13/06/2009 Hunters 1sts Impress against petersham

Hunters Hill Rugby's First Grade side continued to press their claims as a serious finals threat with a scintillating 54-12 demolition of traditional rivals and last year's grand finalists Petersham at Camperdown Oval on Saturday.

Freshened by the bye and eager to address their less than glittering away record, Hillies found the going tough in the first stanza with Petersham employing a disciplined game centred around field position and tactical kicking. An enforcer's performance by Hillies openside Colman Taylor in the first twenty minutes ensured that kicking was perhaps the prudent option for the Shammies, lest they be tackled by the furious number 7.

Hillies would produce two flashes of brilliance within the first 40 however, super-slick fly-half Dave Marshall scheming through some confused defence to open the black and white account before a pin-point cross-field kick from inside centre Sam Henry found gargantuan winger Ben Bates on the chest to give Hillies a 14-7 lead at the break.

Buoyed by an enthusiastic crowd and confident in their ability to score points, Hillies cut loose in the second stanza, crossing 6 times to record a lopsided victory. Prolific try-scorer Dan Casa took his season tally into the twenties almost immediately after the resumption before the Hunters Hill pack began to show their attacking wares. Locks Dean Thomson and Jordan Butler continued their try scoring rivalry, Butler's effort being particularly memorable. His David Campese-like fifty metre zigzagging effort to beat the Petersham fullback was preposterous for a second rower and brought the crowd to it's feet.

Skipper and man of the match Englishman Dave Weston also got into the act, supplementing his always solid scrummaging and ruck work with a number of damaging charges and some very deft passing skills to set up dynamite winger Burzin Mehta for one of his two second half tries. Dave Marshall would cross again and Henry would finish with 7 from 8 with the boot to put the finishing touches on an impressive win, breaking the sequence of 4 consecutive losses against the men from Camperdown.

Both teams look forward to the return fixture at Boronia Park on the 22nd August when Hunters Hill will seek to win the Tony Brunsdon Cup for the first time.

In the lower grades, Petersham were impressive winning three of the four fixtures. In the Seconds, Hunters Hill uncharacteristically finished on the wrong end of a tight score line, losing 17-18. Alex Vertoudakis was again prominent and further pressed his claims for a recall to the 1st XV. The unbeaten Hunters Hill Thirds stretched their streak to nine and in doing so have now recorded victories against every 3rd XV in the competition. Their 10 points to 7 win, inspired by half Rob Gray and dread-locked loose forward Matt Taka, ensured they will take top spot on the Campbell Cup Ladder.

Hunters Hill's Fourth Grade amazing unbeaten streak was halted at 24 with Richie Colley's premiers out-enthused in a grand final re-match16 points to 5. Scott Keenan again displayed tenacity and talent at fly-half and the return fixture between the two sides is sure to be something special. In 5th Grade Petersham triumphed over Hunters Hill 15-14.

The strong result in First Grade ensured that Hunters Hill continues to lead the Club Championship, a lead that they will seek to defend against Epping this Saturday in a tough assignment at Somerville Park.