LAST Saturday afternoon saw hundreds of Bay locals make their way to Harker Oval, New Lambton to watch the local Fingal Bay Bomboras play West Wallsend in this year’s Grand Final.

As the final whistle blew, the Score Board announced the Fingal Bay Bomboras victors with a 28 – 24 win.

This Grand Final win is the first for the Bomboras in 19 years.

The first half saw “The Bommies ” playing into the wind, with West Wallsend looking like they might secure a win with a 24-6 lead.

Coach Dean Carney, encouraged the team at half time reminding the players to “believe in what we are about” spurring them to “turn this around, and to just play with what is presented to us”.

Dean Carney, a former forward turned winger, had an enigmatic career during the 80’s.

His list of achievements include playing for Cronulla – Sutherland Sharks from 1983-1986, the Illawarra Steelers 1987 to 1988 and Newcastle Knights in 1989.

Carney was also the seasons leading point scorer in 1985 when touring Papua New Guinea on the ARL President’s Tour, with the top score of 194 points consisting of 11 tries and 75 goals.

Coupled with Carney’s expertise comes the experience and passion of John Gutherson, the Bommies Assistant Coach.

Gutherson is a long serving player with the Bomboras having joined them in their inaugural year in 1998.

The imparting of the Dynamic Duos knowledge and understanding of the game, has now seen the players achieve their mutual goal, a Grand Final win.

“Everything about this team is local, that’s why the win is so good,” Dean Carney told Bay News Of The Area.

“The secret why it’s worked this year is because from the players, the sponsors, the committee and the supporters, absolutely everyone is local and everyone has been committed,’’ said Mr Carney.

“We even had Bay locals come out to support us who are not usually Rugby League supporters. The support from the whole of the Bay has been amazing,” he said.

Mr Carney thanked the team for their all year commitment and the incredible team effort of everyone involved that saw them achieve this year’s Grand Final win.

He believes that the time was right for the team to achieve their goals.

“Above all it was great to see the team win a Grand Final as a thank you gift to everyone involved, from the supporters the committee members and all the volunteers who help tirelessly behind the scenes every week, he said.

It seemed as if the whole town was out celebrating the Bommies win at the Fingal Bay Sports and Recreation Club on Saturday night, the air was electric.

The Bay will be buzzing for some time after such a great win from the Mighty Bomboras!

 

By Jewell DRURY