"MAKING the most of the opportunities we got".
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That was the assessment from The Armidale School's captain of rugby Harry Deshon following their triumph over arch-rivals Farrer in the North West Regional Youth Rugby competition opens grand final.
TAS made a return to the northern competition after an absence of some years, COVID-restrictions meaning participating in the GPS competition was just not possible.
The traditional rivals met each other in four grand finals on the night, TAS taking the opens and 16s trophies, while Farrer won both 14s divisions.
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"We were all really disappointed that the GPS games couldn't go ahead, but everyone was just pleased we were able to take to the paddock a play the games we could and wanted to make the most of every opportunity," Deshon said.
That they did on Friday night at Scully Park, the 17-0 scoreline belying what was a tight game for the top TAS side, who were committed to end their time in the blue and white on a high.
Leading just 3-nil at half-time courtesy of a James O'Brien penalty early in the game, the visitors knew they had to step up another gear in the second half, and they did.
Their strong defence generated a lot of pressure on Farrer and they were able to capitalise on small errors.
William Ellis scored a long-range try, which O'Brien converted. Edward Bell then took advantage of a chip from O'Brien, who again added the extras.
"We were beaten by Farrer (20-5) in the second game of the competition and learnt from that then stuck to our structures and processes, grinding through and the points came on the back of that," Deshon said.
"To hold Farrer scoreless was really about our strong defence and everyone was just committed to playing their best for the boys next to them."
The TAS 16As finished the season undefeated with a nail-biting 8-5 win. With the score 5-all at the bell, the game went into extra time, TAS' Mac Orr taking on the pressure to slot a penalty from the sideline in his first year of rugby.
Farrer coach Rory Marshman said TAS deserved their victory.
"We knew that they are a very disciplined side, they're a very well-drilled side, we knew we couldn't afford to make mistakes and unfortunately we just made some errors at critical times and TAS capitalised on those," he said.
"I feel disappointed for the Year 12 boys at Farrer, being a Farrer old boy I know that winning my Year 12 grand final against TAS is something I still remember, so I feel disappointed they don't have that memory but we were not there and TAS were the better team, they played phenomenally."
In the girls Calrossy took out the under-18s (opens), Inverell the under-16s and Pirates the under-14s.
For the Calrossy opens the win continued their run of success in the competition and was, coach Jeremy Maslen said, a nice reward for the end of their rugby careers with Calrossy.
The core of the side has been together since the under-14s and won every year.
After accounting for Pirates in their semi-final 22-nil, which for Maslen was an interesting experience, coaching against daughter Erika after she linked up with Pirates this season, they then defeated Quirindi 29-5 in the grand final.
"Quirindi had beaten us during the season but the girls just put it all together on the night," Maslen said.
He said they play a very similar style to the Aussie 7s women's team, shifting the ball from sideline to sideline and creating overlaps with second touches.
"All the girls are very multi-skilled. They are able to play in any position, scrummage, lift or jump in lineouts," he said.