11-09-2005 4th Grade Grand Final

Was it nerves? Was it the 30 degree heat? Were CBOBs intimidated by the early roll up of Hunters Hill? Another thought was that CBOBS expected to play Blue Mountains in the 4th Grade grand final but instead had to play us and were unsure what to expect.

CBOBs started the game unconventionally with a surprise change of direction kick aiming, it seemed, to play a quick game away from Hunters larger forwards. Hunters backs quickly scrambled to take CBOBs over the side line for a lineout on hunters 10 metre line.

The ensuing lineout showed the advantage you can get when your jumpers and lifters are all well over six foot with our number 2 jumper clearly out jumping cbobs at every test. A two handed grab by Hunters was brought down and our plan was to maul and roll our way up the field. CBOBs were able to counter this quite well and our normal 20 metre walk was reduced to 3-4 metres.

Play pretty much continued in this fashion with Hunters hill having most of the territory but being played within the two team's 22s. Whilst we dominated at 2 in the line, CBOBs countered by throwing to 4 going backwards and forming a maul.

But it was CBOBs repeated infringements by not keeping feet at mauls that gave Hunters a penalty and first shot at goal. The super boot of the week before Evan Rees strolled up, gave it a great go from the 35 metre mark 15 in from the centre but unfortunately was waved wide. Another attempt soon after also sailed wide and the teams went to the break 0-0.

With the temperature rising and some of the forwards feeling the pinch Super-coach Dave Polly and captain underpants Tony Warren called for more running to get to the ball and blast the CBOBs forwards off and out of the way. The Backs had to settle, take their time, spread the ball and perform any other cliches needed to win the game.

Kickoff saw a hunters hill error. As the ball was trying its best to travel 10 metres, super quick svelte forward Lachie Gelling got in the road with his back turned and eyes shut for the ball to come back to half way for a CBOBs Scrum.

CBOBS went on the attack and found themselves near Hunters Hill's danger zone. A penalty conceded gave what seemed a gift. 25 metres out and 10 wide of centre, but alas it seemed that CBOBS didn't bring a kicker and the ball sailed wide.

Hunters attacked through line kicking from Rees and scrambling forward attack. When once again deep in CBOBs territory and their forward line holding well, a drop goal sailed short of the CBOBS goal. Most of the players froze not ever seeing a drop goal and looked to the ref until the vocal HH crowd reminded the players that they wanted blood and to chase. CBOBs kicked and another HH lineout.

A rolling maul set from the HH lineout had the ball moving ready for another backline attack when 5/8 Rees saw a gap hit the line and disappeared into a sea of forwards. This upset the backline balance and forced a retrieved ball to spin quickly out towards 3 Hunters Backs. The ball continued through hands whilst running for the corner. HH supporters roared in appreciation as scrambling CBOBS defence finally forcing the last pass to winger Cameron Moystn for a score in the corner. 5-0

A difficult kick followed, but we had seen Rees kick these before. Not today, the kicked missed but hunters were still ahead.

Hunters were fired up and sniffing an upset win. But CBOBs weren't finished with yet and within 5 minutes had made an incising run using their big centres. These were the guys that had been scoring all season for them and this might be their game finally clicking. CBOBS crashed over almost untouched to score 15 metres wide of the post. 5-5

The conversion followed with the kicker kicking from almost the same spot as the previously missed penalty. Same result, missed. the score still 5-5.

Three minutes later the ref blew the whistle and with scores locked, called for extra time. 10 minutes each way.

Hunters were tired, our forwards had a reputation of being big but slow and this heat it should be to our disadvantage. All we had needed to do was hold out the previous 7 minutes and the trophy would have been ours. Now all was up for grabs again.

The first 10 minutes mirrored the previous 60. Very even. Hunters had the better kicking game, the better 2 at the lineout, but CBOBS had good counter attack and were very good at shutting down the hunters maul and forcing turnover.

The battle of the crowd support was intensifying. CBOBS had the numbers in support but Hunters were beginning to catch in volume. This began to mirror the game. We felt that the last 3 minutes of the 1st extra time, we lifted, and CBOBS waning. They were no longer advancing through or around our forwards ranks. Possibly typified by a late counterattack that saw two Cbobs break past hunters attacking back line. Huge cheer from CBOBS and silence from HH crowd until a massive tackle by out of position hooker, Andy Ball, saw that run end.

The start of the second half kept us round about the centre line. CBOBs infringed one too many times and a penalty ensued. Tony pointed for the penalty. HH crowd erupted. 'he cant see that far, let alone kick'. But a breeze had swept up. Rees lined up the ball, jogged in and connected. The ball sailed high and looked like stretching straight across the face until late swing towards the centre. Did it have the legs? it did. Jeers turned to Cheers and laughter. 8 - 5

All we needed to do now was soak up the time and keep the ball away from our own line. Text book rugby, keep it simple.

Cbobs had one last push into our danger zone but fumbled we regathered, heard the bell, kicked toward the sideline. Game. Done. The ref looked to play one last line out, with a CBOBs throw, heard the bell ring for a second time, paused and blew full time. Hunters Hill 4th grade won the Nicholson Cup in an upset. 8 - 5

After much discussion, it was agreed that all players had played well and all contributed across the board in all the finals games.

As compiled from foggy accounts from a heat stressed Hooker.