Pride was the overwhelming emotion in the Coolamon touch football community after learning their under 14s team is among the four nominees for the state's Junior Team of the Year award.
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The Coolamon Cougars rep team entered the Junior State Cup for just the second year and were up against opposition that had been playing together for years, including reigning champions Western Suburbs and runners-up Wollongong.
The underdogs caught the eye of NSW Touch officials looking for teams displaying sportsmanship and improvement, particularly when they knocked over South Sydney on the first day.
"It was the first victory Coolamon's ever had," coach Robert Clark said.
That might have been the sealer for their state nomination.
"We were as surprised as anybody when we found out ... we nearly fell over," Coolamon president Sharene Mackay said.
The three other nominees were from heavyweight associations: Parramatta Eels under 16 boys, and Manly-Warringah's under 18 boys and girls teams. The winner will be announced on Saturday night.
It's helping put Coolamon on the touch map, even if the team drew from a wider area when Nicholas Woods and Harry Hopkins from The Rock and Wagga's Sam Stout and Ashton Wolter answered an SOS for extra players.
Clark said this year was the first time the boys had scored a try at State Cup and the way they came together as a team in the carnival was inspiring.
"A lot of the players play against each (in local touch) and don't have too many coaches. We only had about six or eight training runs beforehand," Clark said.
"We kept it to the basics but one of the best things for me was the way some of the kids stood up and were good leaders."
Wolter, Tristan Hare and Christian Gallagher led the team beautifully.
Clark took over the team from his son Jeff who wasn't available to coach this year.
He thanked the committee for giving the boys a shot at serious competition and was thrilled about the team's nomination.
"I was like, whoah, that's a pretty a big achievement. We're only from a little place," he said.
He said the Cougars earned praise from opposing coaches for their efforts in defence against top quality touch outfits.,
"I was really proud of them because you see them week-in, week-out at touch playing off the cuff, but we put a bit of structure in and to see how much they improved - they started talking to each other and working together as a team," Clark said.
"For me, it's a lot of pride about watching them grow as players."
Mackay said the whole club is proud of the boys' sportsmanship and willingness to compete.
She said team manager Jody Schulz helped enormously and Katie Francis' organisation at the Coolamon Touch Association also deserved credit.
The Coolamon Touch Association is set to start its local season in late September, for a 10-week Friday night competition. New teams or individual players interested in joining a team are all welcome.
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