Above: Ball in the balance. Only millimetres determined the result of an under-14 rugby union lineout at Frog Hollow Reserve on Saturday. Luckily for Endeavour Hills, Benjamin Nelson (right) beat his Northcote opponent and tapped the ball down to an awaiting team mate. THE Endeavour Hills Rugby Union Club had an up-and-down day in the last round of play before the Queen’s Birthday break.
The club’s highlight of the day was unquestionably the outstanding performance from the Colts side, who played away and defeated a combined opposition of Box Hill, Harlequin and Norths players 53-0.
The Hills mobile and fast forwards took it up to a slower but larger opposition early, creating space out wide to allow Endeavour Hills to cross the try-line and score within one minute of the kickoff.
Play continued in the same vein for the rest of the day: fast work from the forward pack, outstanding domination of the scrum and excellent clean-up of the loose ball at the lineouts.
The backs showed that pace and superior ball handling makes scoring tries a lot easier. Backs accounted for all but three of the nine tries scored by Endeavour Hills.
The crowd favourite was without a doubt the singlehanded effort by Matthew Collis.
Collis cleaned up at the back of an opposition lineout, 10 metres from the Hills defensive line and took on the whole opposition back line, some players more than once, to run 60 metres and score a memorable one-man try.
Other try scorers were Tai Aiva, Lewis Leaumoana, Jaque Manuel, Tim Finau, Michael Tupai, Chorian Cuffolo and David Finau.
Junior Salesulu kicked five conversions.
The under-12 side defeated Box Hill 36-10.
The under-14 side went down to a late-finishing Norths in a top-of-ladder clash at home, 12-27.
The under 16s travelled to Moorabbin to go down in another top-of-table clash 7-22.
The under 18s had a late forfeit when Hume City pulled out an hour before the start.
The seniors travelled to Maroondah and returned 19-0 victors over Harlequins.
The wome’s side played at Box Hill against the Monash Uni-Box Hill combine and put up a spirited effort, but went down fighting 0-49. Box Hill had speed out wide, which made the big difference.
Women looking for an exciting contact sport are more than welcome to join. Simply attend a training session at Frog Hollow Reserve, Endeavour Hills at 6.30pm on Thursdays.
