4THS GRAND FINAL 6TH SEPTEMBER 2008

 

Hunters Hill Rugby Union Football Club won the Nicholson Cup premiership overcoming a determined Petersham outfit 12 – 0.

The match went ahead in atrocious conditions at Granville Rugby Park , where many family, friends and supporters cheered the 4th grade side to victory.

It was the second time Hunters Hill have won the Nicholson Cup and much praise goes to the guidance of coaches Phil Shaw and David Polly (coach in 2005) who prepared the team to perfection to be able to adapt to the wet and slippery conditions.

As in the semi final, Captain Richard Colley won the toss and ran with the wind in the first half, which paid dividends as the Hillies used the wind and ball to camp inside the Petersham half. It was a tough opening encounter as both sides found it difficult to hold onto the ball. Props Will Wassell and Hayden Brown stood strong in the scrums and gave Hillies the platform to kick downfield. Midway thru the half, winger Ben Williams put pressure on his opposite to number to get Hillies a line out close to the try line. Petersham tried to clear their lines with a miss-directed kick, centre Mark French caught the ball just outside the 22m line, and offloaded a pass to five eighth Ron White who in turn gave a quick pass under pressure from the rushing defence to centre Simeli Latilevu who in turn drew defenders and passed to fullback Ryan O’Toole chiming in the backline, who drew the last defender to send winger Ross Warwick sliding over out wide. The conversion was narrowly missed but to put points on the board first gave the team a huge lift and the forwards belief to dominate for the rest of the game. Towards the end of the first half, a lineout ball was knocked down on the Petersham side, with quick reactions clever flanker Renny Iles ripped the ball from Petersham hands to feed back to the Hilles forwards and like so many times this season halfback Richard Colley seized the opportunity to sneak down the blind side and slide over in the corner in front of the Hillies supporters. Goal kicker Ron White calmly slotted the conversion from the sideline to make the score 12 – 0. The second half saw Hillies rugged defence stand out and repeal each wave of attack. Replacements Kurt Gelling put in some massive tackles and outside back Stuart Brunsdon almost snatched an intercept which would have sealed the match. However Petersham never gave up and tireless efforts from Liam Cooper, Jono Gelling and standout hooker Andy Ball kept tackling everything that moved. Chris Groves replaced Browny and kept the momentum of the scrum going forward, the relentless pressure keeping Petersham at bay from the Hillies line.

Late into the match captain Colley was sin binned for retaliating after an illegal tackle but yet again the Hillies side held strong, with White moving to halfback and Brusndon to five eighth had that familiar ring to the combination of the 70’s greats saw Hunters Hill clear their lines and kept Petersham at bay. Second rowers Rob Knight and Matthew Shelton had great games winning and spoiling lineout ball. The replacements in Max Marraffa, Scott Liddicoat, Will Carew and Glen Morrissey were used as fresh legs and defended superbly. Colley returned fittingly for the final minute and kicked the ball out to see Hunters Hill win a memorable premiership and capped of a successful season for the club. For most of the team it was their first premiership and Phil Shaw won his first coaching premiership and thanks all players that played in the team this year, and hopes to see them all back next year to defend the title.

Hunters Hill Nicholson Cup Premiership squad:

Will Wassell, Andy Ball, Hayden Brown, Rob Knight, Matthew Shelton, Renny Iles, Liam Cooper, Jon Gelling, Richard Colley, Ron White, Ross Warwick, Mark French, Simeli Latilevu, Ben Williams, Ryan O'Toole, Stuart Brunsdon, Max Marraffa, Mark Thornton, Chris Groves, Scott Liddicoat, Glen Morrissey, Will Carew, Victor Yang, Jim Bone, Greg Forsyth, Nathan James, Kurt Gelling, Loni Katoa, Evan Tanswell, Tom Mazzaferro, Glenn Truelove, Jonathon Cuniowski, Jack Sandell, Lex Ratumaiyale, Paul Shields, Phil Shaw, Tim Dodds, Peter Quinn.