Clement O'Sheehan

On a windswept Northern Beaches rugby field in Sydney, it was Saturday morning and grand final day. The venue was Newport Rugby Ground, by the ocean. The wind will play a factor in all grades. Dundas Valley Vikings from Sydney’s western suburbs was represented in all four grand finals this day. It was the first time in suburban rugby competition history that a team played all their grades in each grade grand final.

Fourth Grade

The fourth graders ran out to moderate applause. They were playing Newport and this was Newport’s home ground. This was controversy enough. After a dour forward dominated match and with minutes to go referee Johnson awarded an offside penalty to Newport in front of the posts for a 17 to 14 lead.

The siren was due however Dundas Valley were able to kick off. A charging backrower Allan Dar collided head-to-head with his opposite backrower, both were immediately heavily concussed however Allan was able to fall to ground and recycle possession for the Valley.  The ensuing ruck saw a backline move which resulted in an apparent try in the corner. The touch judge on the spot kept his flag down and nodded his head to the Valley winger having grounded the ball inside the in-goal area. However, referee Johnson still 20 meters behind play and obstructed from view by so many players in front of him blew no try and full time simultaneously.

Referee Johnson duly raced to his Lexus in the carpark and sped off. Poor old veteran coach Frank of the Dundas Valley fourth grade side cried. He attempted to talk to the touchy who explained that the game was filmed to video and there would be an inquiry, however the result would stand. Injured second grade front rower ‘Big Truck’ took off on crutches and hopped after referee Johnson. He managed to slam one of his crutches into a taillight before the vehicle raced off.

Third Grade

Dundas Valley third grade and minor premiers took the field unaware of the events in fourth grade. They played the consummate first half of rugby and stretched out to a 34 nil half time score.  At 40 nil ten minutes into the second half coach Maldoon used his reserves to give all his third squad the grand final experience.

This unbalanced the side and Blacktown scored four unanswered converted tries to be back in the game and trail 40 – 31. Dundas Valley began protecting a lead as Blacktown stormed back into the game. An intercept try to Blacktown made the score 40-38 to Dundas Valley with 18 minutes remaining.

The Valley was teetering with momentum firmly with Blacktown who were camped inside Dundas Valley 20m as the minutes would down. Blacktown missed four penalty goal attempts and got the wobbles themselves, but the ensuing dropout enabled them to stay deep in The Valleys half. In the final minute of play Blacktown was awarded a scrum ten metres out from The Valleys goal line. The scrum set and moved towards the posts in formation.

Blacktown put on repeated pushes and the heavy defensive work from Dundas Valley finally took its toll. Blacktown edged their scrum over the goal line and the lock forward placed the ball over the stripe. Blacktown win third grade 45-40.

Second Grade

Barclay College, a prestigious private college in Sydney City ran eleven grades throughout the year spread across numerous competitions. They tanked their faltering first grade side to load second grade with their first grade players. The school needed a trophy.  Dundas Valley was aware of the tactics which proved to be very successful. Barclay College second grade were undefeated minor premieres.

In the Dundas Valley shed sat fullback John Ta’Ala. He was vocal in his criticism of his church. This estranged him from his wife, child, family and friends. An emotional year culminated in his wife bringing his child to the grand final to watch him play.

Barclay College ran onto the field, confident.  John bowed his head one last time as Dundas Valley walked slowly onto the field. The Vikings kicked off as they had lost the toss.

John quietly observed the formations in front of him from the fullback position. He could see that Barclay College had Derek, their 7 feet 5 inch back rower and he would lead their ruck and mall all day. He was bonafide first grade player with a wealth of experience. 

Dundas valley kicked off and Derek caught the ball without issue, his forwards wrapped around to drive him forward. Dundas Valley intentionally did not run at the ball in flight. The forwards held a slightly reversed anvil formation, contact would not be established until the ball was secured by the opposition.  The Collegians were put off by the lack of initial contact from The Valley. They began to progress from the point of kick off reception.

Derek still had the ball however it was pinned to his chest by the Vikings in defence. He felt himself picked up and carried backwards. He was thrashed to ground and rucked mercilessly by the Valley forwards. Derek lost the ball attempting to defend his body and a scrum went to the Valley 15m out from the Barclay College goal line.

A 49 - NIL half time score ballooned out to a record grand final score of any grade since records began, 128 – NIL to Dundas Valley Vikings.

John left the ground quietly after the game with his wife and child.

