After a win, a draw and most significantly, some big losses to start the year, you'd be forgiven for thinking that as a newly formed team in a new competition, the year was going to be a tough one for the Cowra Eagles Soccer Club's reserves men's side.
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"There wouldn't be handful of people there that had played a game together before," reserves skipper Ryan Hattenfels said.
"Fresh team, fresh people, fresh comp, it was the first time we've been able to field two teams in a very long time.
However, as he tells it, the subsequent drop from B to C Grade has helped the team build confidence, and in the second half of the year they have been one of the form sides in the competition.
"Since dropping back we've just gelled, everyone's started to understand how each other plays, everyone's getting along really well," Hattenfels said.
"We haven't lost a game, had a lot of draws, a few wins here and there, but we haven't lost in C."
It is the kind of form, that while not quite rewarding them with top four and a chance at a premiership, has allowed them to advance to the C Grade's second division grand final.
They won 1-0 against Blayney in their qualifying final, who they will again play, this time over in Orange on Saturday, for a fifth placed finish and honours in their group.
Hattenfels believes, that while obviously they would prefer that higher position, there have been plenty of benefits to come out of the second half of the season.
"For everyone to come together and play as a team and mates, I think is a highlight... I probably knew one or two of these boys, and to finish the season off, I'd stay in touch with the lot of them," he said, adding that the injection of the youth to the team has also proven beneficial as the year has worn on.
"The young guys have just lifted massively, they've muscled up, they've brought a different pace to us - [a] bit of speed to the team."
"Hopefully [we] get a lot of them back next year... get some more young people coming through and keep it going."
The experienced player was quick to make mention of Orange District Football Association, saying that the organisation has been accommodating of his team as they've attempted to make their way in their first year as part of a new competition.
"They knew [with] our first year.... we weren't sure how things were going to be over there compared to the Bathurst comp, the competitive structure of it all and the grading of it," he explained.
"They were really good. They let us start in B and we played about three or four weeks there, and copped some pretty heavy losses.
"They said, 'Look, there's an opportunity for you to go down a grade if you want to try that out,' so we said, 'Yeah, definitely, we'll give that a crack.'
"They've come to the party a lot, and really helped us out with giving us quite a few home games as well [and] even just with the draw; lining us up with A Grade - same places, different times - so there wasn't any clashing or anything like that."
Hattenfels said the latter element of the scheduling has benefited the club's men's teams greatly, helping to create a one club culture.
"They're [A Grade] down there at the start, half an hour before our game... warming up, having a laugh, having a chat, cheering us on the whole game," he explained.
"Then we get a few of the boys to hang around afterwards, and we cheer them on, so it's really good."
With this in mind, as they look ahead to this weekend's grand final, which kicks off from 1.45pm at Jack Brabham Park, the skipper said there's plenty to play for, even if it isn't a premiership.
"It gives a bit of confidence going into next year," he said.
"It's a shame the season's come to an end but a lot of them will carry that keenness and momentum into next year hopefully."
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