LOCAL athlete Sophie Clancy has enjoyed an outrageously successful weekend, winning the Jack Scott Cup Division 2 with her union side the Hunter Wildfires, and then tasting victory again a day later with the Wallsend Wolves in the NSW Country Touch Open Women's grand final.
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With several Upper Hunter sides pulling out of the comp due to COVID-19 this season, the Wolves have enjoyed success off the back of a supercharged line up which has been filled with stars from Scone - Tyler Brown and Heidi Richards, Muswellbrook - Matilda and Evie Jones and Singleton - Jules Kirkpatrick and of course Clancy herself.
In Saturday's match Clancy dominated, scoring the opening try and pulling strings as the fly-half as her side got over the line 29 - 25 at Forshaw Rugby Park in Southern Sydney. Although she said the game didn't go all their way.
"We started off strong, getting the first points on the board and building the confidence everyone needed," she stated.
"Throughout the game, it never felt as though we were ahead, it was either tied or as if they were right on our tails and I think that put pressure on everyone.
"The last five minutes were the hardest the wildfires team has worked all year.
"Without such commitment, determination and drive from the players, we honestly would have lost but everyone continued to push and fight for the win we deserved."
But, up the coast at Tuggerah a day later, the contest was even closer, with the match being decided in a drop off.
As to be expected, Clancy was sore heading into the match, but her will to win got her through to the end.
"On Sunday I did feel a bit stiff and roughed up but the excitement I had to play with the girls just pushed me through until the last game," she said.
"And believe me, by the last one, I was almost ready to lay down and sleep."
Her teammates determination also spurred her on, and getting the result in the end made all the pain worth it.
In terms of her experience throughout the year, Clancy said she had learnt a lot from both sides.
The "attitudes, skills and leadership" she witnessed at the Wildfires was something new to her, while the encouragement and management shown towards not just the players, but all the support staff and officials was something she took note of at the Wolves.
The people she is most thankful for are her parents though.
"I'd like to thank my mother and my father, Penny and Patrick, for always being there," she said.
"I wouldn't be here or where I am today with sport without them, I couldn't have better parents to push me to get my dream of playing for the Wallabies"