First Grade

Dundas Valley and Waverly from the eastern suburbs of Sydney were set to clash in the first grade grand final. Waverly were the form team of the competition and minor premieres. Waverly had beaten Dundas Valley in both home and away games, also in the first semi-final.

From the kick-off Dundas Valley found themselves on the back foot as the powerful Waverly forwards made ground up field and set up their superior scrum. The Valley held and Waverly spread the ball to create numerous rucks and clearances. The ball was spun further out wide towards the flanks.

A Valley player attempted an intercept which created space for inside/outside passing from Waverly and their first try after only ten minutes. Dundas Valley had no answer to the technical play of Waverly and were left to flounder on the edges of the ruck often grasping thin air. Five first half tries resulted in a 35 – NIL half time score to Waverly.   

The mood in the Waverly sheds was calm and professional. The game is not won.  In the Dundas Valley sheds players stared at the ground. The forwards had no impact, the backs were chasing shadows. They were attempting plays from behind the advantage line. The team had not entered the Waverly inside 20m area all first half. It was a shutout. Waverly were so disciplined they had not conceded a penalty. The Valley on the other hand were guilty of scrum infringements and offside play, all attempts to unsettle Waverly, all in vain.

The prize recruit for Dundas Valley was Dom Patti. He was purchased from the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Rugby League Football Club. He was the highest paid player in the club and the side’s fullback. He was also the goal kicker and captain. He ripped at bandages around his wrists and spat on the ground. He was not in the game and had only touched the ball to punt it as far down the ground as he could, only for Waverly to run straight back at him in numbers.  The Valley forwards had fatigued badly towards the back end of the first half.

There was little talk in the Dundas Valley sheds. They were completed dominated throughout that entire first half. The coach implored the players to find something, personally. They jogged back on the field. Waverly were waiting. Dom noted the wind had subsided. Dundas Valley received the ball from the kick-off. They formed the ruck and presented the ball to the halfback who threw a good ball to Dom Patti for clearance. The rushing Waverly backs forced a charge down, the ball bounced beautifully for the Waverly winger who sauntered around behind the posts. Waverly 42 Dundas Valley NIL after 90 seconds.

Dundas Valley kicked off, again. Waverly committed an accidental offside which resulted in a scrum to Dundas Valley. This was Dundas Valley’s first foray into Waverly’s 20m area. 

Dom Patti accepted the ball as the crowd anticipated a set up play from the forwards and potential back line move. Dom knowing how fatigued his forwards were with the fact there was half an hour of play left took a range attempt on goal.

The crowd murmured as Dom mounted the football on the kicking tee. The ball sailed through the uprights. Wavery 42 Dundas Valley 3. Dom slotted a 50-metre field goal from the resumption of play. Another three points to the Vikings.

With 25 minutes to go in the second half Dundas Valley received the ball from the kickoff and worked the ball to the half way line. Again, Dom slotted a 50-metre field goal. The crowd was confused by these tactics however found their voice. 

Dundas Valley again worked the ball to halfway through the forwards where the mall broke down. The referee penalised a Waverly player for not entering the ruck ‘through the gate’. A 50-metre goal resulted, and Dundas Valley were now in double figures.  The score was 42 – 12 with 20 minutes remaining. 

The crowd was now getting a sense that Dom Patti had been following a plan all along. They lifted their cheers to the Valley players returning to position to receive yet another kick-off. The players looked a little more energised. The first-grade coach sat pensively on a plastic chair beside the playing field. He pondered the tactics of Dom to give the forwards very little work to do whilst gradually mounting score board pressure. 

The Valley forwards worked across the halfway line with the Waverly players more cautious not to give away penalties. This gave the Valley halfback more time to pass to Dom who slotted a 45-metre field goal. The Valley crowd did not know whether to laugh or cheer, they did both.  42 – 15, the score.

Whilst waiting for Waverly to kick off Dom noticed the breeze from the ocean was picking up across the field from his left to right. He threw a heap of grass to the air to confirm what he knew. Again, from the kick-off, the Valley forwards kept the ball tight and progressed over the halfway line. The Waverly backs sensed urgency and made a concerted effort to rush Dom. The Valley half back saw the ‘up and in’ defence and dummied to the inside centre.

To this point the only backs to have touched the ball besides the forwards was the half back and Dom the fullback. The inside centre dodged past the rushing Waverly backs and found himself in the back field. A long looping pass to the winger saw Dundas Valley score in the far-left corner. Dom slotted the goal with the breeze blowing over his shoulder.

