As the winter sport season draws to a close, a legion of local youngsters will be left with a trophy and six months to reflect on their own personal triumphs and tragedies of 2001.
The Moss Vale under-9 rugby league side is just one of many that finished its season last weekend.
But like any young sporting side on the Highlands, the lifeblood of every team is not the players, but the army of parents that volunteer their time.
This often-overlooked core nucleus of die-hard parents deserve their own trophy at the end of the season.
And never more so in the junior Group 6 rugby league competition.
With teams stretching from Warragamba to Robertson, the Saturday morning ritual has seen parents clock up countless frequent driver points simply for the pleasure of watching their beloved in action.
“It’s very rewarding to be involved with a young team and I’m looking forward to doing it next year,” Dragons under-9 coach Mark Hickey said.
Coached by ex-Dragons’ first grader Paul Maloney, the Moss Vale U9s improved dramatically in the mini-league format, winning two matches and preparing well for next season’s step up to mod league.
“We might have only won two games but we showed patches of brilliance,” Hickey said.
“We beat Thirlmere 67-17 and also beat Narellan.”
Young Aaron Cumming showed plenty of talent, finishing the season as the top tryscorer.
“He is a brilliant defender and attacker and probably the best player in the team,” Hickey said.
“Dylan Flanigan was the smallest bloke on the paddock but the courage he had is unbelievable.
“Guys like Ben Champion came up from soccer last year and showed some impressive form.
But it’s hard to single out any one player and they all played really well.
“Steven Hickey, Andrew Tomlinson, Andrew Caldwell, Ashley Brown, James Marshall, Patrick Maloney and Rhys Bastin all showed they have good futures if they stick at it.”
The mini league format is designed to give the kids a solid grounding in the game without endangering them.
The points system is structured so that teams are rewarded for passing the ball and getting the whole side involved.
Tackling is strictly monitored and anything above the shoulders is forbidden.
“We’re really hoping that these boys will go with rugby league,” Hickey said.
“But it’s very hard at that age because there is so many sports to choose from.
“They’ll step to mod league next year so I would encourage all players to come and join the Dragons and give it a go.”
Hickey was quick to sing the praises of coach Paul Maloney, who despite having a distinguished playing and coaching career, was very committed to the sport at a junior level.
“Paul has really done a great job,” he said.
“He gets a bit frustrated at times because you can be a babysitter as much as a coach.
“But there are some really good players of the future in the side and they’ve all improved so much.”
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