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HUNTERS HILL ARE CLUB CHAMPIONS
We have done enough to seal the Keith "Doc" Harris Shield with a game in hand. This comes as welcome news as we gear up for a “Back to Boronia” blockbuster against Petersham this Saturday. We will receive our Shield on Saturday. May it be the first of many this season! NEWS FLASH: Guess who else is coming to Dinner? Hunters Hill Rugby club has got some old friends paying a visit to Boronia on Saturday 22nd August. Namely the: 1st Division Club Championship Shield These are all the hard won trophies secured by the club in 1969 and 1979. Hopefully, their presence will inspire the new generation of players to bring them home again in a couple of years. GET READY FOR........... BACK TO BORONIA DAY – THIS WEEKEND! This Day is so big it can hardly fit in! 10.30: Fifth Grade Kick-off on No.1
How many more reasons do you need? It's not just about 1969 & 1979. No matter what years you were involved with the club, come along for what promises to be a great day. If you are a Hilly, it's time to get back to Boronia. N.B. To the all Current Players: If this weekend's festivities are to succeed we need your help! Even if you have done very little so far this year now is your chance to shine and give something back for what has been a great season. Get there early this Saturday! Volunteer to help with the set-up, man a barbie, take a photo, run a line, some water or a tee. Make yourself useful! Whatever you do, if someone asks you to do something, just do it and help the club that helps you. THE BRUNSDON CUP PREVIEW
The inaugural Tony Brunsdon Challenge Cup was held in 2008 in honour of the late great Anthony Charles Brunsdon (30/06/1945 - 22/03/2008). The records of Tony Brunsdon are not only significant but indeed phenomenal. As a player and a coach his performances and achievements will forever rank among the top performers for not only Hunters Hill Rugby but for Sydney Suburban Rugby Union forevermore. Some of his achievements include captaining the 1969 Whiddon Cup premiership team, Club captain from 1973-76, coached the winning Kentwell Cup side to the record 77,78,79 victories, along with playing in the Judd Cup victory in 1979. The rivalry with Petersham began in 1972 with Hunters Hill defeating Petersham in Kentwell Cup. Tony was one of five Hunters Hill players that went on an Invitational World Tour with Petersham in 1972/73 along with some Wallabies. Tony was vice captain and fitness trainer and the best ever tour results (won 6 draw 1 lost 3) were attributed to this. Petersham went on to win the Kentwell Cup in 1973 and again in 1974 this time defeating Hunters Hill. Following these years, some Petersham players crossed over to Hunters Hill and went on to win the Kentwell Cup for an unprecedented three years in a row in 1977 (undefeated), 1978 and 1979. Tony was an instrumental figure in the following “Glory Years” of Hunters Hill Rugby Union Football Club. It is hoped that the Cup will be played for in the true spirit of rugby and that the tradition is upheld for many years to come. DADS ARMY VS THE CATS II : PREVIEW
This weekend sees the long-awaited sequel to the inaugural Cats vs. Dads match that was played in July. The first meeting of the two sides was a free flowing affair, with both sides throwing the ball around to entertain a large crowd. The silky skills of past careers were still there, even if the execution was a bit slower. If you are a Cat, get down to Boronia to pick up the new playing gear, have you photo taken and then help teach the Dads a thing or two. If you are a Dad, well… you should know better. HILLIES V BLACKTOWN @ CHARLIE BALI - ROUND 17 REVIEW
Hunters Hill 5th Grade 5 lost to Blacktown 51 Generally when you run out against a team preparing for the Masters Games you would expect 15 grey beards, a healthy supply of thermoskin knee-guards and at least one Zimmer-frame. Alas, the Blacktown version of Golden Oldies doesn't really swing that way. In fact we were thrashed by a side with 8000 first grade games between them and who all had turned 35 yesterday. Kazzy Ria was always trying something and President Salmon made a few thunderous hits but all to no avail. Another lesson, more learning. Hunters Hill 4th Grade 35 beat Blacktown 0
Hunters Hill 3rd Grade 10 lost to Blacktown 14
Without some of their key ingredients and perhaps with their mind on the main course, this entree was always going to be undercooked. As was the case in the 16 wins that preceded it, Rob Gray was a menace at scrum-half while player-coach Andy Harvey gave everything he had in a beaten side. Although it was a disappointing result, their marathon defensive efforts were a good sign for the coming weeks and sometimes an undefeated tag is more pressure than it's worth. With a clear mind and a vengeful heart they can attack Petersham next week, then the week after and then two weeks after that. Hunters Hill 2nd Grade 11 beat Blacktown 3
Hunters Hill 1st Grade 14 lost to Blacktown 15 This game was a predictably tough affair, marked by desperate goal-line defence from both sides. With Blacktown playing for their hopes in the finals race and Hillies looking to seal the overall club championship, it was a game that gave an indication of the type of finals rugby that will be played in the coming weeks. The first half would start poorly for the visitors with a seemingly innocuous Blacktown backline play resulting in the Warriors winger strolling over in the corner. Undeterred and exhibiting a new-found calmness under pressure, Hunters hit back with a mountain of possession against a much larger Blacktown side. It would finally tell with big centre Duncan Taylor eventually crossing for a well-earned try. Blacktown, stirred by their boisterous local support hit back immediately with a clever cross kick surprising the Hillies to take the out to a 12-7 lead at the break.
