Thanks also go to all the teams coaches, managers and other staff.
The Hunters Hill Kentwell Cup side for the 2002 season can hold their heads high. Although the Club has been relegated to Second Division for next season and wins were slow in coming, every team that played us knew that they had a game to play that would not be easy.
In the first round we defeated Dundas Valley and from then on suffered a continuum of player injuries. Something like 45 players put on a first grade jersey throughout the season. Towards the latter stages of the second round the team became much more stable and resulted in wins against Mosman, Forest and St Patricks Old Boys.
Although many players' names will be omitted, the stalwarts at the end of the season should be mentioned. Our front row consisting of Rob Filifil, Dan Quinn and Andy Johnson were well respected by other teams. Geoff Prior took Dan Quinn's place due to injury. Andy Johnson played the most Kentwell Cup games for the season. Prolific tryscorer Daniel Moore and Best & Fairest Anthony Mork formed the locks with mobile flankers Liam Cooper and Gavin Mork and number eight Wayne Afrika causing havoc to the opposition at all times.
Chris Atkins ably led the team at halfback with Samoan World Cup selection Ivan Tuala at five eight. Jone Vesikula at inside centre ended the season playing his best football while at outside centre Chris Brunsdon improved with every game. Prolific goal kicker Peter Cheng and 'find of the year' David Templeman formed the wings while mark French played fullback. The team was well reassured and confident with a player of this calibre behind them.
Special mention must be made of Chris Atkins who captained the NSW Suburban Representative side for the season. His outstanding playing ability, leadership qualities and knowledge of the game earned him the respect of every player in the Club.
Thank you to Phill Shaw who did far more than was expected as Manager of the side. Many reserves stood by for First Grade and this was much appreciated. I personally would like to thank Raymond Leatoa (Loni) as co-coach for his immense effort and contribution in moulding the team into the harmonious unit it became.
Finally the players themselves must be congratulated on their dedication, attitude and sprit throughout the season. It took courage to continue and we came out on top, enjoying our football. We must start next season with the same mental and physical attitude and look forward to success in a Club that has footballers of such fine character and ability.
Tony Brunsdon & Raymond Leatoa
Rd Versus RESULTS 2002
Total W - 4 : L &endash; 14
Points For & Against F 260 A 486
Well another season finished and I would have to thank every player that played in the Burke Cup side this year, especially the guys who had already played earlier games without ever complaining.
To the core of regular players my sincere thanks for your support and effort throughout the year along with my thanks to both Quinny and Decka. The real positives for me this year were :
1) the number of players that gained first grade experience
2) the Maroubra connection, Knuckles White, Ankles White and of course Elvis who always made it exciting (not sure if that is the right choice of word).
3) Big Al winning the best and fairest (brings a tear to an old props eye)
4) the consistent efforts of Simon Dorsen, Jason Gaff, John (I don't want to play in the second row) Gelling, James McCluskey
5) Booza and Muzza for their efforts as captain through the season.
6) Never giving up, in fact always taking it to the opposition - by far the highlight for me was the way we took it to Iggies in the last game. It showed what Hunters Hill spirit is all about
7) the number of players from both 3rd and 4th grade who not only played in 2nd grade, but the number that doubled up through the year.
8) Scott Liddicoat's big break against Iggies and the fact that he did not score (I don't think that he has ever run that far in the open before).
9) We had fun and did not take ourselves too seriously through the year, because at the end of the day Rugby is all about having fun.
To Brunno, Mal and Doddsie, thanks for your support this year and to the Axe for the Tuesday and Thursday night sessions.
Finally, lets never forget that Rugby is about your mates and having fun and if we take this attitude into next season then the sky is the limit.
Russell Kershler
Rd Versus RESULTS 2002
Total W - 2 : L - 16
Points For & Against F 131 A 332
The 2002 season saw Whiddos win our first 3 games in succession and draw 2 more in the 1st round. Our only win in the 2nd round was a hard fought and crucial win over Uni 12-6. Our good form early on in the season was due largely to Tony Brunsdon's and Russell Kershler's pre season skills training and Club Coach Allan Southcombe's help with the lower grades. Our performance dropped off as the season progressed &endash; we lost players up the grades and attendance at training declined. This made it almost impossible to have a pattern of play that everyone was cognisant with.
