MINOR premiers Medowie have taken another giant step towards securing the Hunter Suburban Rugby Patrons Shield B Grade premiership trophy.
Hayden Thompson’s high-flying Marauders produced another spirited performance to sink the Singleton Bulls 21-14 in their final regular season fixture at Boyd Oval last weekend.
For player-coach Thompson it was another stout-hearted team effort against the third-ranked Bulls on the eve of the 2026 finals series.
It was the Medowie club’s eighth win of the season from 12 fixtures and earned them the deserved minor premiers tag on 37 points going into a final-round bye.
The finals make up will be decided after this weekend’s fixtures when second-placed Easts (27 points) host Pokolbin Reds at Dangar Park and the Bulls (26 points) square off with fourth-ranked Scone Brumbies (24 points) at Rugby Park.
Power running forward Adam Beehag crossed for a try double and stalwart second rower Eric Tolhurst grabbed a five-pointer with the teak-tough number five booting three conversions.
Singleton centre Noah Henry-Taylor and fly-half Fomai Fomai scored tries for the Bulls with halfback Ben Ruigrok potting both conversions in an absorbing tussle.
Medowie’s hard-working forward pack led by Tolhurst, props Beehag, Mitch Powell, Daniel Collins and Mitchell Goodman, hooker Jake Lightbody, second rowers Stephen Smith, Jonathon Abel, flankers Dwayne Fleming, Ned Twelvetree and Shannon Goodman, skipper Tom Mildren, number 8 James Foster and utility Carl Newson provided the spadework up front with strong performances in the ‘engine room’ this season.
This has enabled the Marauders’ sharp backline to create havoc out wide with slick service from talented halves Daniel Murphy, Brayden Braley and Jayden Newson, fullbacks Jacob Montgomery and Nick Morgan, wingers Brody Morley, Jack Fleming, Oliver Stokes, and centres Thompson, Bryan Lutelu and Harley Stevenson.
Other players that have bolstered the Medowie mens squad this season include Luke Hogarth, Alex Holbert, Tim Crowther, Qwayde Cole and Will Brown.
Refreshed from a weekend bye, the revitalised and proud Marauders are determined to make every post a winner in the big end-of-season finals matches.
By Chris KARAS
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
