This is a story from Jason Dennis, the coach of the U12 Magpies team.
Today I saw true “Magpie Spirit” (and it might not be what you’d think)
Hi,
As a parent of three boys, I’ve been associated with Souths Juniors for over 8 years now, and like all of us I want the boys to be good Magpies. And I think I know what “Magpie Spirit” is, but as they say, you’ll know it when you see it.
And today I saw it.
And it was amazing.
I think I’ve been really close before. I rode that incredible supporter high through seven sudden death victories in 2015 when Souths took out the Premier Grade Cup. My eldest son has been associated with some really good junior teams, including a premiership in 2019, right up until U15 this year who look so strong. I’ve been to wonderful club functions, trophy days and end of season trips away. I’ve seen our boys be great ambassadors travelling to Coogee and in representative teams.
But today I think eclipsed them all. Let me set the scene.
I help coach the U12 Magpies team, which my middle son plays in. Our team consists of a lot of players new to rugby, either this year or in the last few. We might not be as skillful as the Black or White teams, but I can’t fault the boy’s behavior, commitment and attitude. Unfortunately, their attitude has been sorely tested this year by our on-field results. Despite their best efforts, it has been a tough season. Until today,
we have played 9 games,
for no wins or draws, and
a “for” of 40, and an “against” of 409, (-369 diff)
including a 100-0 defeat at home in round 3.
But despite all this, the boys always turn up. They turn up with smiles on their faces, ready to train and play with their team mates. During a game (including the infamous century game) I have never seen them drop their heads. They run it up as hard as they can, tackle and ruck as best they can, and ALWAYS encourage their team mates. And they keep turning up in numbers! We have a squad of 24, and 22 were down to play today.
Which brings me to today. We were scheduled to play Easts Red, at their home ground. They had touched us up earlier in the season by 30 points at Juniors, and were incredibly strong at the breakdown. We lost two of our best players (flanker and prop) just before kick-off due to illness, but still had 5 reserves. Despite some sound defence, Easts scored early in the first half under the posts and went out to a 7-point lead. Instead of daunting them, the boys took this as a challenge.
Even more incredible defence followed, repelling wave after wave of Red attacks on our goal line. A good turnover and solid run up the field and we were at halfway with a few minutes left in the half, when one of our most underrated players took off sideways (coach-killer!) but got around their backs and streaked down the field for a try. We missed the conversion, but felt the momentum had changed, and held on to go 7-5 down at the break.
The platform set in the first half, allowed us to be more expansive in the second. And the belief was growing, on the field, in the coaches’ box, and in the stands. The crowd noise was deafening as our new inside centre made some blockbusting runs down the field, getting so close to the try line a number of times, before some magic footwork and soccer skills by our halfback put us in front.
Conversion successful – 7-13 our way. Our centre wasn’t finished yet, with our number 10 setting up what I think the NRL calls a “Bash Play”, putting our centre over for a well deserved try. Missed conversion, but 7-17 with just over 5 minutes to go. Given that they had probably tackled more in this game then they had all season it was understandable that all the boys were out on their feet, but they new that 10 points could be recovered easily by Easts, especially when some dubious penalties put them inside the 10m line. But the boys weren’t to be denied, defending as if their lives depended on it, and making the opposition try line look like that zombie pile up scene in World War Z! They couldn’t stop the final try, but they had soaked up enough time that when the final whistle blew after the missed conversion, a 17-12 victory was secured.
To win a game of rugby is always satisfying, but what those boys achieved today, given how tough they have had it this season, was awe-inspiring, and I think epitomizes the Magpie Spirit as much as anything I’ve seen. The win now has top spot in my list of favourite Souths moments, only just above the singing of the song (see below).
Thanks boys. Very proud of you.
