If you stood close enough to Chris Osborne on Sunday at Cowra after his St Pat’s side took out the Group 10 first division major semi-final with a dogged 14-6 win over minor premiers Orange Hawks you could hear the quips.
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‘Don’t forget your pension money’ was arguably the best of a series of wise cracks targeting the veteran blue and whites.
The two blues boys were smiling, it was all in good fun.
But what’s hidden beneath the grey hair a lot of the St Pat’s first division side now boasts is invaluable amounts of experience, nous that’s bought those players top grade premierships.
It was the big-game experience that counted for plenty during Sunday’s grand final qualifier, a mistake-riddled yet physical encounter between a youthful Hawks outfit and a veteran Pat’s side.
“They’re up us about being an old side but we turn up every week and have a bit of fun together for lone last hurrah, sort of thing,” Osborne smiled.
“They’re a good young side and they’ll be back again.”
Mick Armstrong scored St Pat’s first try late in the opening half and the Osborne’s side went into the break holding that 6-0 lead.
Hawks struck back early in the second stanza through Liam Brodrick, the nippy back-rower able to skip through the sliding St Pat’s defence from close range to level things up at the 42-minute mark.
Things went from bad to worse for the blue and whites soon after when Rhys Frame was sin binned but the man disadvantage didn’t both St Pat’s, 2009 premiership winning hooker Trent Hemsworth darting over from close range to score his side’s second.
With his side leading by six, Osborne calmed things down and slotted a penalty goal eight minutes from full-time to extend his side’s lead to 14-6, where it stayed to help qualify St Pat’s for the 2018 reserve grade decider.
“Hemsworth scored the winning try. He’s good out of dummy-half, we’ve got Brent Dennis and Ripples (Mark Elliot) there that keep the young fellas cool,” Osborne said.
“Our attitude wasn’t there in defence last week and today it was, we held them out set after set after set. One try, that’s a good effort. You can do drills, but unless the effort is there it all means nothing.
“Before I took on the job I asked a few of the older fellas if they were keen to help and they’ve supported me and come back to help.
“(Matt) Tilley drives all the way from Woolongong, just to have one last game with his mates. It’s awesome.”
- BATHURST ST PAT’S 14 (Trent Hemsworth, Mick Armstrong tries; Chris Osborne 3 goals) def ORANGE HAWKS 6 (Liam Brodrick try; Duncan Young goal)
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
