Piglets Bow Out with Fighting Spirit in Dramatic Semi-Final
Jindabyne’s U15 Piglets fell 33–12 to Daramalan U15 Red in a fiery ACTJRU semi-final at Gowrie District Playing Fields on Saturday, ending their 2026 finals campaign in a match that had no shortage of drama on either side of the ball.
A Tough Start and a Match Full of Cards
With a result apiece heading into the match, this semi-final was always going to be the definitive clash between the two sides, and it lived up to that billing.
Daramalan made their intentions clear from the opening whistle, racing out to a 14–0 lead and immediately forcing Jindabyne onto the back foot. The early deficit set the tone for an uphill battle, and the Piglets never quite managed to claw their way level despite moments of genuine quality.
The match was also emotionally charged, with the referee reaching for cards on multiple occasions. Four Daramalan players received yellow cards across the contest, while Jindabyne had one player sin-binned and one sent off with a red card – a disruption that made building any sustained attacking momentum all the more difficult for the Piglets.
The Piglets Keep Fighting
Through the adversity, Axle was Jindabyne’s most threatening player on the scoresheet, crossing the line twice out wide after some gritty work by the forwards. The tries gave the team something to hang on to and spark hope in the Jindabyne contingent that had made the early-morning trip down from the mountains. Tynan added the extras with a well-taken conversion, doing his bit to keep the scoreboard ticking while playing shorthanded at times.
Daramalan’s clinical edge – five tries in total, converted with 80% accuracy – ultimately proved the difference, and the 33–12 final scoreline reflected their control for large parts of the match.
What’s Next
In the other semi-final, Canberra Grammar defeated St Edmunds White 38–5, setting up a Grand Final on Saturday 5 September at Vikings Park between Grammar and Daramalan U15 Red.
For the Piglets, this is a campaign to be proud of. A second-place finish, eight wins from eleven games after the tough start prior to re-grading, and a finals berth against a formidable opponent. The experience of Saturday’s semi-final, the highs and the lows of it, will only make this group stronger. The character shown throughout 2026 bodes well for what’s ahead.
A big thank you to the Jindabyne families and friends who made the trip to Canberra and brought plenty of noise to the sideline — your support means everything to these young players, and it didn’t go unnoticed.
Scoring Summary
| Player | T | C | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Axle (#12) | 2 | – | 10 |
| Tynan (#10) | – | 1 | 2 |
See the full match details, player lineup and points summary.
Thank you to our sponsors
Thank you to all of Jindabyne Rugby Union Club’s sponsors for their continued support of our junior teams, especially our major junior partners: Jindabyne Bowling & Sports Club, Jindabyne Real Estate, First Tracks Boardstore, Rip Curl Jindabyne, Gav Fines Automotive, Hip Pocket Workwear Cooma, and Birchwood.
