Automotive Colours

Ross Richdale Plumbers

Congratulations Mark Bacon

DIVISION ONE METRO PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Sumner Rugby Gala and Prizegiving 2010

The Sumner Rugby club finished what has been an historic season with the inaugural Gala Dinner and Awards Night, held at the Addington Racecourses Silks Room. The night was not only a chance to recognise the outstanding players, but also an opportunity for the Junior and Senior clubs to get together and reflect on another highly successful year of club footy.

Awards

Evergreen hooker and all-round inspiration, (on and off the field) Greg Digby was named Sharks Player of the Year, while Nick Macdonald took out Back of the Year, Lionel Tattersall Forward of the Year, and Heath Wallace the prize for Most Improved.

Rob Macann was a thoroughly deserving recipient of the Division 3 Depth Chargers Player of the Year award, with Cam Stevens (Back), Richard Clark (Forward) and Guy Gillman (Most Improved) also carrying off trophies.

The Wave Division 2 Player of the Year was industrious hooker Nigel Beardsley, while also recognised were Michael Cavanagh (Back), Gareth DAlmeida (Forward), and Michael Jones (Most Improved).

Hard hitting league convert Matt Fitzgeralds is the first name to appear on the Phil Laloli Cup for Division One MVP, as voted by the players throughout the season. Mark Chester was awarded the Back of the Year award, Tom Gilmour the Forward of the Year prize, and Lawrence Babe the Wave Newcomer of the Year.

Division One player Reece McCaffrey won the Gordon Mitchell Cup for Top Try-scorer in the Senior Club, while Lawrence Babe picked up some more silverware, securing the Fat Boy Trophy as the senior clubs Best and Fairest player.

Courageous leader Mark Bacon was the first recipient of the Robbie Timo Wave Player of the Year award, Scott Robertson won the Lloyd Douglas prize for Coach of the Year, Robin Digby took the Norm Fraser Supporter of the Year award, and Tim Cronin was awarded the Wally Hanlon cup for Club Person of the Year.

The evening, which featured a 3 course meal, fundraising auction for the junior club, live music and of course, the formal Award ceremony was organised by Richie Dimbleby, and the success of the night ensures yet another new tradition has been born this year.

HSOB 24 SUMNER 19

Guaranteed a finish in the top half of the table, the Waves final game in their inaugural season in the first division was against High School Old Boys in the Plate Final for 5^th place.

A massive contingent of supporters followed the Wave to Ascot Green for their last hit out, but it was Old Boys who started the stronger, enjoying the bulk of the early territory and possession. Sumners defence was stoic on its line, particularly around the fringes, but they were powerless to stop a superbly executed cross field kick, gathered by the Old Boys winger.

7-nil down Sumner got stuck into their work, and field position eventually led to points, with Mark Chester knocking over two penalty goals. Evergreen leader Mark Bacon played a massive role in putting Sumner on the front foot, making several telling breaks in open play. Ginho Haurua was similarly instrumental, his trademark power from the back of the scrum proving increasingly difficult to handle.

With Chesters kicking boots on form Sumner eventually took the lead, his 4^th successful shot at goal sending the Wave to the break up 12-7.

Sumner started the second spell in fine fashion, showing a willingness to try and stretch their opposition. The tactic paid off early on, when they spread the ball to the left flank and into the hands of Marc Pringle. With plenty of work still to do, Pringle tip-toed down the sideline, stepped inside the first cover defender, and power over in the tackle of the second for Sumners first try of the encounter. Chesters superb sideline conversion gave Sumner a handy 19-7 lead.

Old Boys fought back into the game, a penalty and an unconverted try getting them within striking distance. Some decisive substitutions by Old Boys saw them well equipped to control the game, and the pressure kept mounting on the Sumner defence, which in turn, inevitably, led to penalties being conceded.

Accurate goal kicking netted Old Boys a further nine points, and while Sumner tried desperately to gain possession and create a scoring opportunity in the dying moments they were unable to get over the line, the 24-19 final scoreline a fair reflection of a tightly contested battle.

While the loss, Sumners first in over two months, was not the note the boys wanted to finish on, their placing in the top half of the ladder undoubtedly signals a highly credible debut season in the top flight. At the Gale Dinner and Awards Night on Saturday Matt Fitzgerald was the first recipient of the Phil Laloli Trophy for Division One MVP, while Mark Bacons is the first name to appear on the Robbie Timo Trophy for Wave Man of the Year. Tom Gilmour was the sides forward of the year, Mark Chester was back of the year, and Lawrence Babe was Wave Newcomer of the Year. Reece McCaffrey took out the prize for top team try scorer, and top try scorer amongst all teams in the Senior club.