Devils Dance – Metallica. Album Reload.
The Harden Red Devils will be hosting a Robert’s Park Grand Final on August 11 at 3:00pm. Last Saturday they defeated the Temora Tuskers in a dominant display which was highlighted by an intense first half where the Devils looked like it was U12s versus U8s in patches, such was the difference between the two sides.
The final score was 37-17 but this did not reflect Harden’s dominance. The side was greeted with the tragic news that the town had lost Isaac Paterson and Jamie ‘Bushfire’ Graham earlier that morning in a car accident. Isaac was a workmate of Harden’s Second Rower Ben Brady, a friend to many and was employed by President Harry Sachs’ fencing business. Jamie grew up in Harden and had been working in Bungendore and was known to the whole town and the surrounding communities. Both men are a terrible loss. Ben Brady’s effort went up a gear from his usual consistent performances and the Devils appeared to follow suit with the giant Second Rower leading by example.
It was a very difficult day for the Harden side which was acknowledged by Sachs when talking with the Times. President Harry Sachs said, “We’re off to the big show, it was one of the better feelings to have that day, after being so close to Temora and them winning the minor Premiership.I thought it was a great win. It was great for all the boys, they deserved it” Temora now head to Grenfell this weekend in a bid for a rematch against Harden. The Tuskers realised they were in trouble early and brought on two subs. One in the Front Row and one in the Back Row.
This just galvanised the Harden defence. Clint Stevens had a ‘blinder’ and Shahid Khalfan continued to show no preservation for his own body, putting the team first. Ben Lenehan scored 2 penalty conversions and converted 3 from 5 goals. Tries went to John Manchester 1, Charlie Butt 1, Jack O’Connor 3, (one of which O’Connor said he would like to see go back to Josh Quinn who was unselfish in the final pass) and it was a toss up between Jessie Redmond and Billy Bolger for the other try.
John Manchester goes in for a try in the Devils Major Semi-Final win at Temora on Saturday July 28.
It was the first time Harden could field a full-strength side against Temora after previously suffering a draw and a 2 point loss. Sachs said the effort has been across the paddock all year with just 5 points separating 1st place to 7th place in the Best and Fairest points. 8 players went over on the bus but the entire squad travelled home on it after the win, further cementing the tight knit group. Sachs hopes to send John Manchester and Coach Adam Walsh out with a win, but is also happy to see them back next year, making it clear they won’t be turned away. Walsh and Manchester are the only players left who played in the 2006 Grand Final, the last one won by Harden. The Devils accounted for their Goulburn opponents 29-7 in a dominant 5 try to zero performance. The Devils won 1st grade premierships in 2004 and 2006 and Reserve Grade in 2005. Coach Walsh said, “We dominated straight away from the start, overall it was a dominant performance. Billy Bolger and Aaron Seamen had great games but it was a great team effort.”
The Devils have a few bumps and bruises but will now have a week to rest. Walsh set one goal in 2018 which was for Harden not to lose at home. Although they didn’t quite keep that record they more than made up for it with winning plenty of away games. He said, “This time around it is a different feel to what it was 12 years ago. I’m not putting this side down by any means. The 2006 side was one of the greatest teams I have played in. I think that team would have won the NSW Club Country Championship.
I put my hand up in 2018 because they needed someone to guide them.” The side will now focus on the impending Grand Final. Walsh said, “Temora will have a month of tough footy after playing us twice and Grenfell twice, I wont be surprised if Grenfell beats them this week, it could go either way for them this weekend.” Harden had a long running battle against Grenfell in the 1990s. If Grenfell were to make their way through, the crowd may be very large. Walsh had some advice for his players. He said, “Nothing changes, we just need to keep going the way we are going, don’t be complacent. We can’t forget the big show which is yet to come.
