Hugh Perrett and Jed Gillespie celebrate the big prop’s opening try – Photo: Karen Watson

by Brendan Bradford –

Rams teammates? Yeah right.

Eastwood defeated Southern Districts 33-13 in a bruising and at times testy encounter at Concord Oval to win their second Shute Shield in four years.

It was the perfect storm for a neutral fan. Although Eastwood consistently finish at or near the top of the table, you’d still consider them underdogs in many respects – ‘getting by on the scent of an oily rag’ is a common saying around T.G. Millner. Meanwhile Southern Districts have never won a comp and are in just their second Grand Final.

Both sides are stacked with genuine knock-about clubmen, have hard-working, honest coaches and a fair amount of exciting talent you’d just love to see succeed.

While the neutrals enjoyed the ebb-and-flow of an entertaining game, the rabid fans each club brought to the ground created an electric atmosphere that was brewing before the teams even exited the changerooms.

As Manly’s victorious second-graders milled around the concourse under the stands at Concord Oval, a horde of Rebels supporters marched up the tunnel and began singing the team song – offensive lyrics and all. When they all filed back out to the edge of the pitch, security guards were needed to separate the fans and make a tunnel for the players to take the field.

Afa Pakalani on attack. Photo: Karen Watson

The passion was amazing. And they say club rugby needs fixing. If you were at Concord Oval on Saturday, you’d know it ain’t broke.

Tom Hill assumed the kicking duties and scored 18 points while Jai Ayoub was masterful at flyhalf and Hugh Roach barely put a foot wrong all game.

The Rebels played with their usual attacking flair, but the Woodies’ discipline, effectiveness at the breakdown and big-game experience shined through in the end.

Ben Volavola gave the early advantage to Southern Districts with two penalties in the opening ten minutes before Tom Hill pegged one back in one of the Woodies’ first forays into Rebels territory.

The Rebels weren’t content to just kick their way out of trouble, mixing it up with a few dangerous runs and wide ball movement while Eastwood worked through the middle and levelled the scores with another Hill three-pointer after 21-minutes.

Woods centre Michael McDougall was dangerous on the outside channels and earned a penalty just inside Southern Districts territory on the half hour mark. Eastwood’s lineout had been struggling early on, but they executed this one perfectly and prop Jed Gillespie broke through some weak defence for the first try of the day and a 13-6 lead.

On the back foot, Souths tried to keep the scoreboard ticking over but Volavola missed his third penalty attempt and Eastwood surged downfield. As halftime approached, the Woodies had another crack at the line but prop Guy Millar knocked-on over the line to give the Rebels a much needed reprieve.

Long-distance specialist Tom Hill slotted another penalty two minutes after the restart for a ten-point lead as the Woods slowly started to turn the screw.

‘Mr. Eastwood’, Hugh Perrett, made the damaging run to set-up Eastwood’s second try, scored by Jai Ayoub after a brilliant show-and-go close to the line.

Not to be outdone, Ayoub’s opposite, Volavola danced his way to the tryline and kicked the Rebels to 23-13 and with 28-minutes to play, they had a small flicker of hope.

McDougall extinguished it shortly afterwards though by taking an overhead pass from Hill after a chip kick from Ayoub and beating the last defender for an insurmountable 30-13 lead.

Hill had the ball on a string and landed a fourth penalty with ten minutes left on the clock for the final 33-13 advantage.

Eastwood 33 (Jed Gillespie, Jai Ayoub, Michael McDougall tries; Tom Hill 4 pens, 3 cons) defeated Southern Districts 13 (Ben Volavola try, con, 2 pens)