The Maitland Blacks have capped off a stellar season by being named NSW Rugby's club of the year and tireless servant Dan Leadley winning the youth volunteer award.
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The outstanding achievements were announced at NSW Rugby’s annual awards in Sydney on Thursday with the club becoming the first from country NSW to claim the club of the year award.
The Blacks had already made history by being the first country club nominated.
Blacks president Pat Howard said it was a huge honour for the club and one everyone who put in so many hours behind the scenes shared in.
“It has taken many years of work to get this award,” Howard said.
“We don’t just treat Maitland rugby as one club [seniors and juniors], but as a family and that’s what helps with our success on and off the park.”
Howard said an increase in player numbers, from under 7s to first XV and female participation, plus fundraising in excess of $40,000 were contributing factors in being selected for the 2018 award.
Leadley’s recognition is a just reward as on top of his duties as Maitland Rugby Juniors president he was the driving force behind the resurfacing of the fields at Marcellin Park spending hundreds of hours over the summer on the project.
The club award recognising the ground-breaking youth development programs run by the Blacks starting with their Little Black Army under-7 program which seen junior ranks swell and has been held up as a model by the Australian Rugby Unions.
In the lead-up to the senior grand finals, Maitland was also named Toohey’s Club of the Year in Newcastle rugby.
The hard work has translated to results on the field, with the first grade team making the grand final for the first time since 2010 and second through to fourth grade making the finals.
In junior ranks several teams made the finals and the under-10 and under-16 teams completed the minor-major premiership double.
While first grade fell short in the grand final, fourth grade claimed the major prize with an amazing finish to the game.
Maitland secured victory with an incredible final-play try after dual-Anderson Medal winner Adam Perkins charged down what should have been a routine kick into touch to beat Merewether Carlton 19-15.
Play continued as Maitland regathered the ball and with the Greens defence bunched on one side of the ground, the Blacks spread play out wide to cross in the opposite corner.
“It was the most incredible finish,” hooker Ben Emmett said. “They only needed to kick the ball four metres to find touch but Adam has managed to charge it down.
“It was incredible to have our kids charge onto the field at the end to congratulate us on the win.”