I felt privileged to have coached Whiddos this year. They were a great bunch of young men and my heartfelt thanks to all who played in the Whiddon Cup team. In particular the GAP boys were marvellous and a real credit to themselves and the Club. The Colts that played in Whiddos, Tyrone Adams, Alex McLellan, Adam Rees, Peter Geard, Rory Steiner-Davies, Victor Bourke and Evan Vigers stood up to the rigours of open football and covered themselves in glory.
Simon Foster (Farmboy) was in every play scrounging for the ball and consistently tying up the oppositions ball. To Richard (Cunningham) Colley, our Captain, many thanks - your professional and supportive role and high standard of play even in the difficult times was inspirational. Daniel (Shaggy) Moore was one of our success stories &endash; always in the middle of the battle &endash; not the most gifted athlete in the world but gave you everything he had. He was a real workhorse that always made his coach look good. A special thanks to the players that backed up from Judd Cup every week &endash; Paul Bickerstaff and Tim Dodds deserve special mention, both playing 27 games during the season &endash; good Club men.
Some of the more amusing and memorable moments :
I must reserve special praise for Bruce Lycett &endash; without good managers you cannot coach. Angry does all the fiddly things on game day and he successfully managed to keep all my groupies at bay.
The Committee were supportive, not interfering in what was at times a difficult year. For next year we need more players, and as many player, present and past, as possible to serve on the Committee or in any role possible. The Club is all about the players, so become involved.
Mal Fraser
Rd Versus RESULTS 2002
Total W- 4: D- 2: L-14
Points For & Against F 123 A 296
What a start to the season &endash; 2 out of 2. A 19-0 win against Drummoyne followed by a 30-0 win against Dundas Valley. The glory days of the late 70's and early 80's looked like being resurrected. Unfortunately it was down hill from here. While the enthusiasm never waned the results did not come.
Nearly 80 players played in the Judd Cup team this year. As was the case over the past years it is difficult for the Coach to get any permanent combinations working. Players tend to get on the field as free spirits and do their own thing. Tim Dodds, as player - Coach, relied heavily on the Judd Cup team manager Ray Bortolussi (Lucy) who every week had to contend with picking a side based on what players were at the ground prior to kick off. Many of these players were unknown quantities &endash; but they did the job. The 'generosity' of Russell Kershler and Mal Fraser in allowing players from their teams to fill in when the Juddies were short was commendable. No doubt this had an effect on the results of the Whiddon Cup and Bourke Cup games. All credit must go to Tim and Lucy for dealing with these drawbacks and achieving reasonable results.
Only 10 players played more than 10 or more games in Judd Cup.- the majority of players only played 1 or 2 games during the season. Congratulations to Domonic Romanelli who won the Judd Cup Best Player award &endash; well deserved. To Paul Bickerstaff, Tim Dodds, Richard Ferguson, Winston Green, Scott McMillan, David Polly, Adam Rees, Domonic Rominelli, Brett Ruth and Jason Williams and all the other players who played Juddies in 2002, thank you for your efforts throughout the year. A special thanks to the Sutherland Cup players, in particular Paul Bryan, Karl Hogg, Gary Lane (TC), Jason McLaughan, Andrew Mostyn and Tony Wickham who unselfishly forfeited their Sutherland Cup premiership aspirations to help the Club by stepping up to play higher grades when player numbers were down.
Hope to see you all again next year.
Rd Versus RESULTS 2002
Total W-3: D-1: L-14
Points For & Against F 124 A 298
Hillies 5th grade started the season with the idea of providing a run for Hilles players who were keen to stay involved with the club and playing but at the same time providing a certain level of "flexibility." With the expectation of no training and only a few away games, the nucleus of a truly great team was formed. On paperÖ.we were a cracker of a team. The first round saw many great individual and team performances against teams that were clearly training. Faced with such adversity, the team pulled together, organized and esky (Thanks Rangi) full of beer (Thanks Dom) and decided we were going to make a go of it. After taking the likes of Colleagues to the brink of crushing defeat, there were calls for training to be attended. The mind is willing but the flesh is weak.
Congratulation to players who tried out new positions and a few new faces to the game. Many of the vintage players were pleased to have a run with old mates again and the new players to the club benefited from this vast depth of experience. 5th grade demonstrate that youth and enthusiasm will be overcome by age and rat cunning on any given day (well first half at least)
As the season progressed, more 5th graders stepped up to the plate to help out the higher grades in what has been a tough year. Many players backed up and showed great club spirit and helped out. Special mention this year goes to Dave Polly for his 500 games- a real highlight for a giant in the club.
Martin Stewart
Rd Versus RESULTS 2002
Total W - 3 : L - 4
Points For & Against F 99 A 124