NELSON Bay first grade men’s rugby team faces ther moment of truth in this Saturday’s Hunter Suburban Presidents Cup preliminary final against Singleton Bulls.
It has proved a season of blood, sweat and tears for Michael Squires’ much-vaunted Gropers as they prepare for a second-chance saloon clash with their traditional rivals.
A berth in the premiership decider is up for grabs with the Nelson Bay team desperate to bounce back from last weekend’s heartbreaking 21-20 loss to reigning premiers Scone Brumbies in a crackerjack qualifying final at Newcastle’s No 2 Sportsground.
In a gripping tussle the Brumbies snatched victory with a late try by dynamic centre Caleb Taylor to become the first team to advance to the A Grade Grand Final.
The Gropers were on target for victory when they led 20-16 in the closing stages after winger Jake Langsford split the defence and positioned impact centre Marcel Ikinofo to score a crucial try that was converted by fullback Liam Pietrasek.
Kicking off deep, a desperate Brumbies defence kept Nelson Bay hemmed inside their 22 metre line and unable to make a clearing kick downfield.
Eventually, a turnover saw Scone gain possession and slick hands resulted in centre Taylor bursting over for his second try of the match.
The Gropers threw everything at the Brumbies in the final three minutes of play but fell agonisingly short.
Next week’s match on Saturday 22 August 2026 vs Singleton Bulls will kick off at 5.55pm at No 2 Sportsground in Newcastle.
Ikinofo was best on field for the Gropers – inspiring his team mates with rampaging runs and bone-jarring defence with tremendous support from hooker Ross Buchan, flankers Ollie Edwards and Hayden Wilson, lock Ronan O’Connell and the quicksilver Langsford.
Nelson Bay were full of running from the outset with the forwards seeking to gain control over the Brumbies pack before a Scone infringement enabled fullback Pietrasek to land a penalty goal for an early 3-0 lead
With hooker Buchan leading the way, the forwards put on a rolling maul and short offloads saw flankers Edwards and Wilson rip through with determined runs.
The Gropers scrum looked ominous with props Nathan McLeay and captain Jake Affleck laying a solid platform up front to put the Brumbies on the back foot.
Changing tack, Scone used a healthy breeze to launch clearing kicks deep into Nelson Bay territory and the match swung with a 40/20 kick that gave Scone the lineout.
A Gropers’ infringement resulted in Scone fullback Darcy Moore booting a penalty goal to lock the score at 3-all.
Scone continued to kick long and Nelson Bay fullback Pietrasek was kept busy with kick returns.
Clever half back Kade Redmond darted from the scrum base and broke clear to link up with centre Ikinofo who put in a powerful long-range run through traffic to get the Gropers into Brumbies territory.
Aided by a lopsided penalty count, the Brumbies cracked the Gropers defence with the power-running Taylor scoring out wide for an 8-3 lead.
Nelson Bay rallied with strong running from locks O’Connell and Taraq Hall and industrious number 8 Mitch Workman and at the 20th minute mark, a yellow card saw Nelson Bay reduced to 14 players and winger Scott Tristan leaving the field with a shoulder injury.
Down a player, Nelson Bay rallied with their defence holding tight as the Brumbies backline threw everything at the undermanned Gropers.
But solid defence from fly half Will Clark and centres Ikinofo and Harry Andersen kept Scone at bay.
Much to the ire of the large contingent of Gropers supporters who travelled to Newcastle, a penalty goal in front of the posts extended the Brumbies lead to 11-3.
With a glut of possession, Scone threatened to blow the game open after slick hands resulted in an unconverted try to ever-alert number 15 Moore.
As they have all season, Nelson Bay showed courage to rally with the forwards upping the tempo and driving the Brumbies into their half.
The Gropers hit back when Ikinofo bumped off defenders to slip a pass to co-centre Anderson who stepped through tackles and put the flying Langsford in to score as the Brumbies went to the interval with a 16-8 advantage.
Running with the breeze, fly half Clark and the talented Pietrasek drove the ball deep into Brumbies territory to get the Gropers crowd into the match.
Silky line out throwing from hooker Buchan saw aerial specialists Hall and Workman win both their own throws and a few off the opposition to allow Nelson Bay to gain plenty of possession.
With the Brumbies becoming ragged against a barnstorming Gropers forward pack, coach Michael Squires injected size and strength into the forwards through lock Shane Jarvis and prop Riley Byfield with both immediately getting involved with strong runs.
A rolling maul had the crowd roaring as lock O’Connell burrowed over to score out wide to keep the Gropers in the hunt at 16-13.
Lock Hall leapt high to claim the kick off and powerhouse prop Affleck led his forwards downfield with several drives before a touch finder by Clark had the Bay on the attack.
Replacement hooker Luke Sweeney and flanker Liam Keating took the field with Sweeney throwing precision lineout throws and Keating ripping in with driving tackles.
The Gropers fan base lifted the roof when Ikinofo grabbed a crucial try to give Nelson Bay a two-point lead and on the brink of a Grand Final appearance.
In a do-or-die preliminary final clash the Gropers tackle Singleton Bulls this Saturday at Newcastle’s No 2 Sportsground at 5.55pm.
The Bulls advanced after eliminating a gallant Cooks Hill Brown Snakes lineup 33-25 and will prove a tough nut to crack up front.
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.
