Bowral Blacks win IDRU first and second grade premierships

For the first time in the club’s history, Bowral won the first and second grade premierships.

It was also the first time the second grade went back to back.

With both teams fired up and ready to go, the vocal support from Bowral fans gave them an extra edge.

“The Bowral crowd was through the roof,” Blacks head coach Gene Fairbanks said.

“It was such an amazing atmosphere and it was probably worth 10 points the way the crowd got behind us.”

First grade defeated Avondale 34-18 and in second grade, Bowral got up over Campbelltown 28-18.

The last time first grade took home the trophy was in 1999.

“It was absolutely unbelievable. A very special day,” Fairbanks said.

Two weeks ago Bowral first grade suffered a hard loss at home against Avondale and had to fight its way through to the decider.

After making it through to the grand final with a win over Uni last week, Fairbanks said he was confident the team would respond- which it certainly did.

“They held themselves accountable for that result [and the difference this time] was desire and energy to want to win,” he said.

“The absolutely manned up against a very tough team. We knew they were going to be physical and our boys stood up to them.”

The score was locked 13-13 at the break but the Blacks proved just how much they wanted the win with a strong second half performance.

Erin Blackshow crossed the try line for Bowral twice in the match and Henry Yuill scored the final try for the Blacks.

But while the Blacks remained sharp in attack, Fairbanks said it was their defence that got them over the line in the end.

He praised the efforts of Blackshaw and Lachlan Huntington, who had another strong kicking game.

Tom Mooney also kicked well at the back and Ryan Knight “played the perfect tactical game for us”.

Fairbanks said the forward pack again stood up and captain Tim Small led the way.

“Without him we wouldn’t have been able to get it done. He’s a special player and an absolute competitor.”

It was another tough game for second grade.

Due to injuries, first grade had called on some of the regular second grade players to step up.

Fairbanks said third grade players stepped for the grand final and with guys playing out of position, “it was a special performance”.

Blacks president Mark Freund said it had been an extremely tough game against a Campbelltown side that “kept coming at us”.

“We had to grind it out and wind them down. It was just a great defensive effort from everybody,” he said.

With the club struggling just a few years ago, Fairbanks said Saturday’s premierships were an amazing achievement for the club.

“When I got involved in the club it wasn’t in a great place. The culture was there, it just took a little bit to bring it to the surface.”