Grand Final Summary

Grand Final day 2002 bought with it a mixed bag of results; in essence I guess it just about summed up our year. After the Raiders produced an unbelievable display to fight back from the dead to claim back-to-back Conference Premierships and remain the only side with their name etched into the trophy, the Wildcats unfortunately stumbled at the final hurdle and in the end were quite easily humbled by the undefeated North London.

Raiders

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Perhaps the Raiders were still soaking up the minor premiership and the direct path into the Grand Final, but they certainly weren't switched on when the first ball was bounced at Regents Park at midday. From the outset we were second to the ball, playing from behind and allowing ourselves to be dominated by our opponents. This was clearly evident on the scoreboard as with not one player on the ground on top, Regents Park were able to pile on 7 goals to 1 in the opening term. One could be forgiven for thinking that the wind was blowing a gale to the one end, but this was definitely not the case.

With Regents Park also opening up the scoring in the second term, the Raiders were staring down the barrel as the margin blew out to 47 points. With the coaching staff not panicking and making a few minor positional changes, the Raiders slowly started to get into the game and an inspirational torpedo on the run from Jack Jess 60 metres out looked as though it was going to provide the bit of spark needed. Benny Statton was starting to get on top at the centre bounces and around the ground, LJ was getting plenty of the ball and although we were still well down at half time, 5 goals exactly in fact, one could sense something special in the making!

A couple of positional changes at half time in the end proved pivotal to the result. The big guns were moved into the centre to provide a bit of toughness and desire at the contests, and in what could have been THE match winning move, Pratty went to Centre Half Forward and really started to give the boys a target to look for. Harms was tagging Regents Park's main play maker out of the game whilst getting plenty of it himself, Stuey Shuttleworth was damaging with his penetrating kicks and Kittsy and Dave Harberts were impenetrable in defence. However despite our best efforts, we were still trailing at the last change by 3 goals.

The now famous three quarter time speech from Super Coach SOS was one to remember. He pleaded with his charges to give it everything they had, even going back in time to remember "some bird, somewhere, some time in the 80's who ran in a marathon" and the emotion was running high. The boys gave it everything they had in the last 25 minutes, LJ crowning his BOG display with two goals on the run to get the crowd going, and when we finally hit the front with 10 minutes to go, there was going to be no turning back. A minor hiccup occurred when Regents Park clawed a goal back to regain the lead, but Deano nailed one to steady the ship and there were wild scenes of jubilation when the final siren sounded. I don't think Regents Park could quite believe what had just happened, and if last year wasn't bad enough when they lost the big one after being undefeated all year, then losing the unloseable this year has got to leave them with some sort of psychological scarring and the Raiders with a mortgage on continued Premiership success in the Conference! All in all it was an awesome team display from the only side to have claimed the title in that division!

Wildcats

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Perhaps after watching the boys get up in a stirring victory the Wildcats were a bit flat, most of them having played the game with the Raiders, and perhaps North London were out to gain revenge on behalf of their second side. Whatever it was, North London were simply too good and showed why they had gone through the year undefeated when they ran out Premiers by 11 goals. Although on face value the result may have been somewhat disappointing, hindsight is a funny thing and perhaps it wasn't as disappointing as imagined. After an up and down year, where everyone had us written off before the finals had even started, it was a fantastic performance to make it as far as we did. No one expected us to beat Wimbledon, and even fewer expected us to beat Wandsworth, but we did. We'd played out two best games for the year and they'd been our two toughest, both going into the GF. Consequently the boys were all tired and carrying niggling injuries going into the game, whereas North had had the week off to prepare themselves. And as we found out, you simply can't afford to go into big games carrying anyone.

Despite kicking the first goal of the game through Ako, North were quickly into gear and the delivery into their forward line wasn't giving Jase Hughey a chance at full back, and by quarter time North had already established a 5 goal advantage. Aubs pleaded with the boys at the break to stick to the game plan which had seen us succeed in the first two weeks of the finals, chipping and running and creating space, but unfortunately we weren't getting enough of the ball to put this into affect. Slates was battling his heart out in defence but as soon as the ball was cleared it was being pumped straight back in. Aubs was playing his best game for the year and looking dangerous up forward, but we were unable to capitalise on any forward thrusts as North's defence held firm and when Aubs was KO'd just before half time, things were looking grim.

In the second half Ged Mimmo went into the middle, and along with Sniffa battled hard and were not going to see us go down without a fight, but again, we were outgunned by North and entered the last change 9 goals in arrears. A couple of positional changes and a plead to the boys to have some pride in themselves, their team mates and the jumper had an effect early in the last quarter, with Gools giving us a target at Full Forward and even wily old veteran Al Dowdall sneaking in for a goal, and we piled on the first three majors. However the effort took its toll and North banged home the last 5 of the game to snuff out any hopes of a fairy tale double.

Despite missing out on the double flag this year, it was still a fantastic effort from all concerned and shows just what it means to be a part of the mighty West London Wildcats Football Club. With a bit more dedication, hard work and effort in 2003, I'm sure the spoils will continue to come our way. Special thanks for the year to all of the committee that have got behind the club in a time that saw a big turnover in off-field personnel, and an even bigger thanks to the coaching staff in Aubs, SOS, Ako and Woody for all of their continued efforts week in and week out to get three sides out on to the park. At times it was a real battle, but in the end it was all worth it, and we can now look back on a job well done.

Finally, 2002 in the end was one of the most successful years, if not the most successful year, in the club's history. We managed to field three sides each week, a feat that no other club have been able to achieve, we were runners up in the Pre-Season Cup, we won the Brit Cup and the London Conference Premiership, and were runners up in the BARFL Premiership. And that's not even beginning to mention our off-field social antics!! Roll on 2003.

Dogga.