Reflections on the Hill: An insight into “Back to Boronia” Day with Mr Paul Shields (Human)

The 2009 Back to Boronia Day was one of the greatest days of club rugby I have experienced.

 The long history of the club was proudly displayed by the TAC (The Archive Committee) & beautifully demonstrated when 90 plus year old Hunters Hill icon Mrs Cuneo presented the TAC with her brother’s Honour Cap.  Living up to their new motto “Facta et Verba” (deeds & words).

There was something for everyone with the Kaz (the carny) Ria supervising the kiddies at a very popular jumping castle. Our mighty sponsors were wined & dined by Beck, Rod & Kylie in the sponsors coral.  Team photos were full of banter & the rugby against old foe Petersham was as always very competitive.

The Cat’s verbally abused each other as only old mates can & played a “willing” game against Dads Army. The highlight of the game for me was Don Boland taking the field with his two sons.

The crowd for 1st grade was huge with a who’s who of HHRU cheering the boys to victory in the Brunsdon Cup. The highlight was the script-perfect match winning try in “CAT corner” by close Brunsdon family friend & club corner-stone Alex Light.

After the match the presentations began with Georgina Brunsdon presenting the Brunsdon Cup to First Grade skipper Dave Weston. The Division 3 Club Champion Shield was then presented to the 2009 club captain, Jules Arndt by HHRU life member, NSW Subbies President & 1979 HHRU Club Captain Ian (Cowboy) Ross. It was quickly followed by a spirited singing of the club song in a large semi circle which included club patron & Hunters Hill Mayor Sue Hoopman.

A huge night was had at the HHH with many people drinking from the Brunsdon Cup (New only) & the Joey’s 5yr reunion old boys & the HHRU 69 & 79 old boy’s conversing in fluent Swahili to each other. The first 78 minutes of the Test Match was great.
Great effort from everyone in the club, with a big mention to the Salmon Family & friends squad & the Bones-Cliff duo who have all put in big time all year.

It is not over yet!!
We have all 4 teams in MAJOR semi’s & are in a great position to get even more silverware for the TAC to warehouse.
 This is our last chance ever to win any division 3 cup.
We won’t be back!!
 -Shieldsy.

Editors Note: Congratulations to Shieldsy and Mr Renny Iles who celebrated the Black and White half-century on Saturday.

HILLIES V PETERSHAM - ROUND 18 "BACK TO BORONIA" REVIEW
In one of the most memorable Boronia days in years, Hunters Hill hosted the 1969 and 1979 reunions, our sponsors and our wonderful Mayor. And what a show we put on, four wins from five, our first Tony Brunsdon Cup and the Club Championship shield to boot.
Hunters Hill 5th Grade 12 beat Petersham
Saturday marked the final match of the Fifth Grade season. These boys have had a tough gig all year, coming up against everything from division one clubs, crack colts sides or superstar masters ensembles. It is because of this tough schedule that Fifth Grade too often fail to get the results they deserve. Not this day. Today would be theirs.
With the Fernando brothers making up two thirds of the most powerful Sri Lankan Rugby force ever assembled, these boys were always going to be hard to beat. With stand-out prop Mitch Tyson-Mobbs breathing fire at every contest, the result was never in doubt. Well done boys, this game, like your entire season has been a pleasure and inspiration to watch. You deserve to go out on a high and that you certainly did. We are extremely fortunate to have a man of the calibre of Glenn Morrissey put his hand up to mould the Fives into a team. The intensity of your training sessions have put the rest of us to shame.
Hunters Hill 4th Grade 21 beat Petersham 3
A super-slick performance by the premiers has the Hill hoping yet again. Tom Kellaway's break-grubber-dive-score was Jarryd Hayne-esque and an indictment to the number on his back. Another Chalmers try may have tipped the balance for a wing spot in the CCC team of the year.  And one more thing, gee that Ronny White can kick. Merrylands await.
Hunters Hill 3rd Grade 17 beat Petersham 3
So we have our Minor Premiers. Coming off their only loss of the season, an angrier Thirds team arrives to the centre of the Boro. They left the field victorious, a 17-3 result a solid start to what could be a three game series against the Camperdown Comrades. DVD was exciting to watch and Robbie Gray was once again the glue. Petersham await.
Hunters Hill 2nd Grade 3 lost to Petersham 13
A disappointing result yet one that will be meaningless if reversed on Saturday.  Go forth and conquer Twos, the minor prem is exactly that.
Hunters Hill 1st Grade 23 beat Petersham 6
Hunters Hill Rugby First Grade side has won the 2009 Tony Brunsdon Cup. On a huge Saturday for rugby in Hunters Hill, the finals-bound side ensured that "Back to Boronia" celebrations would be continued long into the night with a decisive 23-6 victory over Petersham.

