NELSON Bay’s first grade rugby team is on the premiership prowl in the Hunter Suburban Presidents Cup competition.
The in-form Gropers have booked a qualifying final showdown with the Scone Brumbies on 15 August at Newcastle’s No. 2 Sportsground and are hungry for success.
Michael Squires’ charges celebrated the club’s Sponsors Day and final regular season appearance with a resounding 46-15 victory over the Singleton Bulls last Saturday at Bill Strong Oval in an ideal tune-up for the 2026 finals series.
The win locked up a top-two spot for the Nelson Bay side, which shares equal competition leader status with the Brumbies on 39 points leading into their bye this weekend.
With back-to-back victories over the Brumbies and Bulls in the past fortnight, the Gropers are brimming with confidence in their quest for the Presidents Cup title.
Third-ranked Singleton (33 points) host the Brumbies this Saturday in a final preliminary-round clash at Rugby Park.
A revved-up Nelson Bay outfit demonstrated their champion qualities with a superb team effort against the ultra-competitive Bulls.
Industrious flanker Ollie Edwards was best-on-ground for the Gropers and made a huge impact with his bullocking runs and bone-jarring defence.
The highly rated forward was supported by dynamic rookie fullback Liam Pietrasek, hard-working number 8 Mitch Workman, winger Tom Akbal and classy fly-half Will Clark.
Pietrasek was solid in the number 15 jumper all day and contributed a personal tally of 21 points from a try, five conversions and two penalty goals.
In a torrid forwards clash, the Singleton lineup drew the ire of the referee and the capable Pietrasek potted an early penalty goal for a 3-0 lead.
With hooker Ross Buchan throwing perfect lineout balls for aerial high- flyers Workman and locks Taraq Hall and Ronan O’Çonnell, the Gropers were winning plenty of lineout ball and ripping through the Bulls defence.
Charging onto a short pass from Workman, gun centre Marcel Ikinofo stormed through to cross under the posts for a converted try and 10-0 lead.
Singleton rallied with a period of intense pressure through their forwards and bridged the gap with a penalty goal by halfback Jayden Duff.
A long range burst by winger Tom Akbal put the Gropers on the attack and strong running from props Nathan McLeay and Jake Affleck resulted in flanker Hayden Wilson charging onto a short ball and bursting over for Nelson Bay’s second try and a 17-3 lead.
From the kick off, Nelson Bay lifted the tempo with the tireless Edwards setting the standard with his charges at the Bulls defensive line and making huge inroads.
The clever Clark gave the Gropers strong field position with his tactical kicking before Pietrasek extended the home side’s lead to 20-3 with a second penalty goal.
Singleton had no answer to the trademark tackling from veteran centre Michael Hotene and the talented Ikinofo who had the Bulls backpedalling.
A turnover saw slick hands from Buchan to flying lock Hall who barged over out wide, and when half back Kade Redmond combined with flyer Brayden McMaster for Akbal to dash over and score the Gropers had set up a commanding 32-3 lead at the interval.
Coach Squires injected fresh legs with veteran prop Zion Takarua, lock Shane Jarvis and hooker Liam Keating taking the field.
Takarua was solid in defence along with fellow veteran Jarvis with support from lock O’Connell and the teak-tough Workman holding firm.
With a weight of possession, the Bulls finally crossed in the corner and several ruck infringements from the Bay enabled the large Bulls pack to gain momentum and cross again for a converted try under the posts.
Halfback Jake Langsford, centre Keanu Offen and hooker Luke Sweeney took the field and, with Singleton threatening to bust the game wide open, an opportunistic intercept pass saw Pietrasek dash downfield and score in the corner then land the sideline conversion.
The bench was emptied with veteran lock Adam Edwards and replacement wingers Will McLean and Kerrod Haywood running on for the final 15 minutes.
Captain and prop Jake Affleck led the way with several punishing runs as the Gropers’ backs found space with centre Hotene making an impact.
The final act saw a cut-out pass from Clark put replacement winger Haywood into space down the packed hillside touchline.
With the crowd roaring him on, Haywood outpaced the cover to score the Gropers’ sixth try in style.
By Chris KARAS
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