Butchers Cement Top Spot On Ladder
Illawarra Mercury
Monday August 11, 2008
ILLAWARRA Carlton League minor premiers Thirroul Butchers confirmed their top billing with a 34-16 win over defending champions Collegians in the last round of the regular season at WIN Stadium on Saturday.
The Butchers also added the 2008 club championship to their achievements this year."It's great - it's been a while since we got both those (minor premiership and club championship) so it's a great effort by everyone in the club, particularly reserve grade, today," Thirroul coach Phil Ostwald said. "They were out of the finals but they put in a great effort to win that game for us. "We were pretty pumped to get that result today so it was a good effort by everybody."Butchers prop Jay Van Meegan made a successful return since sustaining facial injuries against Wollongong/University on June 14."We were in it for a while and got ahead in the second half but the disallowed try (to Tim Chalmers in the 56th minute) probably would have been good for us," Collies coach Gavin Clinch said."We just did too much defence in the first half and dropped the ball too much; they took control in the second half and were too good for us."As minor premiers, the Butchers will not be required to play in the first round of the finals series starting at WIN Stadium this weekend.Wests co-coach Peter Reed was pleased with the Devils' improved goal-line defence in their 40-4 win over Berkeley at Parrish Park on Saturday.The Devils led 18-0 at half-time and went on with the job in the second term.Helensburgh's annual Charity Day at Rex Jackson Park on Saturday raised about $8000 for Westmead Children's Hospital and also acknowledged the Tigers' 1988 premiership success.However, the 2008 Tigers started slowly against Wollongong/University, who won 38-24 after leading 26-6 at half-time.
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