Macarthur Rams grab a double at the Proctor Park Challenge Cup
Despite continuous rain on Saturday and a cold and windy (yet dry) day on Sunday the football on show was a credit to all teams at this very early stage of the season and thrilled the large crowds who braved the wintry conditions.
The Grade 12 competition saw six teams battle it out over fifteen round robin matches that culminated in a fitting Final between two metropolitan teams with 1st placed Macarthur Rams and 2nd placed Inter Lions.
In the round robin stage of this competition Macarthur had beaten Inter Lions 1-0.
This match was an open and free running match with both teams having excellent opportunities to take the title, but after all playing time had been exhausted, it took an exciting and eventful penalty shoot out to split these two sides, before eventually the undefeated Macarthur Rams were to be crowned the Grade 12 Proctor Park Challenge Cup Champions for 2009.
Whilst in the Grade 14 competition, ten teams were divided into two groups of five teams each and in Group A it was only after grabbing a bagful of goals in the final round robin match, Macarthur Rams were able to edge out Capital Football by a superior goal difference of 2 to grab top spot whilst in Group B Southern NSW were also undefeated in clearly winning their group.
The metropolitan Macarthur Rams and the country Southern NSW teams battled out an extremely entertaining Final, but the very early penalty goal awarded to Macarthur Rams was to be the difference and despite a terrific effort from the Southern NSW girls, the girls from Macarthur Rams won 1-0 and were the well deserved Grade 14 Proctor Park Challenge Cup Champions for 2009.
In the Grade 16 competition, nine teams were split into two groups of five and four teams and 2008 Champions Western Panthers were undefeated in winning Group A whilst in Group B Southern NSW was also undefeated in winning their group.
The Final between two Country representative teams was a classic match with Western Panthers going to an early lead and then holding back a very determined Southern NSW side that had taken all before them in the round robin matches.
The Panthers however, were too good on the day and scored again to take the score to 2-0 and run out worthy Grade 16 Proctor Park Challenge Cup Champions for 2009.
Whilst Macarthur Rams can claim bragging rights in 2009 with great victories in the 12 and 14 categories, the Western Panthers can also be extremely proud that they have now won this title in successive years.
Despite the unfavourable weather conditions, all teams had a wonderful weekend of football and players, officials and spectators were very impressed with the professionalism and caring manner in which the ever dedicated members of the Bathurst District Soccer Association tended to their every need.
Congratulations to Bathurst, the winners and all the participants from the metropolitan area of Sydney, the many country areas and Capital Football from Canberra.
Larry Grant
Competition Secretary
