By Angus Kennelly

Coming into the Rowlands Cup Colts final the young lads from the Central West looked to be a finely constructed machine, though a simple approach tore this apart. Hunter outmuscled a polished Baby Bulls side in what turned out be a 43 point victory.

“Hunter are very classy,” said Central West coach Scott Hatch.

Despite playing 20 minutes with 14 men Newcastle Hunter were able put on 53 points to Central West’s 10.

Prior to the final the Central West were playing with a structure far beyond their years, this made for some eloquent rugby in their 37 point victory against last year’s premiers Central Coast.

“Against Central Coast we really played to a great structure and from that a lot individual brilliance came out,” Hatch said.

Comparatively Newcastle Hunters’ game was simple, ‘hit hard – run hard – play hard,’ this old school style of football saw them disrupt the Baby Bulls and dominate in all facets of the game. They also looked to use their powerful forward pack to disturb the Central West backline.

“We looked to play pretty expansive rugby and have the forwards running into their centres,” Newcastle Hunter coach Blake Creighton.

“Their forwards are very strong and they didn’t allow us to play the game plan we wanted to play. Their back line is filled with guys who have some great vision and they were able to get through us,” Hatch added

The boys from the Hunter region played a tough style of rugby and did not give the Bulls an inch. Their dominance into contact saw four crucial on field injuries, the flood gates opened once half back and captain Patrick Berryman was injured in the second half.

The boy from Dubbo injured his shoulder after making countless tackles in cover defence.

The Bulls lost their lock, second rower and hooker. Their number 5 Sam Greatbatch broke his nose in a sickening head clash and after receiving stitches returned to the field. For his heroic effort he was named his team’s player of the tournament.

“By the end we had 11 guys on the field who were fully fit and four guys who were hobbling just to
make the 15.”

“We had a fullback playing half back and a hooker in the centres.”

Newcastle Hunter flyhalf Connor Mullhearn wreaked havoc and was able to put outside centre Reece Bray through a number of holes, both will be hoping to be selected in the country squad.

“We just thought if we could spread them round and tire them out we’d put some points on them,” Creighton said.

Hunter also had challenges to face, a majority of their players were 18 and younger.

“We were bolstered very well by the 18s, they’ve been training with us all year and they’ve got their country championship next week,” said Blake Creighton.

“It was a very cool experience and I hope these guys have learnt they can compete at that level and go on with their rugby, which is what it was all about,” said Scott Hatch.