With Owens Transport taking the coveted “Branch of the Year” The team felt the pressure of backing it up with a win in the OT’s Touch Grand Final.
The scene was set:
1st the semi final
Owens had been in this position the previous year but faulted in the last 30 seconds where Cockroaches (5 time champs) scored a run away try, breaking the hearts of the tight knit Owens Boys.
The semifinal saw revenge as top priority and Owens did exactly that, taking down Cockroaches 6-4 in a convincing manner.
To the final
Owens and Fat Boys had meet twice during the round robin to which each had taken a win, Owens taking the last game 3-2 in a tight affair.
Tension was seen on the faces of both teams as they walked from the changing rooms down the tunnel and into the stadium, several turning back to run for a nervous one before returning to the field.
 The First half saw Owens using their pace to move down field with Scotty (the Claw) Collings moving with Speed down the flanks followed closely by Dwayne (mini me) Collings ready to cover Scotty like an undersized thong. Within five minutes “rubberband Shannon” passed the pill to “Tim Tam Tom” ,who took full control, swerving his way down the Flank, a talented once in a lift time pass to legendary “Joe Enough said Curtis” saw him run in the first try ….. YES OWENS 1 FAT BOYS 0. The game moved up in pace with the teams showing skill and finesse With “Lobster Legs Liam” making good grounds. Owens found themselves parked on their own try line defending their nest like a Magpie protecting it’s young when out of nowhere the intercept was made by (he who must not be named); off down the field they went in what could only be called a flash of Blue light YES OWENS 2 FAT BOYS 0. Five mins later and with only 2 left before the half saw a change in play. Fat Boys moved down the field and Owens where found to be off side twice. Again finding themselves camped on the try line Owens had to defend, Fat boys made a good old fashioned switch-a-roo and Owens were found Short on the wing Dammmm OWENS 2 FAT BOYS 1. With a few more plays left in the first half the hooter finally rang and the players went into their groups to run an overview of the plays and to plan for what would be an epic second half
 The hooter rang again and they were off. Fat boys had the ball but with solid defense from “Bryan he’s off side ref Curtis” and a poor pass hit the turf within two plays. Owens went straight onto attack and in three moves had Fat boys parked on their try line. Defense was high on Fat Boys agenda and Owens were unable to finish off. Back and forth the teams went, tracking up and down the field like a yoyo and within 10 mins saw Fat Boys again on the Owens try line. Owens were found off side several times and with Fat Boys having so much ball it was inevitable that eventually they would cross the line in fantastic 1-2 miss a few move down the flank…. S#%T Owens 2 FAT BOYS 2.
With approximately 5mins 27 sec left in the match and the prospect of a drop off situation looming both teams lifted their games. With FAT BOYS having 40 subs waiting on the sideline and Owens with only 3 it showed in the dying minutes with Owens Fitness starting to fade. Fat Boys used this to their advantage and again saw them singing songs around the fire in the camp they had set up five out from the Owens try line. Defense again of mammoth proportion kept Fat Boys at the five meter line and this is how it stayed until 30 second from the hooter, History was raising its filthy head again and the Owens boys started to have flash backs. I THINK NOT, that was not how it was to play out this year as we knew the pain we felt in the previous final. The moment was seized with both hands and the intercept(thrown by Mark the man Birtwistle )was again made by (he who must not be named –Darren the flying Fijian Turner aka Captain Fantastic) just meters from the Owens try line. Off down the field they went, it was beautiful watching this fine athlete do what he does best, the roar of the crowd added to his enthusiasm and at one stage his feet seemed to glide inches off the ground. YESSSSS………. OWENS 3 FAT Boys 2
Each of the Owens boys bent to their knees and prayed that the hooter would now sound. Someone must have been listening as at the very moment the sound rang and the game was won. Tears, high fives and man hugs rained downs as the victorious OWENS boys celebrated.
Well done Owens well deserved, we finished off the season like we started and apart from a few hiccups in the middle saw a near perfect tournament. Bring on next year.
Al Capitan |
