BATHURST Bushrangers coach Brian Matheson couldn’t be prouder of the fight his under 17s displayed in their grand final loss to Bathurst Giants on Sunday.
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Bushrangers came into the match with just one player on their bench and, despite a strong start to the match, the lack of numbers showed in a 12-6-78 to 6-2-38 loss at George Park 1.
Giants were deserved winners after outplaying the Bushrangers from late in the second quarter although Matheson said his reduced squad of 13 should be proud of their efforts.
“It’s a disappointing result but the guys played really hard, as they’ve done all year,” he said.
“We were missing a few players through injury and missing Scott Brown, who was part of the GWS Giants Academy and won the leading goal kicker this year, was a big blow.
“We fought on but Giants were just the better team on the day.”
There was confidence among the Bushrangers camp after a big preliminary final win over the Tigers along with the knowledge they’d beaten the Giants in their previous encounter.
Bushrangers came out with plenty of energy and got out to a 12-8 lead at the first break.
The teams continued to trade goals over the next quarter.
When Giants kicked a goal late in the second term, taking them to a 32 to 24 lead at half-time, it marked a shift in momentum.
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It was a shift that Giants grabbed with both hands and never lost their grip on.
Their fitness and accuracy in front of goal were telling factors against a Bushrangers team running out of fresh legs.
“We had a 13-year-old on the bench, the only player we had to give us some rotation,” Matheson said.
“We were right in it until half-time but we ran out of legs towards the end of the game.
“It’s been a really great season … and I’m looking forward to seeing a couple of these 17s stepping up into senior football next year.”
Giants’ Aiden Macauley kicked six goals for the Giants in the win, showing that his minutes in senior football this season have been invaluable.
Connor Lynch and Anthony Ranken each booted two goals for the Bushrangers.
BATHURST GIANTS 12-6-78 (Aiden Macauley 6, Jacob Molkentin 2, Mitch Taylor 2, Charlie Hutchings, Jack Goodsell) defeated BATHURST BUSHRANGERS 6-2-38 (Connor Lynch 2, Anthony Ranken 2, Macson Alexander, Andrew Knox)
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Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