As the clock ticked down, Blacktown began to lift and at the death had established field position to make one last raid. The Hunters desperation and exhaustion finally told and Blacktown were awarded a penalty in the 79th minute in kickable range. The penalty was calmly taken and fulltime was blown, sealing a 15-14 Blacktown victory. While the loss was a cruel blow to a Hillies side stung by two near-identical losses to the same opposition last season, it was a testament to the quality and the tenacity of a Blacktown side that simply needed to win. The loss may well prove the perfect tonic for Hillies in preparation for this weekend’s Tony Brunsdon Cup showdown against Petersham and the even bigger finals series thereafter. Only time will tell. HOW ARE WE TRAVELLING? Club Championship: 1st - Victory Assured 1st Grade: 2nd (Major Semi-final Place Confirmed) Club Championship: 5th FROM THE ARCHIVES 1969 – 1979 History was made In 1969 the club entered teams in the Whiddon and Judd cups, playing in the D division, winning their first sub-district premiership since 1955, defeating Reserve Bank 8 – 3 in the Whiddon Cup. The team was 1. C Pilkinton, 2. Tyrone Cosgrove, 3. Terry Rust, 4. Ray Bortolussi, 5. Tim Peters, 6. Steve Mazengarb, 7. Rob Bennett, 8. Peter Wincote, 9. John White, 10. Tony Brunsdon (c.), 11. Terry Laundry, 12. Tom Cuneo, 13. Alan Clark, 14. Bruce Hansen, 15. Brian Robertson. In 1979 the club had won the Kentwell Cup in 77 and 78 but didn’t start the title defence well, losing 5 of the first 9 games in 79. Coach Tony Brunsdon reported “every game in the second round was a grand final and having to play the minor semi final made the task immense”. The team then won 11 of the final 12 games, avenging their Rd 6 and Rd14 losses to St Patricks Old Boys 20 – 6 in the semi and then 21- 12, in the Grand Final. This victory created a record within sub district making Hunters Hill first club to win the Kentwell Cup three times in succession.
All four grades made the grand finals in 1979, this was a first for the club, and in doing so won the Club Championship for the 2nd time after the undefeated 1977 Kentwell Cup season. Burke Cup coached by Allan Southcombe had only one loss a one draw from the final 14 rounds, beat St Ives in the semi final 18 – 10 however couldn’t repeat the performance and were defeated 0 – 9 by St Ives in the grand final. The team was: 1. Pat Corrigan, 2. Jim Pearce, 3. Russell Kershler, 4. Craig Dodd, 5. Glen Sanford, 6. Colin Laundry, 7. Andrew Busby, 8. Pat Hagen, 9. John White, 10. Michael Oakley, 11. Ross Elliott, 12. Gary Lane, 13. Ken McFarlane, 14. Stewart Armstrong, 15. Steve Armstrong. Premiership winning coach in 1977 Peter Wincote again coached the Whiddon Cup team, they finished equal leaders but missed the minor premiership on for and against from Bondi Bronte, who won the semi final 3 – 7 and went on to win the grand final 6 – 12. The team was: 1. Peter Corrigan, 2. Graham Cosgrove, 3. Phil Roffey, 4. Geoff Lindsay, 5. Glen Burgess, 6. Bill Dempsey, 7. Derek Macrae, 8. Wayne Farthing, 9. Malcolm Baird, 10. Peter Tansey, 11. Paul Ivory, 12, Brian Robertson, 13, Chris O’Toole, 14. Ian ‘Cowboy’ Ross, 15. Scott Chisholm. In 1979 Hunters Hill won the Judd Cup for the first time, under the guidance of coach Michael Moss. In his third year and having missed out on the semis in the previous two years when all other grades played grand finals, this team formed the start of 5 consecutive Judd Cup Grand Finals winning again in 1980 and again 1983. The 1979 Grand Final was won 15 – 3 against Lane Cove, HH also defeating them in the semi final 8 – 3, a week after losing to them 0 – 4 at Boronia Park, the only match all season not to score a point in. There were 11 out of 21 games were won to nil, 28 different try scorers with 14 multiple try scorers. Ray Hickman topped the list and was top point scorer with 50 (7T, 5G, 4PG), Peter Webster 28 (2T, 4G, 3PG), Tony Brunsdon 25 (1T, 6G, 3PG) , with 63 / 98 players to play Judd Cup, it truly was a club victory. The Grand Final team consisted of: 1. Peter Webster (1PG), 2. Brad Hughes, 3. Nigel Stiffe, 4, Bill Kay, 5. Tony Brown (vc), 6. Colin Grainger (1T), 7. John Glennon, 8. Peter Wray, 9. Allan Southcombe, 10. Terry Laundry (c ), 11. Steve Kavanagh (1T), 12. Tony Brunsdon, 13. Peter Langrell, 14. Michael Taylor (1T), 15. Ivan Fitzgerald. Reserves: Ray Hickman (R-14), Wayne Chorley (R-6), Tim Hughes (R-3). Reserves not used: Gary Blackman, Ralph Carter, Alan Evans, Leigh Fitton, Greg Haines, Kurt Preussner, Scott Sainsbury, Phill Shaw, David Small, Bill Webb, Simon Wilson. By Ron White CLUB CAPTAIN’S COLUMN: 2009 Club Captain’s Team of the Year
Apparently these are the blokes who do all the work and get little reward. Why then do I read their names out every Saturday night for 3 2 1's?
