In an end-of-season celebration, the Avalon Bulldogs Junior Rugby League held their annual under 6’s, 7’s and 8’s Gala Day on a sunny Saturday August the 11th at Hitchcock Park, home of the 'Doggies'.
Games were played between guest teams from all over the peninsula and the forest. Umpiring one match ‘Friendly’ was heard to say – ‘alright, let him through, let him score a try’ to those youngsters he coaches year in year out, and has for decades, at the Bulldogs.
It’s all about fun, making mates and getting out in the fresh air to run around playing footy here!
There was a BBQ and running races conducted with both age groups. The first three to finish in the running races for the different age groups took home a cup for 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The young athletes then turned around and sprinted back to where they started – just for the love of it!
See if you can spot the winners among this crowd.
Under 8's, Under 12's and U/13's played afterwards.
Club Stalwarts Paul Collins and Brian Friend (Friendly) spent five hours marking out the oval Friday into smaller fields for the Under 7’s and &’s, and then had to change that for the under 8’s, who have straight across the ground size fields, and then again for the Under 12’s and Under 13’s, who use the full field.
They were there at 7 a.m. again this morning and would just be beginning to pack up now.
They’re backed up by a team of always there mums and dads manning and womanning the BBQ and kiosk – as it is with every Junior Rugby League club here.
As one dad said about half an hour ago, “That’s another season, another GREAT Season over – thank you everyone!”
Oh, and three cheers for PC and Friendly!
Some of this year's Gala Day action:
