Right: Endeavour Hills rugby player John Amato makes a run.THE Endeavour Hills Rugby Union Club continued its strong season last weekend with six out of seven teams continuing onto finals this week and one team already bringing home a trophy.
The all-conquering Endeavour Hills Masters (over 35s) ended their season with an emphatic 33-10 win over Maroondah to finish premiers, as the Masters grade does not play a finals series.
The Endeavour Hills A Grade team finished the home and away rounds in fourth position, gaining a place in this week’s elimination semi-final against Eltham, last weekend’s visiting team.
In the regular season match, Endeavour Hills started strongly and scored first through Ronnie Tau after 10 minutes.
Eltham struck back and scored again shortly after half-time to take a 14-5 lead.
Endeavour Hills continued to fight and cut the margin with an unconverted try, but that was the final score, Eltham winning 14-10.
This week’s elimination final will be played at Eltham’s Bridge Road at 3pm.
The Colts played away against Moorabbin and lost 41-12.
With half the team destined for senior ranks next year, and a strong crop of under 18s coming through, the Colts are hoping for good things next season.
The women’s team forfeited against Powerhouse due to injuries, and to steel themselves for the elimination final against Monash University this week at Monash.
The junior semi-finals were held at Southern Districts.
Endeavour Hills played the under 12A elimination final against Moorabbin.
Monty Ionae put the Hills ahead 7-0 at the break, the team kept the pressure up in the second half and, after a series of repeat offences close to goal, scored again to lead 14-0.
Moorabbin threw everything at Endeavour Hills, but the Hills held on to progress to this week’s preliminary final against the Northern Panthers.
The under 14A team started strongly against the Northern Panthers in the qualifying final and led 10-0 early in the game after two tries by Edwin Maka.
The Panthers replied with 24 unanswered points in the 30 minutes either side of half-time, and despite Maka scoring again for the Hills, the Panthers closed the game with a try of their own to win 31-17.
The Hills have a second chance to make the grand final in this week’s preliminary final against Moorabbin.
The under 16A team took on minor premier Moorabbin, which is the only side Endeavour Hills has not defeated this year.
The teams played out a nail-biter and neither team managed to score, which allowed Moorabbin to move through to the grand final due to their higher ranking after the home and away season.
Endeavour Hills takes on Southern Districts in the preliminary final next week.
The under 18s continued their strong end-of-season performances by thrashing a completely outgunned Wyndham 42-5.
The demolition booked them a place in this week’s preliminary final against the Northern Panthers.
All seven of next week’s junior preliminary finals will be played at Frog Hollow, starting at 9am with the under 12As.
