Endeavour Hills outside centre John Amato, left, and winger Seyla Khat take it to their Southern Districts opponents at Frog Hollow Reserve on Saturday. Picture: Stewart Chambers.By Marc McGowan
ENDEAVOUR Hills may have lost 20-7 to the Southern Districts at Frog Hollow Reserve on Saturday, but the Premier One debutants have proven they belong.
It was always going to be a huge test for Endeavour Hills after it pocketed its first triumphs in the rugby union competition in the previous two rounds.
The Districts entered the encounter with three wins from their four games, while Endeavour Hills sat at an even ledger.
Southern hit the scoreboard first courtesy of a penalty before Dion Hita put his side ahead 10-0 by crossing for the contest’s first try.
That scoreline took the game to half-time in what was proving to be an absorbing – and bruising – battle.
Endeavour Hills fell further behind when Roger Muliaina finished off a quality run from Aleki Toleafoa.
Toleafoa duly converted the Muliaina try to have the Districts 17 points up.
The home team was not done, however, and Viane Segele struck a blow for his club by crossing for the first time for the match.
A Rocky Ata conversion cut the margin to 10 to give Endeavour Hills a slim chance, but Toleafoa put a penalty through the posts to produce the final points of the clash.
Endeavour Hills coach Mark Thompson was pleased with his squad’s output and believes it is progressing well.
“I am very happy with the way we went on Saturday. The guys are showing a lot of improvement and showing signs they can handle the big stuff,” he said. “From my point of view, we need more experience up in Premier One – that was the defining factor of both teams towards the end and we did run out of steam.
“But that’s life and, at the end of the day, we were in the hunt and that’s the main thing.”
Thompson praised the performances of Pillar Cup selections David Muliaga and Lewis Leamoana, the latter having already played earlier in the day for the Colts.
“Dave Muliaga had to be put in at number nine and played a really good game – I’m quite happy with his game,” Thompson said. “It was also a good debut for Lewis Leamoana and he put pressure on the five-eighth all day and ran himself to a standstill.”
The standard of Premier One competition also continues to excite Thompson.
“I’m enjoying it immensely. A Grade last year was not willy nilly – it was just not so intense – but these games are intense,” he said. “The players are running faster and harder and one of our supporters said it was the hardest game we played yet.
“It was a compliment. It wasn’t dirty – it was just hard rugby.”
Premier One takes a break over the Queen’s Birthday Weekend, but Endeavour Hills returns to action on Saturday, 16 June against Box Hill at Frog Hollow Reserve.
