30/05/2009 Hunters Cleansweep Blacktown in the Mud

Hunters Hill's 1st Grade Rugby side overcame atrocious conditions and last season's premiers in suburban rugby action at the weekend in a conclusive 24-5 victory over Blacktown at Boronia Park.

Shrugging off the history of a series of heartbreaking last minute losses to Blacktown last season, the Black and Whites were superb in a very muddy bonus point win.

After slow start in which Blacktown forced the opening try, the Hunters worked their way into the game, with Wellington product Sam Henry disregarding the slop underfoot in a series of long passing attacking forays. A try would eventually come to livewire winger Burzin Mehta, 5 points that evened the score and settled the home team before half-time.

After the resumption the battle continued as Hunters Hill began to dominate territory on the back of the cultured boot of English scrum-half Stuart Woodbridge and the breakdown pressure of back-row Colman Taylor, Alex Light and Luke McLennan. That pressure would finally tell, prolific centre Dan Casa laying on a try for imperious lock Dean Thomson to slide over under the posts. It Thomson who would then claimed the match for the home side with superb run to put away flanker Luke McLennan. Not to be outdone, Thomson's second row partner Jordan Butler joined in the fun, sliding over in the dying stages to seal a bonus point win and a share of the championship lead.

The first grade match capped off a fantastic day for the Boronia-based club with all 5 grades gaining victory over Blacktown. This result extends the club's clear club championship lead in the race for promotion. In the Seconds, Hunters Hill again showed an ability to get out of jail, sneaking a 10-7 win with Alex Vertoudakis' performance applying even greater pressure on a group of selectors spoilt for back-row choice. The Thirds remained undefeated with a 38-0 shut-out, Shannon Thomas producing an angry winger's performance to stand-out in the mud.  It was Scott Keenan who produced a 5 performance in the Fourths, offering tries to his outside men on a silver platter. It was an offer they gladly accepted, mirroring the Thirds in a 38-0 drubbing and skipping away to their 23rd game without defeat. The 5ths overcame their Blacktown rivals with a supberb come-from behind 21-10 win.  

The club will enjoy a well deserved bye this weekend before resuming hostility against traditional foes Petersham at Camperdown on June 13.