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HILLIES V HAWKESBURY VALLEY @ McQUADE: ROUND FOURTEEN REVIEW
The waiting throng at Boronia bubbled with excitement, not only at the prospect of the day's rugby but also at the prospect of the first bus-trip of the winter. They would stay a waiting throng two hours later as the Richmond-based bus driver (obviously a Valley Man) went MIA in our hour of need. Though many were tardy to the ground, Hillies throughout the day were rarely late on the field. Fourth Grade were impressive in a clinical 17-0 win. Scotty Keenan and Fiji Tim were dynamite in the midfield with Joel Firth enjoying his homecoming. Fourth Grade face a big test this week against a high flying Brothers outfit and they look to be fine tuning combinations at the right end of the year. Third Grade took a bonus point and their 14th straight with another victory constructed around a watertight gameplan. Kane Nicholson is class in the backline and Robbie Gray monstered his opposite number at 9 in the first of his numerous eyecatching displays of the trip.
It wasn't pretty, it didn't get a bonus point and it wasn't worth putting on youtube, but for First Grade, it was a win. In a game were the scoreline suggested the ferocity of the contest, Hunters Hill held both their nerve and their defensive line in a battle of will. Going into the game without the services of their two first choice wingers through illness and injury, Hillies plans were further thrown into disarray when Will Carew was stretchered off in the opening minutes. (Will was later cleared of any serious injury) After a lengthy break, Hunters roared straight into action at the resumption with Dean Thomson immediately supplying pristine line-out ball for fly-half Dave Marshall to put a rampaging Colman Taylor under the posts. From there the game descended into a desperate fight at the breakdown as the huge Hawkesbury Valley forward pack asserted themselves. The smaller and more resourceful Hillies pack would stay strong however and lasted just long enough for a 7 point win. Rangy lock Jordan Butler produced a ridiculous performance for the Hunters, full of colour and texture, supplementing a domination of the line-out with a manic running, varied kicking and an enthusiastic melee display. His performance on the bus on the way home was perhaps less effective, often meaningless and largely incomprehensible. Hunters Hill 5th Grade 5 (Chase Mason try) lost to the Sydney Convicts 2nds 10. Best and Fairest: 3- Dustin Mason, 2- Graham Levin, 1- Paul Dunstan Hunters Hill 4th Grade 17 ( "Fiji Tim" Latilevu 2, Richie Colley tries, Ron White goal) beat Hawkesbury Valley 0. Best and Fairest: 3- "Fiji Tim" Latilevu, 2- Scott Keenan, 1- Joel Firth Hunters Hill 3rd Grade 28 (Kane Nicholson 2, Robbie Gray, Chris Collins tries, Dean Vandine 4 goals) beat Hawkesbury Valley 12. Best and Fairest: 3- Rob Gray, 2- Chris Collins, 1- Tim Vertoudakis Hunters Hill 2nd Grade 27 (James Hammond 2, Thomas Cuniowski, Michael Kellaway tries Zane Thomas goal) beat Hawkesbury Valley 6. Best and Fairest: 3- La La Havea, 2- Jesse Croucher, 1- Will Wright Hunters Hill 1st Grade 10 (Colman Taylor try, Sam Henry 1 goal and 1 penalty) beat Hawkesbury Valley 3. Best and Fairest: 3- Jordan Butler, 2- Colman Taylor, 1- Luke Bird Refs Points: 3- Jordan Butler, 2- Dave Weston Passenger of the Bus-Trip: Jordan Butler HOW ARE WE TRAVELLING? Club Championship: 1st - 94 point lead with a game in hand. 1st Grade: 2nd- 8 points from Merrylands with a game in hand HILLIES V BROTHERS @ BORONIA: ROUND FIFTEEN PREVIEW
We have been waiting for the chance to make up for it at our house. Once again every game and every bonus point will be critical in the race for finals places. Where Brothers Stands Club Championship: 10th 1st Grade: 9th
FROM THE ARCHIVES 1979 - Club Champions Thirty years ago HHRUFC was the premier club in Sub-District Rugby.
CLUB CAPTAIN'S COLUMN
Firstly, a sweep in Hawkesbury is something to be seriously proud of. Historically the shoe really was more likely to be on the other foot and its amazing how quickly things can turn around with some clear thinking and hard work. It was only 4 seasons ago at McQuade in my second game for Hillies that I realised that playing front-row in Grade rugby meant playing against men and being treated like a boy. Playing hooker that day felt like being crushed into a can and then being rolled down Mt. Everest. The blokes up front that day all swore that we would never play front-row against such angry men ever again. My loose-head, Andy Harvey, almost immediately got out to the much safer pastures of second row. My Tight-head, Andrew "Crackers" Cattanach would also escape, retiring permanently to the kitchen in an attempt to cook the perfect pork roast. To come back years later (backed-up thank goodness by Andy J and Davey Weston) and get a sweep against the the Valley in the Valley is certainly a great moment and one to spur us on to greater things. The second point is this. Following Hawkesbury's very gracious patronage of the HHH after our Boronia fixture, it was great to return the favour at the Windsor bowling club on Saturday. After such a tough day, to sit back, eat and drink with your teamates and the opposition watching the Wallabies was an experience we don't do often enough. I would like to thank all the boys who took the bus for their behaviour and especially Grovesy who took control. WIth more bustrips coming up I would implore every single person in the club to get a ticket to at least one of them. It was a fantastic night and really what playing Subbies Rugby is all about. The hunt continues Jules
The July 25 deadline is this weekend. A $50 deposit books your much sought after and personalised Byron kit. Contact Groves on Saturday. FEES Signed back to Index |
This week's game Social
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A sweep in the Valley was something to be dreamed of in recent years. A tough group of tough men, Hawkesbury are always twice the team at home. To come away with four from four showed that Hunters Hill 2009 can handle the tough stuff and what's more prevail in the close ones.
Second Grade produced their best performance in months as they put four tries on the Valley and won with an uncharacteristic buffer. La La was again a standout and the Hammer struck twice. 
Our trip to Roseville Chase in the first part of the season turned into a nightmare with serious injuries, Fourth Grade draws and First Grade losses.
5TH GRADE V FORREST @ BORONIA – KICK OFF AT 1.15PM
1979 saw 5 clean sweep rounds, socks were black and white hooped, jerseys had no club badge, balls were leather and tries were worth 4 points.
Given the Dan Casa interview seems to have gone down in history just below (or slightly to the left of) Frost:Nixon, I thought I would keep the column easy and breezy this week.
BYRON TOUR: EVERYBODY GET IN
