Gropers tackle Brown Snakes in Hunter Suburban Rugby finals

NELSON Bay Gropers face their moment of truth this weekend in the Hunter Suburban Men’s Rugby competition.

The Gropers and old foe Cooks Hill Brown Snakes do battle in the elimination final this Sunday at the No 2 Sports Ground in Newcastle at 11.15am.

Minor premiers Scone Brumbies will face second ranked Singleton Red Bulls in the qualifying final on Saturday.

Nelson Bay tuned up for the finals series by hammering the Pokolbin Reds 67-0 in an 11 try rout during the club’s final round Junior and Senior Sponsors Day promotion.

With a finals spot secure, the Gropers had the luxury of resting a few players with niggling injuries and providing other squad members with solid game time in preparation for the Presidents’ Cup finals series.

Utility ace Ronan O’Connell demonstrated his versatility with a super performance on the wing – using his speed and power to collect a hat trick of tries.

Skipper Sam Rocher led the Gropers into action in front of a large crowd and his young forward pack set the tempo of the game with bustling play.

Relishing a run on start, 19-year-old prop Hayden Wilson put in a first half for the ages with punishing defence and barnstorming runs that rattled the visiting Reds.

Wilson’s front row partners Oliie Edwards and Harry Porter provided a solid scrum base for the Bay’s backline to swing into running mode.

Switching to halfback, Jake Langsford proved electric with several darting runs from the back of the scrum and smooth passing to flyhalf Khace Petera who was able to unlock the seasoned centre pairing of Sam Ingham and Michael Hotene on long raids into Pokolbin territory.

O’Connell stamped his mark with two early tries in the corner for a 12-0 lead

The back three for Nelson Bay were stoic in defence with winger Danny Arnfield a standout, making several driving tackles to put the opposition into touch right in front of a rapturous Nelson Bay bench.

Arnfield also made several runs down the touchline to secure good field position before fullback Brayden McMasters scored the try of the match – regathering a deft chip and chase kick over the Reds defensive line to score under the posts.

McMasters scored again soon after when he steamed onto a clever Petera pass to give the Gropers a 24-0 lead.

Lock forward Jarrod Zuvela enjoyed his run on start, and led the way through the middle with several bone jarring tackles and strong runs.

His lock partner John Lundie was a tower of strength in the line-outs with several spectacular leaps to pounce on Pokolbin’s throw-ins, winning valuable ball for the Bay.

With a rolling maul heading in the right direction, flanker Rocher peeled off the back and fed a short pass to hard working Mitch Workman who crossed under the posts to give centre Sam Ingham his first conversion.

Entering the contest Freeman Kerapa relished the conditions with several charges into the Reds defence before a slick backline movement resulted in winger O’Çonnell’s third try for a 36-0 lead at the interval.

Coach Zion Takarua made sweeping changes with props Riley Byfield and Nathan McLeay, fullback Willy Dunn, hooker Ross Buchan, centre Cody Ross, flanker Liam Keating and winger Kailen Williams all taking the field.

Kerapa picked up where he left off in the first half by busting a tackle to make a long run downfield and score in the corner for a 41-0 lead.

Making a habit of scoring on Old Boys and Sponsors Day, the charismatic Dunn dashed over in Groper corner to delight the sponsors on the Presidential Deck.

Prop Byfield scored his trademark bullocking try before veteran half back Evander Waitoa entered the fray and directed traffic around the scrum base.

With plenty of ball, centre Ross gave fullback Dunn room to move and fired a bullet pass to winger Kailen Williams who crossed in the corner.

Liam Keating, the Gropers’ multiple club award winner and flanker, sent the crowd into raptures when he outpaced the cover defence to score his first ever try under the posts.

Meanwhile, Nelson Bay’s depleted women’s team suffered a 78-0 loss to Wanderers, who ran in 12 tries and booted nine goals in a lopsided contest.

The Gropers were best served by number 8 Jessica Beam, who picked up the Players’ Player award, with support from clever halfback Xanny Roach and captain Leah Nowlan who never stopped trying.

By Chris KARAS