The Lithgow Bears Rugby League Football Club played their last round at home on Saturday, August 29 against the Kandos Waratahs in the Wallerawang Landscaping Cup for a memorial round.
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Remembering player Nathan Boundy who lost his life to suicide, the Nathan Boundy Memorial shield is played against the Kandos Waratahs each year. Nathan played for both the Bears and Kandos in the past.
Starting with the girls league tag game, the Bears had a few girls out due to injuries, however still put up a hard fight.
Jessie Lutschini and Bears newcomer Kayla O'Connor worked together to find a gap in the Kandos line with O'Conner scoring a try out wide.
Also new to the Bears, Kayler Leslie was quick off the mark grabbing tags left, right and centre.
But Kandos with their more experienced and influential players, took the win.
In rugby league, Kandos and Bears were even on the ladder but the Waratahs took the shield.
They were quick to take the first few tries but Bears' Nick Miller and Ben Blanchard hit back in the second half with a try each.
Newcomers Aaron Pollard, Aidan McLaughlin and Kurtis Rule played hard all game
Thomas Fougine played well and enjoyed his first year in rugby league in Australia after coming from France. He quickly picked up the rules.
Zebeadee Farr and Luke Amos played in positions that they'd never thought they'd play. With the help of the experience of Lochlan Piper and Grant Leslie undertaking hard tackles throughout the game as well as teaching the younger players the trick.
Nick Miller ended the game with the Best and Fairest Medallion, picked by the referees and presented by Nathan Boundy's family.
It's been a tough year for everyone including the Bears, with bushfires at the start of the year and then Covid-19 suspending training.
With only half a season going ahead and snow cancelling a match, the Bears had five games of competition in the Wallerawang Landscaping Cup.
The Bears were up against teams that consisted of first grade sided teams, due to no first division clubs having a competition.
However this did not put a strain on second division, as players were up for the challenge.
Under the restrictions Bears have had this year they still played well throughout the season. Difficulties with training in the smoke and winter sickness - it was a massive effort and commitment.
Everyone should be so proud of themselves for having a go and we hope to see everyone return in 2021.
A massive credit goes to the Bears two coaches, Johnny Farr for the rugby league side and Monique Millmore for the girls league tag.
Week in and week out these coaches volunteered their time and commitment into training and coaching.
With all the constraints, Farr and Millmore never gave up and continued to influence players and pass on their knowledge and experience.
Lastly, the Bears would like to thank all players, volunteers, family, friends, supporters and sponsors, without your help the Bears club would not be able to function or to be able to provide a game for supporters and community members to be apart of.
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