Powerhouse grand final

By Stuart Teather
IT IS the match-up that everyone expected: Endeavour Hills and Geelong will fight out the Victorian Rugby Union’s second division grand final this Saturday.
The two teams have been the powerhouses of the competition all season and secured their places in the decider last weekend.
Geelong coasted past Monash University 39-5 and Endeavour Hills scraped through 24-20 against Maroondah.
Geelong should have the advantage in the clash, having defeated the Hills 18-14 back in round three and 26-15 in round 12 – the two official times the teams have met.
However, in round 14 the Hills’ B team had a clash with Geelong and the club loaded its second side with first-team players, and the Hills won 33-10, proving Geelong could be defeated.
Hills coach Jeff Lemalu said his players took plenty of confidence from the match.
Lemalu also said Endeavour Hills’ brutal lead-in clash against Maroondah would hold his players in good stead.
“It is always like that against Maroondah; it’s been one-all all year and the third game, we were always going to have a crack at it,” he said.
“They had a real aggressive attitude to the game.
“To go to the grand final after this game, it gives my boys a real good heads up about what’s going to happen on Saturday.”
But Lemalu had no doubts as to who was the favourite.
“They’ve been the benchmark this year,” he said.
“Their half-back and five-eighth have been the guys who run the team … you’ve got to give credit to their forwards, they have big forwards and ours are a bit smaller.”
The game kicks off at Box Hill on Field Two from 1.40pm, with the Hills’ under-18 side contesting its grand final at 10.45am on Field One.