Turvey Park claimed consecutive premierships with a dominant performance against Coolamon in the Under 17.5 grand final at Narrandera on Saturday morning.
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With a flying start and a brilliant third quarter, the Bulldogs brought Coolamon's flying finals series to a shuddering halt, winning 18.17 (125) to 6.10 (46) with their best performance of the season.
"I'm very, very proud," coach Mark Carroll said. “The big thing about them is they did everything I asked of them, to be honest with you," Carroll said.
"They played as a team. I really drummed that into them. They played really well. It's a credit to them and Turvey Park's got a bright future with a lot of these boys here.”
The talented Turvey teens kicked four goals to none in the first quarter, survived a lift in intensity from the Hoppers in the second, and then came out firing after half-time to charge to a 79-point win.
Wingman Ben Lewington set the tone for the second half with a burst out of the centre and a clearance to set up the first of the Bulldogs' seven goals - including two each to Alex Carroll and Angus Grigg – as they opened up a 60-point lead by three-quarter-time.
"We've played games before where we've started well and dropped off," Carroll said. “So the boys kept up the pressure and we just didn't let them get into the game. They (Coolamon) have got some good players and swept all before them before they got here and I suppose we ripped into them early and kept going.”
Coolamon attempted to stop the onslaught with two goals early in the last but the Bulldogs had too many contributors all over the ground and finished off strongly
Lewington was superb for the Bulldogs delivering a best-on-ground performance, while Carroll and Grigg, who both finished with four goals, weren't far behind.
Coach Carroll was reluctant to single out individuals but agreed his players had saved their best all-round effort for the last game of the year
“Actually, I think it is,” coach Mark Carroll said. "I reckon that's probably the best team performance we've done all year. We've had blokes playing first grade and different things during the year. It’s only the last two games we've had this team together.
“We were a bit scratchy in the semi-final against Collingullie, we were down by 30-odd points at one stage and we come home and just got over the line with two seconds to go.
“Then we got to this point here and they played well today. So I reckon it's the best team performance they have done all year, for sure, no doubt – and on the big stage.”
Ryan Allen led Coolamon's efforts with a big game, including three goals in the second half, but the Hoppers' heroics to come from fifth eventually caught up with them.
Full-time:
TURVEY PARK 4.1, 5.9, 12.14, 17.17 (119)
COOLAMON 0.2, 2.6, 3.8, 6.9 (45)
Goals: (Turvey Park) Angus Grigg 4, Alex Carroll 4, Riley Browning 2, Tom Richards 2, Jackson Hughes 1, Ben Lewington 1, Cody Bramich 1, Riley Hubbard 1, Harry Woods 1; (Coolamon) Ryan Allen 3, Cooper McKelvie 2, John Reid 1.
Best: (Turvey Park) Ben Lewington, Alex Carroll, Angus Grigg, Riley Hubbard, Jackson Hughes, Tom Crakanthorp; (Coolamon) Ryan Allen, Matt Bradley, Braedon Glyde, Liam Delahunty, Bay Leary, Nick Buchanan.
Kohlhagen Medallist: Ben Lewington (Turvey Park)