With a huge crowd gathering at Boronia\ and with the first silverware of the season on the line, Hillies never lost control of a match played with an intensity that did justice to the marquee event of the Boronia season.

Hillies would strike early, try-scoring record holder Daniel Casa deftly placing a chip kick into the in-goal for big red-headed centre Duncan Taylor to register the first try. Casa would soon after grab a try of his own, number 26 of the season, to put Hillies out to a healthy lead.

Petersham's hunger at the breakdown kept them in touch with two penalty goals either side of half-time.  This momentary momentum shift was expertly countered by Hillies own sharp-shooter Sam Henry, replying with a penalty and opportunistic drop-goal to counter Petersham's progress.

As the second stanza wore on and Petersham's season drew to a close, both sides traded attacking raids but struggled to make the final pass stick.

The final play of the match could not have been scripted better as club stalwart Alex Light thundered his way down the touchline to score in front of the packed hill to seal Hunters Hill's first Tony Brunsdon Cup.

Skipper Dave Weston was ecstatic at the result; "When you run out to a crowd like that and on a day like this, well you really don't have any other choice but to win. To see Lighty score that try and to see the boys' reaction afterwards, they are the moments that you play rugby for" he is quoted to have said.

Thank goodness Weston was not the only Hunter to lift silverware on the day however. Although victory in the club championship was sealed in the penultimate round, Hillies Club Captain Julian Arndt was able to at last savour lifting the Doc Harris Club Championship Shield in front of the Hillies faithful at the conclusion of the first grade match.

"It is just such an honour to be able to hold up the shield at Boronia on behalf of so many people who have given so much to make this club great, none more than Tony Brunsdon. I am sure Brunno is up there somewhere as proud as punch that Hillies have reclaimed his Cup and the Club Championship as well."
It really was an honour but one we can reflect on in a month or so. It’s time to furnish our table with cups. Four please.

HOW DID WE GO IN THE REGULAR SEASON?
Club Championship: 1st - Club Champions
1st Grade: Second
2nd Grade: Second
3rd Grade: Minor Premiers
4th Grade: Second
5th Grade: 11th of 28th

GAMES THIS WEEKEND
Major Semi Finals
C A Redmond Field #1
 Francis Ave, Brighton Le Sands

1s Vs Merrylands @ 3:15pm
2s Vs Petersham @ 1:45pm
3s Vs Petersham @ 12:25pm
4s Vs Merrylands @ 11:20am

FROM THE ARCHIVES
As time goes by: A comparison between 1979 and 2009

In 1979, Hunters Hill had 4 teams in semi finals, 4 teams in Grand Finals, finishing with 2 wins and 2 losses.
In 2009, we have 4 teams in semi finals, with the added bonus of 4 major semi-final berths. Will history repeat itself or can our current crop create their own?

This season’s result of 3rd grade finishing minor premiers and all others finishing 2nd is slightly better than 1979 where 4th grade were minor premiers, 2nds & 3rds second and 1st grade finished 3rd. All teams have better win/loss records, with 4th grade equal. With the Club Championship in cabinet, what history can be made in 09?

In 79 all teams played against the minor premiers or in 4th grade’s case the runners up. History shows that to be the premiers you need to beat the best. The challenge this weekend is to get all 4 teams in the GF, then the ultimate comparison can be made.

Fourth grade:
9,10,12’s: Southcombe, Laundry, Brunsdon, v Colley, White, French.
Ex 1st grade halfbacks that love blindside tries and talking to the ref, 5/8ths that are tactically astute and quiet achievers and inside centres who possess a great inside step, sub district reps, coaching other grades and legends of the club.

