SIX teams, three trophies – it all comes down to this for the 2025 Tumut Old Boys Nines finals on at Twickenham in Tumut tonight.
The Adelong Green and Gold and Batlow Tigers get things underway at 6pm when they contest the Bristow-Madigan Plate final (third versus fourth), followed by the Commercial Sharks taking on the Gundagai Tigers in the Pearl Jeffery Plate final at 6.40pm, and then the Roddy Shield final between the Bowlie Bears and Woolpack Jets (first versus second) at 7.20pm.
The Tumut Old Boys judiciary met during the week and issued a “severe caution” to Adelong Green and Gold player John Samuela after an incident in the match against Bowlie Bears last week.
Batlow Tigers’ Jesse Bellchambers said he and his team are looking forward to the Bristow-Madigan Plate final but said it was unlikely they will have a full team due to some illnesses and people being away, and also some who signed up to play originally but were unable to.
“Adelong often turn up a bit stronger when they verse us due to that bit of rivalry so we will be expecting them to try and play fast and go forward with some of their big boys,” he said. “They like to keep the ball moving too so we will have to defend well.
“Most games we’ve lost this year we have beat ourselves a bit through errors making it hard for ourselves, plus we’ve had some key players out most weeks. But our boys are keen as and want to finish on a positive, and I’ve got no doubt there will be some sore bodies after Friday night. Plus our lads put on a good show and are dangerous can score from anywhere.”
The Commercial Sharks have been the standout team in the four-team women’s competition and deserve favouritism, but Gundagai have earned their spot in the Pearl Jeffery Plate final with some great performances.
The Sharks’ Chelsea Angus said she and her team mates are feeling ecstatic leading into the finals this week.
“Our energy and optimism remains at its height, just as it has been from the beginning,” she said.
“I am currently still battling an injury from round three so am unlikely to play this Friday but this is still to be confirmed.”
They won’t be underestimating the Tigers.
“We know that Gundagai will come out firing and don’t doubt their abilities at all,” she said. “After playing against them in the first round both of our teams have improved and it will be a different game all together this time around. We are looking at a full side for this week apart from myself obviously as a to be confirmed.”
The Roddy Shield final shapes as a cracker and is made all the more compelling by the fact that the two teams haven’t met yet in the 2025 tournament. They were to play each other in the first round at Batlow, but lightning put paid to that game before it started.
Bears coach Jack Dean said the boys are pumped and ready to rip in.
“Nothing too crazy at training; just working on our combinations and plays ahead of Friday night,” he said.
He said the Bears would have a virtually full team.
“Minus Clarky (Michael Clark) who we lost in round one due to an injury,” he said.
“We will mainly be concentrating on shutting them (the Jets) down and not letting them play the free flowing footy that they like and are good at. They’ve been the benchmark all competition and that’s why they’re in the grand final. They’ve got class all across the park and expect nothing but a dog fight from them.”
He doesn’t think the fact that the Bears have won the past two tournaments will be too much of an advantage.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a confidence boost as we know our opposition is a class team, but Bowlie Bears three-peat has a nice ring to it so will be fighting hard for that,” he said.
Jets captain-coach Billy Bridgeman said his team are feeling really good and confident this week.
“We were all itching for this game in round one before it got called off so we’re twice as keen now,” he said.
“Watching them, they’ve got a few danger men in attack and hopefully we can ask some questions of their defence.”
Some of the Jets players have tasted Roddy Shield victory before.
“I think our last win was in 2021 and I believe myself, Tommy Jeffery, Jeremiah Freeman and Willy G (Will Guldbransen) are the only ones remaining from that side,” he said.
The Jets players have enjoyed the tournament this year.
“The comp has been great this year, strong teams all round,” Bridgeman said.
“It just went really quick it seems. I guess time flies when you’re having fun.”
Presentations will follow each final.
