Endeavour Hills and Eastern Suburbs star Tim Finau has been sensational at both Premier One and Pillar Cup level this season.– Marc McGowan
GEELONG is the only team in the Rugby Union Victoria Premier One competition to have endured a filthier season than Endeavour Hills, and that was on show again last week.
With the two cellar dwellers set to match up at Frog Hollow Reserve on Saturday, the winless Geelong forfeited on Friday morning due to a raft of illnesses and injuries.
The local side is now assured of avoiding bottom place and will play its final match of the year against Southern Districts at Riviera Park, Seaford, on Saturday.
Endeavour Hills’ Masters outfit capped back-to-back premiership wins with a tight 19-17 victory over Southern Districts, while the club’s under 16 and under 14 squads also claimed victories on the weekend.
The under 18s, under 16s, under 14s and Colts will all be playing finals, which start on Saturday week, and will be seeking to emulate last season’s success, when Endeavour Hills snared three premierships.
There is no relegation system in Premier One, and Endeavour Hills president Ashley White said his club had no intention of dropping to Premier Two.
“Would it have made any difference this year if we were in Premier Two? I doubt it,” he said.
“We might be winning a few more games, but would it encourage the players who deserted us to pay their fees? Maybe or maybe not.”
White has been in discussions with fellow presidents and the league to discuss how the competition will deal with several issues, including the Pillar Cup.
“The clubs have lost a number of their players to Pillar and it has affected their competitiveness and how we manage that is yet to be established,” he said.
“Rugby has always been a game that has adapted itself over the years … so there is no reason we can’t do the same thing for competitions.”
