Cobar Junior Soccer Club wound up its
2026 season on Saturday with grand final
games and presentations at Ward Oval.
To finish their season, the Minis teams played
a round robin competition.
In the Mids division, Black Knights and Bengal
Tigers played a thriller of a grand final game
with the Knights winning in extra time, 4-3.
In the Seniors division, Celtic FC finished as
5-3 victors over Miami FC.
In the Opens game, the Mill Rats just got the
better of Rock Apes to win 5-4.
Presentations followed the Opens game.
In each division, a Player of the Season was
awarded which recognised a player who stood
out with through their commitment, effort, attitude,
teamwork and contribution to the their
team.
The 2026 Players of the Season were: Minis—
Kaiden Hamilton; Mids—Max Preisig; Seniors—
Xavier Foster; and Opens—Mark
McBride.
Awards for Best Skills, Sportsmanship, Most
Improved and Encouragement were also presented
for each team.
The Best Skills trophy recognises a player who
has demonstrated excellent soccer skills
throughout the season – showing great control,
confidence, awareness and ability with the ball.
The Sportsmanship award recognises a player
who consistently shows respect, fairness, kindness,
and a positive attitude towards their teammates,
coaches, referees and opposition. It is
about being someone who plays the game in the
right spirit and makes soccer enjoyable for everyone.
Most Improved awards recognise players who
have shown growth throughout the season, in
their skills, confidence, understanding of the
game, or simply the way they approach each
training session or game. It celebrates how far a
player has come, not just where they started.
Encouragement awards are presented to someone
the referees believe have potential and encourages
them to focus more on their skills,
growth mindset and the possible bright future of
soccer ahead of them.
In the Minis competition, Kaiden Hamilton
was the leading goal scorer, with 27 goals, followed
closely by Baxter Woods with 26.
Minis Team awards for the Maroon Miners
went to: Best Skills—Zariah Sariman, Sportsmanship—
Malia Sariman, Most Improved—
Layla Richards and Encouragement—Reggie
Ryan.
The Cornish Dragons team awards winners
were: Best Skills—Spencer Fugar, Sportsmanship—
Charlie Mckay, Most Improved—
William Brown and Encouragement—Grace
Mitchell.
Collecting Raging Rhinos awards were: Best
Skills—Baxter Woods, Sportsmanship—Arthur
Neale, Most Improved—Tippi Evans and Encouragement—
Lewis Shepherd.
Sky Strikers’ team award winners were: Best
Skills—Levi Tiffen, Sportsmanship—Remi
Quintal, Most Improved—Ella Shepherdson
and Encouragement—Margaret Lancaster.
The team award winners for Pitch Pirates
were: Best Skills—Jax Van Dam, Sportsmanship—
Henry Collingridge, Most Improved—
Lucy Mainey and Encouragement—Edward
McBride.
Busy Bees’ team awards were presented to:
Best Skills—Angus Coffey, Sportsmanship—
Max McKenna, Most Improved—Claire
Thompson and Encouragement—Everleigh
Foster.
In the Mids competition, the Black Knights
team awards went to: Best Skills—Tyrin Orcher,
Sportsmanship—Jack Preisig, Most Improved—
Nora Palma and Encouragement—
Bella McCormack.
Polar Bears’ team award winners were: Best
Skills—Koby Mcguire, Sportsmanship—
Hudson Neale, Most Improved—Jack Joss and
Encouragement—Ruby Pagett.
The recipients of the Redbacks team awards
were: Best Skills—Riley Williams, Sportsmanship—
Colt Evans, Most Improved—Harrison
McBride and Encouragement—Pypa Leslie.
The team awards for Bengal Tigers were presented
to: Best Skills—Leo Neale, Sportsmanship—
Davey Mckay, Most Improved—Chris
Florance and Encouragement—Heidi Betcke.
In the Seniors competition, the highest goal
scorer was Charles Mamhunze with a tally of
15 goals for the season.
The Miami FC team awards went to: Best
Skills—Charles Mamhunze, Sportsmanship—
Jake McKervey, Most Improved—Queena
Jiang and Encouragement—Bailey Neale.
Celtic FC’s team awards were won by: Best
Skills—Ralph Behsman, Sportsmanship—Isla
McKervey, Most Improved—Sam Bui and
Encouragement—Hayden Betcke.
There was a tie between Rabi Phuyal and
Ayush Yonzon for the leading goal scorer with
both having a haul of 16 goals each.
Opens players with the Best Skills were Rabi
Phuyal and Isaac Theakston, Sportsmanship
awards went to Prajwal ‘PK’ Kharel and
Damber Acharya.
The Opens competition’s Most Improved
were Jennifer Jeremic and Henry Knight with
Joseph Theakston and Julia Theakston collecting
the Encouragement awards.