Third grade
Halfbacks Mal Baird v Rob Gray and Skipper props Peter Corrigan v Tim Vertoudakis.

Just look at the two pairs, if Rob had a few more bloody noses and Tim grew his hair out, it’s uncanny.

Ian Ross  v Pat Feige,
Ex club captains and proven try scorers.

Second grade

No10’s Michael Oakley v Michael Kellaway
Both just out of school showing signs of one of our best 5/8ths in years, exciting and lots of points.

No8 Pat Hagen was a former back, much like Matt Calderwood only a couple of seasons ago.

Centres Ken McFarlane v Heilala Havea, big, fast, strong.

1st grade
Try scoring centre Dave Polly was there in 79, also winning a premiership in the previous year, the 2009 coach hopes to repeat success of 2008.

Seasons club top point scorers in John Whittington and Sam Henry and two left foot huge kickers in Peter Miles and Chase Mason , hard running No 8’s Bob Johnston and Alex Light, hard men and leaders Gavin Cornford and Dave Weston.

Also Phil Shaw, rookie with the club in 79 – rookie to 1st grade coaching in 09. 2nd grade centre Gary Lane, son Matt Lane 1st grade fullback. Derek Macrae 3rd grade flanker, son Matt Macrae 2nd grade flanker.

CLUB CAPTAIN’S COLUMN:
2009 Club Captain’s Team of the Year
Over the next two weeks I will be naming the remainder of 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.
The team so far
Prop- Dave Weston (First Grade)
Hooker- Tim Dodds (Third Grade)
Prop- Mitch Tyson-Mobbs (Fifth Grade)
Lock- Adrian Harvey (Third Grade)
Lock- Jordan Butler and Dean Thomson (First Grade).

This Week's selection: The Middle Five
Blindside Breakaway - Luke McLennan (1s) and Joel Firth (4s)
Another split decision and although they are both new to the club, two very different players.
LMac has been everywhere in the Ones. This guy is a blast of energy, oddly prone to wearing sweatbands. With “bruz” Sam Henry, he has demonstrated interesting and fashionable ways to use peroxide, reminding us all that catastrophes like this should never happen.  

Swatting away potential challenges from Colman Taylor and Chris Collins, Joel Firth has claimed the crown as CCC Hardman of the Hill. His hits are sickening, runs damaging and thighs threatening.

Openside Breakaway- Matt Taka (3s)
The action-man of the minor-premiers, Taka tackles and tackles and tackles some more.  All over the ball like nori on sushi, the Threes have missed him in his absences.  A favorite of the press and the coaches, Matt has had to deal with the price of fame.
 
Number Eight- Jon Gelling (3s)
Runner Up: Alex Light (1s)
 
Understandably jealous of the media coverage given to back-row partner Taka, Gelling is due some serious limelight after what has been a serious season. Dominant with the ball and in the line-out, Jonno is a footy head, literally.

Scrum-half- Robbie Gray (3s)
Runner Up- Viren Fernando (5s)
The bearded one has flown among the stars behind a Third grade pack who are perpetually moving forward. His real strength lies in his rugged approach to the ruck and the genuine enjoyment he takes in mixing it with the big boys.
All has not been clear skies for the gray-beard however. On an ill-conceived Windsor Saturday night he flew too close to the sun and was forced to parachute back to earth. Arise Icarus Naturist.
 
Fly-half- Dave Marshall (1s)
Runner Up: Dean Vandine (3s)
“Quickfat” is the ultimate salesman, whether it be a dummy or three raffle tickets (“It’s a deal, it’s a steal, it’s the sale of the century”). A rare breed of Pom who is difficult to ridicule, he gives Englishmen a good name. With (a skintight) 10 on his back, he can run, he can kick, he can jump, he can fly. Shirtless, he cannot swim.

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:
Commonwealth Bank
BSB: 062182
Acct# 00903188
****Please put your name against your payment so we know who it is for****

Signed

Jules 'did you see me bleed' Arndt and Jim 'don't include me on the newsletter this week' Bone

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