The score was now 42 – 22 with 15 minutes on the clock. The Valley forwards marched possession over halfway from the kick off. The Waverly defence were now in two minds to watch for dummy running or Dom. It was Dom this time who swerved defenders and launched a left to right kick which found touch 5 meters out from the Waverly try line.

The Dundas Valley forwards had not been this close to the Waverly try line all game and were ‘fired up’ to be here. The Waverly line out throw was not in straight. The crowd came to life. The forwards had been given a much needed ‘reset’ by Dom’s tactics and were in formation for a scrum with their loose head and feed. The Valley half back fed the scrum and both forward packs held. A backline move ensued from the Valley with a player taken in a high tackle. Dom took a penalty from in front to make the score 42 - 25.

Waverly kicked off for the 7th time this half and the Valley forwards rumbled over halfway. Dom again sent a well-executed kick to the Waverly inside 20 metre area. Waverly secured the line out however the clearance meant Dundas were 30 metres out from goal. Waverly were deemed to have ‘closed the gap’ and a penalty was awarded to Dundas.

The Waverly players fully expected Dom to step for another goal. The valley hooker looked to Dom and motioned with the ball only to tap and charge into a disrupted Waverly defensive line not ready for a quick tap. Dundas Valley players tore in to join the maul. The crowd collectively screamed. The ball recycled to the lock forward who drove the maul across the try line and dropped for a try. The conversion was successful and with under ten minutes remaining the score was 42 – 32.

Waverly kicked off to the forwards and they drove another maul up over halfway. Dundas Valley progressed to the 30-metre line of Waverly. The grandstand thundered with feet pounding on the concrete levels and the concourse heaved in disbelief.  Dom shaped to kick to the corner only to chip in behind the defence in centre field when he saw the Waverly fullback moving to the corner. The lightning quick inside centre for Dundas swooped on the bouncing ball and made for the far-left corner post for another Dundas try. The breeze blew over Dom’s shoulder as he kicked the ball to the right of the uprights, allowing for the breeze to bring it back between the posts, which it did, and the score was 42 - 39.

Waverly were in disarray.  5 minutes left for play. Waverly kicked off for the 9th time in the second half, the breeze was now a wind and was blowing a gale across field.  Waverly decided to kick long to break the pattern of Dundas and buy time on the clock. Dom received the ball and passed to his flanker who set up play 25 meters out from the Valley goal line. They pretty much had to go the length of the field to score.

A maul was established. It took the Valley forwards a minute to go one metre.  The Vikings scrum developed into a maul which progressed another five metres. The emergence of the halfway line prompted an extension of the Valley ruck and maul.

The point of play was switched numerous times as the Waverly forwards countered. At the halfway line the Viking scrum half passed to Dom who sent a drop punt all the way downfield but didn’t find touch. The Waverly full back sprinted to the oncoming Viking defence and launched a kick with all his might which held up in the breeze and sailed over the touch line on the full. 

The Valley set for a line out 35 metres from Waverly try line. As the throw came into play the final siren went. The predominant Dundas Valley crowd couldn’t look on but couldn’t turn away. A penalty or field goal would only level the scores. If it went to extra time, a coin toss would decide on the running direction, and if Waverly ran with the breeze, they would take advantage. They had beaten Dundas Valley this way more than once this year.

Dundas Valley secured their line out and set up for a ruck and maul immediately, advancing into Waverly’s 20 metre zone. Dundas Valley inched ten meters out from the goal line. The crowd hit fever pitch. Five meters out.  The final siren was distant memory. The front of the maul crossed the stripe. Waverly sent all players in to hold up the ball.

Any break in play would be end of the match and grand final victory to Waverly. The referee screamed ‘use it now!!’ The Valley scrum half barely managed to get the ball to his fly half as the Waverly players tore from the maul and charged the Valley fly half.  He was caught. Open side flanker from the Valley was immediately upon him and ripped the ball to his forwards who had filed in from the back of the ruck.

Another maul was established by Dundas Valley under the posts. The front of the maul crossed the stripe yet again. The noise in the ground was deafening.  The lock forward held the ball at the back of the maul and got lower and lower to the ground. The referee’s head was virtually in the maul itself to assess on any potential grounding. The valley backs joined the maul, another inch. The Valley lock forward hit the ground at the first sight of white paint and the referee shot his right arm straight into the air and blew the pea out of his whistle, ‘TRY!!’. Full time.

Final score Dundas Valley 46 – Waverly 42.