Until last Saturday, the Cabonne Roos had largely spent its decade-long existence in the Group 11 Lachlan District Junior Rugby League, as president Katie Foy says, getting flogged every week.
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But after taking out the Country Rugby League club of the year award in August, on Saturday the Roos then won the club’s maiden premiership when the under 12s defeated Forbes 30-10 at Condobolin.
The club’s quest for a second title was then very brief.
Capping the day in style, the Roos under 16s knocked off Red Bend in the final grand final for the day, skipper Jack Thomas producing an incredible one-on-one strip after the full-time siren before racing 50 metres to score the match-winning try and secure a 28-24 win in the decider.
From no premierships and whipping boys to two titles and CRL club of the year.
It’s a remarkable transformation for the Cabonne Roos club, one Foy is incredibly proud of.
“It’s been an amazing year for the club, it’s been insane,” Foy said, Cabonne Roos first forming in 2006.
“To win our first premierships ever for the club is fantastic.
“It was only the few years ago the club was being flogged in every grade, every week.
“The dedication of the volunteers, players, parents … we’re able to have two coaching staff to every team now which is great and the players are really benefiting from it.”
The club fields side in both the junior and senior league tag competitions, as well as under 10s, under 12s, under 14s and under 16s – every grade the Lachlan junior league runs.
In total, 101 juniors registered for the club in 2017.
Foy says for a club that draws on villages like Cumnock, Yeoval, Cudal, Manildra and Molong, fielding sides in every grade, let alone successful ones, is a massive achievement.
“We’re focused on ensuring what we’ve got is sustainable into the future so we’ve always got kids playing the game in our area,” she said.
“It’s all about grassroots. It has to be. It’s a unique structure where we draw from so many small villages but it works and we’re continuing to build. We ran under 7s and under 8s sides this year too.”
The Lachlan JRL includes sides from Condobolin, West Wyalong, Parkes, Forbes, Red Bend, Canowindra, Grenfell and Cabonne.
The club also picked up a stack of individual awards, with Brodie Johnston (under 16s best and fairest), Jackson Gersbach (under 14s best and fairest, Lachlan District International grade player of the year), Meg Murray (overall league tag player of the year, junior league tag best and fairest) and Molly Hoswell (runner-up senior league tag best and fairest) all recognised for stand-out seasons by the Lachlan JRL.
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
