17th April, 2007

RESULTS v PETERSHAM / ROUND TWO v BROTHERS / START OF SEASON PARTY THIS SATURDAY

RESULTS FROM PETERSHAM GAME
Start of the season saw Hunters Hill up against Petersham at Camperdown Oval. A fine day with good conditions for playing Rugby, our first round met with mixed success.

4th Grade
We were more than competitive for most of the game locked in a upfront wrestle for most of the game. A couple of penalties in the first have put Hunters 6 - nil behind at half time. A try at the end of the second half increased the score to a 11- nil at full time. A good effort by the younger players and new faces was not rewarded with points , 4th grade can only get better once it settles on a game plan.

3rd Grade
Mmm , in recent years third grade have had a record of being slow starters, this season, unfortunately, was no different. All concerned know they can do better , certainly minds were not on the job on the day.
We can be heartened by the fact Petersham will probably not improve a lot during the season and Hunters can, if our past recent seasons are a guide. Given the draw this year we have two more cracks at Petersham, we have plenty of time to recover from a 40 something -nil defeat.

2nd Grade
The bright end of the day, certainly all the skills learnt and practised in preseason were put to good use
during this game. Although tight in the first half Hunters always looked in control of themselves and recorded a convincing 17-8 victory.

1st Grade
This is a game we can put down to experience, very tight in the first half virtually nothing in it. Hunters with very little possession held Petersham to 3-nil at half time. Petershams attacks around the fringe took there toll in the second half. With men up there sleeve Petersham replaced six of their players in the second half giving them plenty of fresh legs. Hunters was unable to match these replacements and paid the price fading in the final quarter and eventually going down 23- nil. It was a brave defensive effort by our guys and has provided a valuable lesson we as a club need to learn from.


START OF SEASON PARTY
We've organised a massive start of season party after Saturday's game against Brothers, at the Pier after the game.

During and after speeches there will be $3.50 schooners until 8pm, plus a couple of Super 14 matches - the Chiefs v Sharks at 5.35 and the Waratahs v Highlanders at 7.40pm. There's free beer until the first points scored in the Waratahs game, and it's one they might actually win.

So get on down and start the season in fine style, straight after the end of first grade until late.

NEW CLUB CAPTAIN
Congratulations go to Ben Smith who was voted as Hunters Hill Club Captain. Three candidates moved to the podium at Boronia Park to a scull off to determine the new club captain. But Smithy showed superior skills and knowledge of both the inside and outside of a can to emerge victorious. Shapelle and Tooley were magnanimous in defeat and acknowledged the thirst displayed by Smithy. 'Thirsty is my middle name' exclaimed Smithy. This and other strange rantings probably explain why he wasn't allowed into any of the pubs whilst on tour.

As part of Smithy's victory speech he acknowledged the tradition of laying $400 on the bar if and when Hillies bring home a clean sweep against an opposing team.

Asked if he had anything further to add, he was reported to say 'uz thair eny more free puss'.

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