Forfeit hits the Hills

By Stuart Teather
FORFEITS again plagued Endeavour Hills on Saturday, with the A-team’s opponent, first-division club Powerhouse, withdrawing from the clash after being unable to field a fit side.
It follows the B-team’s forfeit win a week earlier over Maroondah, when one of the players came down with what was suspected as swine flu.
But the B-team had no such problems on Saturday, taking to the field and recording a healthy 31-7 win against Eltham.
The side, bolstered by A-team players Junior Salesulu, captain Presley Naea and five-eight Malifa Taeleipu, made a slow start before taking control of the game.
Coach Jeff Lemalu said it took about 30 minutes for his team to get into the game and he put the start down to mixing the A and B teams.
“It was the mix of the teams, we had some senior guys in there from the A-grade, and a lot of the B-grade didn’t play on Saturday because they were sick or had injuries, so it was a bit of a mix up of the teams,” Lemalu said.
“We did have an early try, but it was one of those games – it was not really consistent play from the boys at the start, they threw the ball everywhere,” he said.
Lemalu named Salesulu as the best on the field for the second week in a row.
The win was the B-team’s third for the year, helping the side stay in touch with its mid-table opponents.
The Hills seniors will play a double header at Monash University this Saturday, with the Bs taking on Monash Uni at 1.30pm and the As facing Melton at 3pm.