a rugby league trainer with the Tigers.
Jamie Denton and Steve Galvin also scored tries to keep Ken Morrow in the hunt. Kevin Denton's squad proved worthy finalists and were a model of consistency throughout the summer with their exciting brand of play.
PUTNEY PIRATES 6 (D Whereat 2, P Jarvis, L Gardiner, C Nicholls, J Farlow tries) d KEN MORROW 3 (J Denton, R Rust, S Galvin tries).
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ROSS Patten First National ovecame a tenacious Fosters team 4-2 to capture the Third Division premiership.
Outstanding displays from cousins Scott and Josh Vlahos and attacking spearhead Brent Tedesco inspired a well deserved Ross Patten victory in wet conditions.
FIRST Division champions The Blues -Darren Forster, John Dalton, Michael Irvine, Jono Bailey; front Simone Dalton, Kelly Irvine, Erin Walker, Jodie Irvine. Absent: Peter Taggart.
THIRD Division champions Ross Patten First National - Michael Ferraro, Peter Kladal, Tony Ferraro, Vince Ferraro, Ross Patten (patron and RETFA life member), Dane Ferraro, Sean McGilligan, David Megson, Ron Schofield, Mick Vlahos; front Brent Tedesco, Scott Vlahos, Aimee Ferraro, Josh Vlahos, Jeremy Poehls (ball boy); Absent: Tony Moujalli.
First half tries by Tedesco, Dane Ferraro and David Megson gave Ross Patten a 3-1 lead after Thomas Loneragan had scored for the injury-stricken Fosters side.
In a savage blow the Fosters team lost key playmaker Martin Mulcare after 12 minutes with a torn hamstring but battled on courageously with Paul Cundy, James Mulcare, David Peppitt and Dave Loneragan all rising to the challenge.
A well executed try by James Mulcare gave Fosters a glimmer of hope after the interval before veteran Tony Ferraro sealed victory for Ross Patten after weaving through defenders to score in the dying moments.
The trophy win capped another milestone for stalwarts Peter Kladal and Ron Schofield, who turned in a mistake free performance in the Grand Final and the tireless Ferraro clan who never stopped probing.
For Kladal - a permanent fixture in Ross Patten squads since 1976 - it was a sweet moment and reward for three decades of sterling service.
ROSS PATTEN 4 (B Tedesco, D Ferraro, D Megson, T Ferraro tries) d FOSTERS 2 (T Loneragan, J Mulcare tries).
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TOUCH sensation Jono Bailey earned the tag of `Ironman' after figuring in two championship-winning sides on Grand Final day.
22 year old Bailey - an exciting middle link who has represented Ryde Eastwood in Metropolitan and State competition - turned in a brilliant performance to help The Other Mob claim the Mixed Division title before playing a role in The Blues' First Division success later in the day.
Bailey, Matt and Nathan Hardy and Bo Ngaro produced top displays in a 5-1 triumph over Page 96 - helping to preserve a proud unbeaten record.
The Other Mob led 2-0 at the break after first half tries by Eleanor Rau and Emily Hannaford and took a stranglehold on the game when Nathan Hardy, Ngaro and Bailey all scored in a dominant showing.
Page 96 tried hard all game with Maguire Tatola picking up a consolation try.
THE OTHER MOB 5 (E Rau, E Hannaford, N Hardy, B Ngaro, J Bailey tries) d PAGE 96 1 (M Tatola try).
SECOND Division champions Putney Pirates - Paul Jarvis, Leon Gardiner, Matt Hunt, Jarrod Farlow, Jim Farlow (manager), Wayne Piper; front Darren Whereat, Joey Jarvis, Cameron Nicholls.
MIXED Division champions The Other Mob - Matt Hardy, Bo Ngaro, Nathan Hardy, Jono Bailey, Gary Taufa; front Eleanor Rau, Leanne Jones, Emily Hannaford.
Website Editor