A late flurry of tries by the home side ensured Armidale Blues would claim the sixth annual Charity Shield in their clash against the Barbarians.
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With the ambition to make up for their loss to the Baa Baas in last year’s preliminary final, the Blues were eager to dominate from the outset.
“We spoke before the game about the need to play for 80 minutes to get a result and that was the difference,” co-coach Luke Stephen said.
“Knowing a team like Barbarians, unless you go relentlessly at them for 80 minutes, they will come and get you as they did to us in the preliminary final last year.
It was that belief.
- Luke Stephen
“We spoke about not only starting well but ensuring that it was an eighty minute effort and that everyone that goes on the field contributes.”
For the first half, the sides were evenly matched at with the score 12-10 at the break.
This continued until the final 10 minutes where the Blues’ persistence won out for them to cross the stripe another three times to round out the final score 38-13.
“The thing I was most impressed with was the commitment of everyone, players, reserves, it took the entire squad to get the result,” Stephen said.
“It was that belief.”
Brennon Czinner, who crossed for a five-pointer, was named the Blues best alongside Andrew Chalker, who scored a double, and halfback James Wheaton.
Lachlan Pollard also made his way over the tryline twice as well as kicking four goals.