Ron Massey Cup decider shatters club’s fairytale
ST MARYS Saints fairytale of winning their inaugural Ron Massey competition was shattered by Mounties on Sunday.
The Standard
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THE St Marys Saints put up a valiant effort against the Mounties at Pirtek Stadium on Sunday, but Ron Massey Cup glory was not to be.
The Saints went down fighting 36-16, and should be proud of their efforts of making the grand final in the inaugural year in the elite competition.
St Marys came out firing with an early 6-4 lead thanks to some excellent teamwork between Antonio Pelesasa and Nathan Smith, but the two teams were quickly locked at 10-10.
By halftime the Mounties had claimed a 16-10 lead, which they quickly extended to 26-10 when play resumed.
Despite a nine-game winning streak, the St Marys side fell just short of the title – the 36-16 scoreline a definitive win for the minor premiers and favourites.
Coach Brad Drew conceded the Mounties were the better team on the day.
“They’re a good side,” Drew said.
“I knew it was going to be a tough game for us.
“We tried hard, but there were a couple of moments where we could have stepped up and didn’t.
“They deserved to win they have been the best throughout the season.”
Drew said there had been plenty of lessons learned throughout the season.
“It hurts losing but to get to the grand final in our first year is obviously a big achievement for the club,” Drew said.
“We know where we need to be for next year.
“I don’t think we were at all at our best. It’s certainly a big learning curve for the boys.
“On the day we just weren’t good enough, I don’t think we had played at our best. Hopefully, everyone improves – me as the coach and them as the players.”
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