In the lead up to last Saturday as the rain continued to fall the local soccer association was nervous their junior gala day could be cancelled for a third time.
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But the weather eased enough for the huge day of action to go ahead and hundreds of local juniors were delighted to finally run out at the Lady Cutler Complex, even if conditions were a little muddy.
“They just loved it,” Dubbo and District Football Association’s Jo Fee said of all the kids involved.
“The kids love the gala days and they’re happy to play all day.
“They’re mini games in their age divisions so they get to compete against kids their own ability so that’s good and just the social side of it too. They all have lunch together and it’s a real bonding thing the gala day, the kids get to really know their teammates who they might not normally go to the school with.”
An incredible 123 teams ranging from under-5 to under-11 took part throughout the day, with the Lady Cutler Complex flooded with players, families and fans rather than the water which had been forecast.
“We were a bit nervous about the river bursting its banks,” Fee laughed.
Not only was the day a fun one, it was also a high quality one and not one match played finished scoreless.
The under-11 competition produced some outstanding matches and team performances with the 6-5 win for the Lions over Westside Green a real tight battle. Lions went through Pool B undefeated while in Pool A of the under-11 division, Panthers won every match, with the 5-1 win over Eagles a real highlight.
Panthers were the other under-11 side to go through undefeated while in the under-10 competition, Westside Green won all their four matches, scoring 20 goals in the process, to finish alongside Saints as the undefeated teams in that age group.
Roaring Rangers, Saints and Infernos were undefeated in the under-9s, while Jedi, Westside Red and Lions all had perfect records in the under-8s. In the packed under-7s division EDU, Panthers, Westside Red, Rebels and Silver Spurs all went through their respective Pools without a loss while Lions, SDW United, Speedy Rangers and Rockets did the same in the under-6s.
With the gala day now complete the focus turns to the finals series, which is quickly approaching and despite so many weather-related interruptions, Fee said 2016 has been a successful season.
“Our numbers are increasing this year and it seems to be growing more and everyone seems to be loving it,” she said.