Nelson Bay Gropers zoom into title calculations with rousing victory over Scone Brumbies

NELSON Bay’s first grade rugby team has sent an ominous warning to premiership rivals in the 2026 Hunter Suburban Rugby Presidents Cup competition.

The revitalised Gropers claimed bragging rights and stamped themselves genuine title contenders when they toppled reigning premiers Scone Brumbies 24-19 in their top- of-the-table clash last Saturday on home turf at Bill Strong Oval.

In one of the team’s more dominant forward displays of the season, the Nelson Bay lineup showed true grit and power to sink the ladder-leaders and join the Brumbies in equal first spot on 34 points.

Best on ground for the stout-hearted Gropers were fearless flanker Ollie Edwards, tireless locks Taraq Hall and Ronan O’Connell, and teak-tough number eight Mitch Workman.

There was plenty to celebrate on a day the Nelson Bay club honoured stalwart hooker and proud Scotsman Ross Buchan in his 150th senior milestone match and the players’ partners during a successful Ladies Day event.

The popular O’Connell was just as busy off the field, organising the Ladies Day celebration with partner Mollie in the club’s first home match in six weeks.

Spurred on by the Nelson Bay under-16 and under-18 teams that hosted Maitland and Hamilton in junior curtain-raiser fixtures, Michael Squires’ charges took up the challenge.

Winger Tom Akbal set the standard early with a spectacular leap to fly above the Brumbies defence and take the kick off before a Gropers’ rolling maul enabled fly half Will Clark to put in a searching touch finder deep into Scone territory.

Replacing injured skipper Sam Rocher with a start in the forward pack, Players’ Player Edwards was everywhere in attack and defence and showed his versatility by moving to the centres.

Number eight Workman won a contested ball and locks Hall and O’Connell used good footwork to make half breaks around the ruck before whole-hearted flanker Hayden Wilson stormed onto a clever Clark short pass and split the defence to put the Gropers on the front foot.

Prop Nathan McLeay and hooker Buchan provided go-forward as half back Jake Langsford combined with rookie fullback Liam Pietrasek who split the Brumbies defence to score a converted try out wide for a 7-nil lead.

The Brumbies rallied and took the game up a gear with powerful running and offloading to trouble the Gropers defence.

However, trademark bone-jarring defence from returning centre Michael Hotene snuffed out several attacking raids.

Returning from the blood bin, captain and prop Jake Affleck lifted the Gropers with rugged defence and Pietrasek pulled off a classic cover tackle before Scone levelled with a try adjacent to the posts.

The Brumbies conceded a penalty after a long-range Akbal run with Pietrasek potting a three-pointer for a 10-7 lead at the interval.

Coach Squires injected giant prop Zion Takarua into the match after the break with the veteran forward turning back the clock with rampaging runs upfield.

A feast of rolling mauls had the local crowd on their feet roaring for more with the powerful Workman burrowing over for the Gropers’ second try and Pietrasek adding the extras for a 17-7 lead.

Scone demonstrated their class with dangerous backline counter-attack and against the run of play scored in the corner to trail 17-12.

Sensing the game was there for the taking, big lock Shane Jarvis and flanker Liam Keating took the field and a Scone yellow card for deliberate foul play in the ruck resulted in the visitors down a man for 10 minutes.

With Takarua Affleck and Buchan leading the way, the Gropers’ talented back row of  O’Connell and Workman proved a constant threat.

Picking and going from the base of the maul, O’Connell was rewarded with a try under the posts as the Gropers stormed to a 24-12 lead.

Centre Keanu Offen, winger Zac Summerfield and returning veteran Kerrod Haywood took the field for Nelson Bay to inject fresh legs into the backline.

Scone rallied and scrambling defence from half back Langsford and centre Michael Hotene held them out before a try in the dying moments earned the Brumbies a valuable bonus point by closing the margin to within seven points.

Coach Squires was proud of his team’s victory against a quality opponent but rued the late Scone try.

The players later gave a rousing cheer to their partners on the Clubhouse deck and at the post-match presentation, Nelson Bay Director of Coaching Rhys Cutbush gave the large crowd a summary of Ross Buchan’s 150 appearances before club legend and 171-gamer Michael Hotene presented Buchan with his honorary jacket.

Nelson Bay host Singleton Bulls this Saturday in their final home fixture at Bill Strong Oval at 3pm with the club set to recognise and celebrate their sponsors with a Sponsors Day event.

By Chris KARAS