Above: Endeavour Hills players lock down in a scrum.ENDEAVOUR Hills Rugby Union Club finished the year a week earlier than it would have preferred, but with a healthy record for the season.
The records for 2006 will show that Endeavour Hills’ sides qualified in all finals for seniors and juniors.
A-grade played last year’s undefeated premier Boroondara in the preliminary final at Holmesglen Reserve in Ashwood.
The Hills were coming off a good win against Eltham the previous week, while Boroondara was defeated in extra time by Footscray.
The game began with Hills receiving, running into the wind and uphill. Some early indiscretions led to penalties against Hills, with Boroondara eventually capitalising, taking a 6-0 lead from two penalty goals. Hills struck back in the ninth minute with a penalty goal to trail 6-3.
Boroondara struck back quickly with an unconverted try out wide to stretch the lead to 11-3. Another Hills indiscretion led to a Boroondara penalty goal in the 25th minute.
After one last push Boroondara took a 19-3 lead into the break.
During the second half a pattern developed with the Hills nearly scoring only to have Boroondara come back to lead 38-3 by the 30th minute.
It wasn’t until the 45th minute that flanker Lewis Leomoana crossed wide for a final Hills try for the season.
Score: Boroondara 38 d Endeavour Hills 8.
@BT Sub Sport News:UNDER 14A
Both the under 14A and under 16A teams went into their respective grand finals after finishing second in the home and away season, and both played the minor premiers.
The under 14As met the determined Northern Panthers in an exciting and fast contest.
After 10 minutes Hills player Hamish McDonald, took a long throw at the back of the line-out 10 metres inside Hills territory, running around his opposite number and cut to the outside, then linking with Edwin Maka, who ran to score out wide.
The Panthers quickly ran in their own try, which was converted to give them a 5-7 lead.
Hills winger Jordan Faamausili struck back in the 19th minute to give Hills a 12-7 lead before the Panthers again went ahead.
The first half ended with Maka finishing off another strong backline move to put the Hills 17-14 up.
After half-time, sustained pressure from the Hills was rewarded with another try to Maka, converted by Paila.
With 12 minutes to go the Panthers scored under the posts but missed the conversion.
A long kick-off paid dividends with the Panthers conceding a penalty 30 metres out straight in front. Paila slotted the ball through to give Hills the lead 27-19.
With the flag in sight, Hills again put the Panthers to the sword with Lafaele Seumanutafa crossing on the right wing to give Hills some breathing space before the Panthers scored a try right on full-time.
Score: Endeavour Hills 32 d Northern Panthers 24.
@BT Sub Sport News:UNDER 16A
The grand final against Moorabbin was played at a frenetic pace.
The Hills kicked off and was rewarded with the first try to winger Rapael Adelojou after 10 minutes of constant attack.
Moorabbin pushed hard after the kick-off but Hills held its ground, and eventually Junior Paila ran in a second try after some uncharacteristically poor ball retention from Moorabbin.
Tuasivi Iosua slotted the conversion to give Hills a 12-0 lead.
In the shadow of half-time Moorabbin was rewarded with a try besides the posts.
After half-time Hills put enormous pressure on the Moorabbin line, and Mason Huia scored a try in the 12th minute after a strong run from Anthony Nelson.
Moorabbin finally broke the Hills’ line in the 21st minute, but a poor conversion attempt left the score at 17-12.
The final 10 minutes saw some of the hardest play of the season, with Hills holding out a determined Moorabbin.
Score: Endeavour Hills 17 d Moorabbin 12.
