With every metre travelled, with every tackle evaded, the smile on the face of Oliver Reid grew ... and grew and grew.
Defender after defender was left clutching at air.
When the nine-year-old crossed the chalk stripe and placed the ball down - pure joy.
The fact younger brother Eli, dad Jacob, uncle Matt and grandfather Scott were on hand added to the moment - there is nothing like scoring your first try.
This is a story about Oliver - a boy who has a rare genetic disease - and the heartwarming moment that will bring a tear to your eye.
Oliver is one of only three children in Australia diagnosed with SPATA5 - a disease which impacts brain development, gross and fine motor skills and muscle growth.
He uses a wheelchair and is non-verbal.
"The disease affects the mitochondria in his system," Jacob said. "He can walk but he gets tired really easily and has weak muscles."
But even as he battles, Oliver is a rugby kid. A Singleton Bulls rugby kid.
And when an opposition player at the annual "Dads and Lads" charity day noticed Oliver on the sideline and suggested to Jacob that he have a run for Singleton against Merewether, it was game on.
Jacob pushed the young champion's wheelchair as would-be tacklers - most old enough to Oliver's grandfather - fell to the ground like limbs from a gum tree.
It was brilliant.
"Ollie really enjoyed it and obviously we did as well," Jacob said. "We weren't exactly too sure how he was going to go with it.
"He's done sense rugby. It is occupational therapy-based rugby. It doesn't involve actually playing the full game of rugby, but it's rugby-based therapy activities.
"He watched the video of the try and when we talked about it afterwards, he got a big smile.
"On the way home Eli kept saying, 'I'm so proud of him for getting his first try'."
Jacob's wife, Abby forwarded the video to Eli's primary school teacher.
"They shared it with the whole school to promote inclusivity in sport," Abby said. "I think it was a really good teaching moment to show that there are ways to navigate the typical world and the disability world.
"Sunday was a really good example of how to do it and how to manage it.
"Merewether did a great job at faking their tackles."
The Reid family is deeply embedded in Singleton rugby.
Jacob plays in the divisional team, coaches juniors and also coaches the women's team.
"Ollie has been around it from when he was born," said Jacob, who is a power station operator and shut the last unit down at the Liddell Power Station when it was decommissioned.
"He's at rugby Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and absolutely loves it.
"He loves being part of the community and seeing people. He doesn't speak, but he's very social.
"We will sit beside the bench for the senior teams and players will hold his hand.
"On Tuesday and Thursday, that is Eli's under-8s training. Sometimes Ollie will get out of his chair and we will hand over hand tackle the bag with him.
"On Friday night, at the Get Into Rugby session he is always helping out on the barbecue."
Video of Oliver's magic moment has gone viral on social media, sparking an outpouring of love.
"Oh my heart, this is the best thing I've ever seen. Go Ollie," was typical of the reaction.
"This is the best video I've seen on social media in a very long time.
"There's no words to describe this priceless moment. Ollie is always on the sideline watching his dad, Jacob Reid and little brother Eli either at training or on game day most weeks. For him to be able to have his special time on the field with the boys and score his try is more than heartwarmingly beautiful."
Jacob, his brother and father were in one of Singleton's three teams in the "Dads and Lads" at Marcellin Park, Maitland, which raised about $20,000 for Hunter Lifeline.
In its sixth year, the charity event is about community and connecting. The rugby is played under "golden oldies" rules and, in the words of organiser, John "Jockey" Wilson is "touch footy with a bit of a cuddle".
The Reids were "warming up" when Jacob was approached by a Hamilton player.
"He came up and said, 'do you want to get the young bloke out in his wheelchair to score a try?'," Jacob said.
"I was a bit taken aback by it. I wasn't expecting it, and it wasn't something that we had planned.
"The Hamilton guy said: 'it's what the day's all about'."
