Deniliquin snared its first under-14 Murray Football League premiership in more than a decade on Saturday with a stellar performance against Nathalia.
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The Rams claimed the Brooks Cup for the first time since securing it in 2005 and 2006, bouncing back from a scoreless grand final defeat last year to reign supreme this time around.
The Purples fought hard all game, but could not convert their opportunities into scoreboard pressure, with the Rams able to keep their opponents at arm's length throughout the clash before putting the foot down in the last.
Charlie Hillier was the star of the show for the victors, booting two majors and having plenty more opportunities in front of the sticks.
But it was not just his attacking prowess which was on show, with Hillier floating across the half-back flank at times to cut off Nathalia forays forward and throwing himself at marking contests all over the ground.
Hillier was rightfully awarded the best afield medal, but Zac Free attempted to lay claim to it with one piece of sublime play in the second term.
Tucked away in the pocket about 30m from goal, Free managed to sneak his running shot through the middle to send the yellow and blue fans into raptures.
The scenes were replicated after the final siren as the Rams celebrated their premiership triumph.
“I'm really proud of the boys,” Deniliquin coach Tim Hillier said after the clash.
“The game was played in fantastic spirit.”
Marcus Moorse, Logan Leiper, Cooper King and Will McCartney joined Hillier and Free as Deniliquin's most influential players, while Ewan Congues, Oliver Sheehan, Darcy Conroy, Kai Lundberg, Max Frostick and Ned Bramwell batted hard for the Purples.
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