15/08/2009 Hunters Seal Club Championship

Hunters Hill Rugby Club have sealed victory in the Division 3 Suburban Rugby Club Championship.

Despite a mixed day against Blacktown in a hot and dusty Doonside on Saturday, the Boronia club did enough to seal the Keith "Doc" Harris Shield with a game in hand. This comes as welcome news as the club gears up for a “Back to Boronia” blockbuster against Petersham in the final regular season fixture this Saturday.

The round was not without its disappointments however. First Grade, although already assured of a top two finish, would be denied victory after the siren as the reigning premiers Blacktown kicked a penalty to win the match 15-14.

The game itself was a predictably tough affair, marked by desperate goal-line defence from both sides. With Blacktown playing for their hopes in the finals race and Hillies looking to seal the overall club championship, it was a game that gave an indication of the type of finals rugby that will be played in the coming weeks.

 The first half would start poorly for the visitors with a seemingly innocuous Blacktown backline play resulting in the Warriors winger strolling over in the corner.

Undeterred and exhibiting a new-found calmness under pressure, Hunters hit back with a mountain of possession against a much larger Blacktown side. It would finally tell with big centre Duncan Taylor eventually crossing for a well-earned try.

Blacktown, stirred by their boisterous local support hit back immediately with a clever cross kick surprising the Hillies to take the out to a 12-7 lead at the break.

The second half would test the resolve of both sides as wave after wave of sustained pressure took its toll on an unseasonably hot day. Hunters Hill made the first breakthrough through the herculean efforts of skipper Dave Weston. The Englishman somehow forced his way through a mountain of Warriors to score under the posts for a two point lead.

As the clock ticked down, Blacktown began to lift and at the death had established field position to make one last raid. The Hunters desperation and exhaustion finally told and Blacktown were awarded a penalty in the 79th minute in kickable range. The penalty was calmly taken and fulltime was blown, sealing a 15-14 Blacktown victory.

While the loss was a cruel blow to a Hillies side stung by two near-identical losses to the same opposition last season, it was a testament to the quality and the tenacity of a Blacktown side who simply needed to win. The loss may well prove the perfect tonic for Hillies in preparation for this weekend’s Tony Brunsdon Cup showdown against Petersham and the even bigger finals series thereafter. Only time will tell.

In other grades, the Seconds prepared for their top of the table clash with Petersham with a clear 11-3 victory. Big winger Ben Bates was a nightmare to tackle and scrum-half Luke Bird directed well. In Third Grade, Hunters Hill’s hopes of completing an undefeated season were dashed with the side going down 10-14 in another heartbreaker. As was the case in the 16 wins that preceded it, Rob Gray was a menace at scrum-half while player-coach Andy Harvey gave everything he had in a beaten side. Fourth Grade enjoyed the performance of the day, running in a comfortable 35-0 victory with Max Marraffa continuing his excellent form. Hunters Hill 5th grade were unfortunate to run into a Blacktown All-stars side on Back to Blacktown Day, but were brave in defeat.