Thursday 17 September

Mossman Sharks Under 12's take Premiers for 2009

Last Saturday (Sept 12) Cairns District Junior Rugby League had there Grand Final at Mann St. It was a great day for the Mossman Club, with two teams represented in the Finals.

The Under 11's played first narrowly going down to the Edmonton Storm 16 to 12.  Neither team has lost against any other opposition this season, except each other.  So the contest could not have looked more even with the two best teams in the competition facing each other.  Despite a gutsy performance from the U11s, it was not to be their day.  It has been a fantastic season for the lads and they will come back for next season having gained a lot of experience from this successful year.

Then the U12 Sharks who finished Minor Premiers took on their 'nemesis' and last years winners Brothers, resulting in a 22 to 18 win to the young Sharks. The game had all the the makings of a final. The first 5 minutes Brothers attacked the Sharks line for four sets of six but couldn't break through great defence by the Sharks. The game became an arm wrestle for the next 10 minutes then a break down the right side defence of the Sharks resulted in a try to Brothers. But true to form the Sharks struck back in style with two great tries and conversions resulting in a 12 to 4 half time lead to the young Sharks going into sheds at half time the young Sharks felt confident, but mindful that there was still 25 minutes and plenty of work to do.

The second half began with young Sharks looking like they had played their grand final in the first half. Caught on the back foot and making a few mistakes, resulting in Brothers coming back to lead 14 to 12 after defending for the first 10 minutes in the second half and been starved of the ball the Sharks bounced back and scored a great try to lead 18 to 14 with 10 minutes to go and the bounce of the ball favouring Brothers, a try right near the posts, seaming to take the wind out of the young Sharks, but the missed conversions leaving the score locked at 18 all. The next five minutes saw the game grind from end to end and with just over three minutes remaining the young Sharks scored another great team try in the corner taking the lead to 22 to 18.

The final few minutes were very nerve racking, and with the siren finally sounding, jubilation, elation and relief was felt by all Mossman Supporters, especially Coaching Staff.

The try scores were Bacho Salam 3 and Loui Ganaia 1 and the conversions were to Ethan McCullough, Patrick Lanskey and Hayden D'Addona. Best and Fairest for the Grand Final was Bacho Salam.

The Coaching Staff of the Under 12's would like to congratulate the boy's for there Premiership as all the work put in through the year paid off in the end............WELL DONE BOYS!!!!!!!!