THE Mindaribba side have walked away from the 2011 Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout as champions after an emphatic 56-24 win over the Yuin Monaro outfit at Carrington Park yesterday afternoon.
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After an enthralling opening 45 minutes, Hunter-based team Mindaribba simply romped home against a Yuin Monaro team which, up until that point, had threatened a repeat of the miraculous comeback against Moree in Sunday’s quarter-final.
In the end, weight of possession and a brilliant start from Mindaribba told on the South Coast-based side, whose defence was simply unable to cope with what Mindaribba threw at them in the last half-hour of the match.
“All 25 guys in this team, all of them put their hand up and were used on the field. We all love playing together and playing for each other and if it wasn’t for each of them we wouldn’t be here,” Mindaribba five-eighth Joby Patton said.
“Our defence won us this match. It has been fantastic all through the tournament. We only let in three tries before the grand final and that is against some of the best attacking footballers going around.”
Patton himself and halves partner Cody Walker were both strong for Mindaribba, who had beaten the Dubbo Googars earlier in the day to make the final.
Yuin Monaro took care of the Newcastle All Blacks in their semi-final.
Three tries in the opening 12 minutes gave Mindaribba the perfect start in their grand final, played in front of a packed crowd.
Walker scored the first before setting up the second for his brother Ryan with a deft kick, and though Yuin muscled up and produced some thunderous hits, Minda were well on top.
Yuin centre Aaron Brierly got his side going by putting a kick on a platter for Warren Potts, but Darcy Ettrich hit back immediately for Minda.
Brierly was at it again soon after, throwing a superb cut-out ball for Billy Collins to score before Cody Walker scored his second, Brierly forced to do it all himself for Yuin’s third try as they desperately clung onto a hope of victory.
When Dave Terare landed a 45-metre penalty on the half-time siren, Yuin had the momentum going into the break despite trailing 30-18, and had the opening five minutes of the second half camped on Minda’s line.
They couldn’t turn it into points, though, and in the matter of a few minutes Minda added two more tries and effectively sealed the game.
“We got out to a great start in that first 15 minutes and though we went a bit tit for tat after that we were able to kick away,” Patton said.
“That period after half-time was where the game was won. We pride ourselves on defence and we did it well all weekend.
“Cody and Ryan Walker were both great, so were our props, but it is hard to single people out when all 25 of us made contributions.
“It is a great feeling to win. I’m very proud to be a part of it.”
