Hills Bulls created a little more history for the club by winning their first NSWRL Sydney Shield with a close 34-30 upset win over Minor Premiers St Marys in the Grand Final at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium today.
St Marys won their Major Semi-final so only had to play one finals game whereas the Bulls did it the hard way – losing the Qualifying Final before winning the Minor Semi-final, then the Preliminary Final and Grand Final, to bring the Shield back to Baulkham Hills.
“We’re not a big powerhouse club. We’ve just got a couple of good sponsors and heaps of fans,” said Bulls coach Matt Kelly.
“They were all-in for each other for every minute today.
“The effort there, knowing what it meant to the club … they put it all out there today and it was fantastic.”
Hills Bulls led 22-10 at half-time and had to withstand a rampaging St Marys in the second half led by centre Michael Tuavao, who ran for 180m and that was just the ground he chewed up scoring three run-away tries.
St Marys, who were 2022 Premiers, scored just as many tries – six apiece – with the difference in the end being three missed conversions.
The Hills Bulls halves pairing of Ceiza James and Dylan Marshall were once again toying with defenders as they positioned their teammates for a few attacking raids.
Marshall was named Player of the Match.
“We had a good first half but just couldn’t get to our kick in the second so we were giving away good field position,” Kelly said as the Saints crept to within a converted try.
“We were our own worst enemies there – like tapping the ball infield for them (Tuavao) to run away and score – most of the mistakes were our fault.
“But I couldn’t fault them because they dug deep, worked hard for each other and got themselves out of the mess.”
Saints started strongly, scoring in the opening two minutes through halfback Sadee Sub Laban.
But leading 6-0 at the 15-minute mark they watched it evaporate as the Bulls poured on four unanswered tries to jump out to 22-6.
Three members of the Bulls spine scored – hooker Kruz Niutili-Schmidt, five-eighth Marshall, and halfback James – while second rower Damon Smith also barged over.
In the shadow of half-time St Marys pulled one back sensationally (22-10) through Tuavao, who ran 75m up the eastern sideline brushing four defenders away in the process.
Tuavao was at it again early in the second half with a 25m darting run to evade another five defenders.
The Bulls had resumed from half-time still eager for points with utility hooker Thomas Watson crashing over.
But then the Saints scored their fourth try – a short pass from Sub Laban to his back rower Jedd Gordon – and Riley Stokes kicked his third conversion of the afternoon to ease his team within a converted try (28-22).
It then became tit-for-tat tries as Watson grabbed his double for the Bulls, again running from dummy-half, before Tuavao scored his hat-trick for Saints with an 80m run.
When second rower Daniel Sykes scored St Mary’s sixth (34-30), it was a nervous final five minutes for the Bulls. But it took one more defensive set on their line and the win was theirs.
Scores: Hills Bulls 34 (Thomas Watson 2, Damon Smith, Kruz Niutili-Schmidt, Dylan Marshall, Ceiza James tries; Bradley Avery 5 goals) def St Marys 30 (Michael Tuavao 3, Sadee Sub Laban, Jedd Gordon, Saniel Sykes tries; Riley Stokes 3 goals)
