Hills keep clean sheet

By Ben Hope
THERE was no stopping the Endeavour Hills A-Grade team as it continued its undefeated season with a win against Wyndham City at Frog Hollow Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
Coach Archie Kennedy said he was looking at “every game one at a time” but the win proved his team was on the right track.
“I’ve been around a long time so I only look at our performance on a given day, I don’t even know where we are on the ladder,” Kennedy said.
“I’m superstitious like that. I will wait until the end of the first round before I have a look.”
It was hard to fault the Hills attack early in Saturday’s game as it took advantage of a sloppy Wyndham ball to get some points on the board early.
Wyndham was unlucky not to reply within minutes but a determined Hills defence ran them out of touch several times before it could get the ball down.
The visitors finally replied after a scrum on the try line that found a gap in the Hills defence.
Kennedy said his backline was boosted by the inclusion of state player Lemi Faimoa to bolster the otherwise weakened Hills backline.
“The backs really opened up the game for us, they were really penetrating,” Kennedy said.
“However, they aren’t used to playing with the game structure that we have been working with so they were running our forwards ragged.”
“Every time the ball broke down and went to the backs they’d run it of across the field again and our forwards would have to get over in support. After a while the forward just aren’t going to be able to keep up with that pace.”
Thanks to a determined backline the Hills soon replied with Lemi and Nepa Faimoa taking advantage of any gaps in the Wyndham defence and putting the Hills in front, 19-5 at half-time.
The final 40 minutes weren’t short of excitement for the home crowd as both teams made unsuccessful attempts at the try line.
But the Hills managed to keep the ball in Wyndham’s 22 for most of the half through dominance in the rucks and constant pressure on the defenders.
Finally a run from Nepa Faimoa got the Hills close enough for a line-out near the try line that lead to another five points for the home team. It was followed soon after with another five points as Peta Salesulu was rewarded for his hard work with his second try of the game, all but ending any hope for Wyndham.
Salesulu got anther chance minutes later after a push from Namu Teo, sealing the victory for the home team.
Endeavour Hills finished the game 31 points ahead, 36-5.
In the other home games on the day the Hills B-Grade wasn’t so lucky with a 24-27 loss to Wyndham City. The C-Grade had better luck with a 28-0 win against Power House and the Colts continued their ladder climb after a 51-0 win against Melbourne Green.
The Hills A-Grade will need all its strength for this weekend’s top-of-the-ladder away game against Footscray.
“We have a fair idea where Footscray is at after our practise match; they came down from premier division last year and will be tough to beat,” Kennedy said.