18/07/2009 Hunters Hardfought wins vs hawkesbury valley
Hunters Hill Rugby's 1st Grade side has returned to the winners circle with 10-3 victory over Hawkesbury Valley at McQuade Park in Windsor.
In a game were the scoreline suggested the ferocity of the contest, Hunters Hill held both their nerve and their defensive line for a crucial result in the light of their recent form of a draw and a loss.
Going into the game without the services of their two first choice wingers through illness and injury, Hillies plans were further thrown into disarray when new winger Will Carew was stretchered off in the opening minutes. Will would be later cleared of any serious injury.
After a lengthy break, Hunters roared straight into action with Dean Thomson immediately supplying pristine line-out ball for fly-half Dave Marshall to put a rampaging Colman Taylor under the posts.
From there the game descended into a desperate fight at the breakdown as the huge Hawkesbury Valley forward pack asserted themselves willfully. The smaller and more resourceful Hillies pack would stay strong however and lasted just long enough for a 7 point win.
Rangy lock Jordan Butler produced an eye-popping performance for the Hunters, supplementing a domination of the line-out with a manic running and kicking display.
In the lower grades, Hunters completed a rare clean sweep in Windsor, a result that would have been laughable only a few years ago.
The Seconds ran away with a 27-6 victory with 19 year old LaLa Havea a constant threat. The Thirds kept their undefeated streak alive in 2009 with a 28-12 win, bearded scrum-half Robbie Gray a constant menace to the Valley. The Fourths also prevailed 17-0 with Simeli Latilevu and Scott Keenan dynamic in the centres. Far, far away in Woolhara, the Fifths were to go down 10-5 against the Sydney Convicts 2nds.