Cooks Hill Brown Snakes dent Gropers minor title hopes in Hunter Suburban Rugby

NELSON Bay’s first grade rugby team’s minor premiership hopes in the Hunter Suburban Mens Presidents Cup A Grade competition hang in the balance.

After a two-week layoff, the injury-riddled Gropers were left smarting after an 18-8 loss to the fourth-placed Cooks Hill Brown Snakes last weekend at Empire Park Bar Beach.

Played on a gluepot track, the rusty Nelson Bay XV produced their worst performance of the season and slipped to third spot on the competition ladder on 25 points.

Scone Brumbies leapfrogged the Gropers into second spot on 28 points after their weekend bye.

A sluggish Nelson Bay were slow off the mark, with the Brown Snakes stunning their rivals with two quick tries and a penalty goal to jump to a 15-0 lead.

The Bay side turned to back row forwards Mitch Workman, Hayden Wilson and skipper Sam Rocher for inspiration and the tireless trio delivered with bone-jarring defence.

Number 8 Workman was one of the best on the ground and lifted his team-mates with his power running and tough tackling to earn the Players’ Player award.

The Gropers showed their grit with several searching runs by fullback Brayden McMaster from kick returns as the giant Cooks Hill pack began to tire.

Workman and lock Ronan O’Connell made headway through the Brown Snakes defence and set the platform for hard-running props Nathan McLeay and Ross Buchan.

With the gusty breeze playing havoc on both teams’ lineout throws it negated one of Nelson Bay’s strengths and turnovers resulted in Cooks Hills gaining good field position.

Diminutive flanker Wilson ripped into his large opponents with several punishing tackles to turn over the ball, and slick work from halves Kade Redmond and Liam Pietrasek put damaging centre Marcel Ikinofo into space, but to no avail.

Trailing 15-0 at the break and needing a lift, Nelson Bay coach

Michael Squires replaced his props with seasoned campaigners Zion Takarua and Ciaran Murphy taking the field along with winger Scott Tristan and flanker Zac Summerfield.

Murphy was returning to Nelson Bay after a 10-year stint with Irish rugby club Enniscorthy and relished the warmer winter weather.

The Gropers hit back after the interval by pushing the larger Cooks Hill pack off the ball, enabling fly half Liam Pietrasek and centre Harry Andersen to position flying winger Scott Tristan to score in the corner.

A Pietrasek penalty goal bridged the gap to 15-8 before centre Ikinofo spurred his team mates with several bumping runs.

Flanker Rocher and Workman began to dominate the aerial battles in the lineout and the injection of centre Danny Arnfield, half back Jake Langsford, flanker Ollie Edwards and forward Shane Jarvis gave the Gropers a massive lift.

Despite several half chances from Andersen and Pietrasek, the Gropers were unable to capitalise.

This Saturday the Gropers face Muswellbrook Heelers in a must-win clash at Highbrook Park to stay in touch with the competition leaders.

Coming off a rousing 22-20 victory over ladder leaders Singleton, the Heelers will stage their Ladies Day so a big crowd is anticipated for a 3pm kick off.

By Chris KARAS