The No 1 in the No 1s has turned in an exceptional year to lead the Clark Cup side from the cellar to a view. A BFF of referees, darling of a corrupt media and a tight-head’s nightmare, his enemies include the sun and Greenpeace.
Prop- Mitch Tyson-Mobbs (Fifth Grade). Lock- Adrian Harvey (Third Grade) Lock- Jordan Butler and Dean Thomson (First Grade). Butler has provided the dash of niggle and talent that the bus trip has so sorely lacked in the past few seasons. His hair colour served as a welcome lightning rod to direct abuse away from the English and his pre-match attire makes Cam Van Oirschot look like Calvin Klein. As for Deano, well he has played like Deano. Imperious in his ubiquity and producing when we need him to, his goatee is ridiculous. Stay tuned next week for Club Captain's Team of the Year: The Middle Five FEES DUE NOW: The simply message about fees is this: 1) If you haven’t paid your fees by the Semi-finals (next week) you cannot play 2) If you haven’t paid your fees by tour time you cannot come. It has been a great and long season so far and we have all got tremendous value from it. Let’s make sure everyone is up to date with their dues so we can focus on winning games. Bank Account Details:
Signed Jim Bone's connected to a, mobile phone,
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This week's game Social
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Hunters Hill Rugby Club has secured victory in the Division 3 Suburban Rugby Club Championship. 
On Saturday, the First Grade teams will be playing for the Tony Brunsdon Cup.
2.15: Kick-off on No.2 (1St Half)
With the Club Championship just about the only thing on the line last Saturday, we probably could say the weekend was a job well done. In truth, a loss, win, loss, win, loss Saturday probably wasn't the result we were looking for but certainly gives us impetus for improvement for the bigger games ahead. 
Fourth Grade enjoyed the performance of the day, running in a comfortable 35-0 victory with Max Marraffa continuing his excellent form and big Tommy Kellaway showing some try scoring touch. With a number of players back this week, the Fours are in a great position to avenge their streak ending loss to Petersham in Round 9. With Colley denying his forces the respite of recovery in the resort pool on Tuesday, look for these boys to be raring to go come 11.30 on Saturday. 
In Third Grade, Hunters Hill’s hopes of completing an undefeated season were dashed with the side going down 10-14 in a heartbreaker.
The Seconds prepared for their top of the table clash with Petersham with a clear 11-3 victory. Big bustling Benny Bates broke through more tackles than my alliteration can handle. The Twos, like the Threes have a tricky few weeks, negotiating the possibility of a three game series against a strong Petersham. Although we might be deprived of Croucher v Croucher crouch-off this Saturday, the boys look ready to rumble. 
The second half would test the resolve of both sides as wave after wave of sustained pressure took its toll on an unseasonably hot day. Hunters Hill made the first breakthrough through the Herculean efforts of skipper Dave Weston. The Englishman, lubricated by the copious amount of self-applied but ultimately ineffective sunscreen, somehow forced his way through a mountain of Warriors to score under the posts for a two point lead. 
Over the next three weeks I will be naming my team of 2009. I have chosen players whose season has been memorable in my mind regardless of the grade they played in. This is what’s called a conversation piece. Feel free to heckle me during speeches if not selected. 
Hooker- Tim Dodds (Third Grade). 
If the referee at Balmain couldn’t tell the difference, then I won’t split them. Both have had similarly massive years but yet are so intriguingly different. 
