Throwback of the Yass Magpies Under 18s ’79 Grand Finalist in Group 8 Back Row: John Forbutt, Matthew Pobjie, Peter Folkardt, Wayne Webb, Gary Britt, Jim Byrne and Paul Miller. Middle: Dale Carmody (coach), Andrew Cleary, Peter Quinn, Jim Townsend, Steve Philpott, Ricky Bell, Keith Garner (manager) and John Foran (trainer). Front: Wayne Bullman, Tony Pobjie, Gary Waters (captain), Ross Colbert, Dennis Hoey, Owen Davis.
The air hung heavy with the scent of freshly cut grass and the murmur of a crowd still buzzing from the drama of the match. For the Queanbeyan Blues, the 24-14 victory over the Yass Magpies was another notch on their belt, a testament to their composure under pressure. But for the Magpies, a different story was being written—one of defiant pride in a loss that felt like a win. The game had been a rollercoaster of emotions. The Magpies, a team that had battled adversity all season, came out with a fire that seemed to catch the Blues off guard.
The crowd, bolstered by an Old Boys’ Day celebration, was a swirling vortex of cheers and shouts, their energy a palpable force on the field. It was their collective belief that seemed to fuel the Magpies. Tries from the dynamic duo of Kaidan Bell and Andrew Smith saw the scoreboard swing in their favour.
With just twelve minutes left on the clock, the Magpies held a surprising 14-6 lead. The impossible felt within reach. But a champion side finds a way, and the Queanbeyan Blues were no exception. With ruthless efficiency, their attack clicked into gear. Uasi Leota and Jayden McLachlan punched through the Magpies’ defences, and then Jack Anderson delivered the final, devastating blow with two tries of his own. The steady boot of Troy Code, who converted all four of the Blues’ tries, was the final nail in the coffin, a stark contrast to the one successful conversion from Yass’s Kaidan Bell.
The scoreboard, a cold, hard truth, showed a 24-14 final score, but it couldn’t capture the heart and grit the Magpies had displayed. After the final whistle, Magpies Captain/Coach Luke Berkrey stood on the sidelines, his face a mix of disappointment and genuine pride. “I thought we probably played one of our better games of the year, actually,” he said, his voice hoarse from the game. “To be leading 14-6 with 12 or 15 minutes to go, it was nice, but we just didn’t quite have enough to finish them off.”
Berkrey was quick to praise his players, highlighting the incredible efforts of several individuals. Jesse Bellchambers, he said, was “outstanding,” a true leader on the field. Cooper O’Connor’s work on the wing and Rana Baker who was “massive,” his tireless work in the forward pack a key reason the Magpies were able to hang with such a strong Queanbeyan side for so long. And of course, there was Kaidan Bell, whose two tries and relentless energy were a constant threat. Berkrey was realistic about the loss, but he wasn’t dwelling on it. Instead, he chose to focus on the positives—the progress, the growth, the fight.
“The crowd and atmosphere were great,” Berkrey continued, a smile breaking through. “There was a big thing down there for Old Boys’ Day, so they made a lot of noise. I think they had a good day at the footy. I think they would have left there pretty happy with the way we played.”
This feeling of a moral victory was a recurring theme for the Magpies this season. They had come to the end of the year not just with a collection of wins and losses, but with a newfound sense of identity. The goal from the start of the season, Berkrey explained, was never about making the finals. It was about developing the young talent, about building a foundation for the future, and about being “very competitive in every game.” “I think that there are probably two performances throughout the year that we weren’t in the contest,” he said, reflecting on the season.
“I think we’ve come a long way, probably from the results of the last couple of years.”
The recent win against Westies at home and then taking a powerhouse like Queanbeyan to the brink was proof that their hard work was paying off.
“It’s hopefully going forward, and they can keep improving,” Berkrey added.
The focus now shifts to their final game of the season, a Saturday afternoon clash against the “red hot” Tuggeranong Bushrangers. The Bushrangers are a team on a tear, having won nine games in a row. They are a well-oiled machine, heading into the finals with all the momentum in the world. But for the Magpies, who are already out of the playoff picture, this game is about more than a win or a loss. It’s about a chance to “spoil their party before finals,” as Berkrey put it, a final opportunity to show just how far they’ve come.
Off the field, there was even more good news for the Yass Magpies. The club had re-signed star forward Rana Baker, a move Berkrey called “massive.” Baker, one of the best forwards in the competition, is more than just a powerful player; he’s a leader. His decision to stay with the club is a huge vote of confidence in the direction they’re heading. Berkrey is confident that Baker’s signature will be the catalyst for more players, especially local talent, to commit to the club for the long haul.
As the sun set on the Queanbeyan field, the story of the Magpies was still being written. The season might have been full of challenges, and the final result against the Blues wasn’t a win, but the narrative was a triumphant one. They had battled, they had grown, and they had found their identity as a team. The final game against the Bushrangers isn’t just a farewell to the season; it’s a look ahead to a future that, with the right leadership and the dedication of players like Rana Baker, looks brighter than it has in years.
– Tully Potts
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