HUNTER is one win away from returning to the summit of NSW Country Rugby. The team will meet Central West in the final of the Caldwell Cup in Tamworth on Sunday. This marks the first time since 2017 that they have reached the decider, having beaten Illawarra 46-7 on that occasion.
Dominant Semi-Final Performance
Hunter opened their account with a commanding 61-7 victory over the President's XV before accounting for defending champions Central Coast 15-0. Merewether flyhalf Adam Danckert orchestrated the win, expertly kicking into the corners and directing the strong Hunter pack.
Tom Jackson crossed for Hunter's first try, with Danckert converting and then adding a penalty to establish a 10-0 lead at the break. The score remained unchanged until the final five minutes when replacement half Jack Young went over to seal the victory.
Central West advanced to the final after defeating Mid North Coast 29-7 in the other semi-final. The Hunter women's team also secured their place in the final after beating Far North Coast 42-0 and Mid North Coast 17-3.
Wildfires Struggle Against Easts
In Shute Shield action, coach Scott Coleman conceded the Hunter Wildfires have a "bit of work to do" ahead of a crucial period. An undermanned Wildfires side was outmuscled and outclassed by a clinical Easts team 36-10 at Woollahra Oval on Saturday.
The Beasties lived up to their nickname, putting the visitors' scrum under pressure and dominating the lineout. Three of their six tries came from mauls, with prop Reon Lowery bulldozing his way over from 15 metres and two other tries scored from one-metre efforts at the base of a ruck. The win made it six from six for Easts to start the season.
"They were too big and physical," Coleman said. "They overpowered us at the set piece. Even with contact in collisions. We were one from five lineouts to start the game, and in the first four scrums, we gave away three penalties. Easts are a good unit. They have good depth and have trained and played together now for two years."
The Wildfires' loss was their third, dropping them to fifth spot on 18 points. They host last-placed Wests next, then travel to Western Sydney (seventh on 26 points) before the bye. The team was without at least ten regulars on Saturday and do not expect any back before the bye.
"It's not out of our reach, but we have a bit of work to do," Coleman added. "Hopefully we get a few more people on the park, not that we are using that as an excuse."
The Wildfires struck first through a penalty by John Porch. However, the Easts pack then stepped up, finding joy at the set piece and capitalising on entries into the Wildfires' quarter. Archer Gavin crashed over from a driving maul off a lineout, and prop Rob Cobb added a second to put Easts ahead 12-3.
The visitors had two chances to hit back but failed to execute. Easts defended a driving maul, and five minutes later Isaac Ulberg knocked on after another failed maul attempt. Easts then went down the other end and showed the Wildfires how to execute, with Gavin diving over for a second from a maul to make it 17-3 at the break.
The task became tougher three minutes into the second half after Easts prop Reon Lowery bulldozed his way over from 15 metres for a converted try. "The message at half-time was to get in the fight, play with a bit of mongrel and win the physical battle," Coleman said. "Easts scored straight away."
Any chance of a revival was squashed when winger Josh Vaalotu dived over from the base of a ruck to extend the gap to 31-3 after 57 minutes. Brendan Palmer scored in the 60th minute, but it was too little too late.
