NELSON Bay’s first-grade rugby team has fallen agonisingly short in the quest for the 2026 Hunter Suburban Rugby Presidents Cup A Grade championship trophy.
Scone Brumbies rule the roost after securing back-to-back premiership titles with a hard-fought 34-24 grand final victory over the Gropers last Saturday at Newcastle’s No. 2 Sportsground.
The trusty boot of classy Brumbies fly-half and skipper Darcy Moore proved the difference in another epic clash between the competition heavyweights.
Both sides finished with four tries apiece, but it was Moore’s tally of four penalty goals and a try conversion that helped the Scone club retain their title.
A large Port Stephens contingent travelled to the game and provided vocal support for both the Nelson Bay and Medowie Marauders teams that featured in the Presidents Cup and Patrons Shield grand finals.
Moore potted an early penalty goal before Gropers’ halfback Kade Redmond capitalised on a passing rush soon after with a darting run to open the try-scoring.
Fullback Liam Piatrasek converted to give Nelson Bay a 7-3 lead.
Scone regained the lead, 8-7, when power-running centre Caleb Taylor burst through to score the first of his two tries after eight minutes.
A second Moore penalty goal, two yellow cards and a determined try by winger Isaac Field enabled the Brumbies to hold a 16-7 advantage at the half-time interval.
Redmond and flanker Hayden Wilson were replaced by forward Shane Jarvis and utility Brayden McMaster after the break, and within minutes of the restart, Scone flanker Jack Albury crossed for his team’s third try, with Moore adding the extras.
The Gropers continued to push hard in a physical contest but conceded a fourth try when Brumbies ace Taylor grabbed a double to extend his side’s lead by 21 points.
Nelson Bay rallied, and in a rolling maul, a try was awarded to prop Riley Byfield, with Pietraszek converting.
In a mass swap, Jarvis, centre Marcel Ikinofo, Riley Byfield, Luke Sweeney and Taraq Hall left the pitch to get Ross Buchan, Nathan Mcleay, Hayden Wilson and John Lundie on with fresh legs.
Moore booted another penalty goal for a 31-14 lead before the Gropers responded with a maul pushover try to Mcleay and a five-pointer by fly-half Will Clark, who again produced a great kicking game.
Trailing 31-24, the Bay stormed home and cemented the minor and major premiership double when Moore landed his fourth penalty goal in the dying moments.
Nelson Bay coach Michael Squires can reflect on a successful 2026 campaign – unearthing an array of junior talent and stumbling on a winning recipe of youth and experience in the big end-of-season matches.
By Chris KARAS
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