NELSON Bay Junior Rugby Club will field a record six teams in this Friday’s (6 December) Hunter Spring Rugby Sevens finals at Ernie Calland Fields in Gateshead.

The Gropers topped their group in both the Under-17 Boys and Under-13 Girls divisions and will be joined by the club’s two Under-15 Girls sides, Under 15 Boys combination, and the Under-13 Boys outfit.

It is the highest number of Nelson Bay teams to qualify for the finals since the competition’s inception, with the Under-15 Boys team posting exhilarating victories over the top two sides to snatch a top four berth.

An ecstatic Nelson Bay club secretary Matthew Findlay told News Of The Area that the 2024 Junior Sevens series had proved “a resounding success.”

“Sevens rugby is thriving in the Port Stephens region and we can vouch for that after the club registered a record 110 players for this campaign,” he said.

“To have six teams featured in the finals is a huge achievement with encouraging signs for the future.”

Nelson Bay’s crack Under-17 Boys squad extended their unbeaten streak with strong performances by Kye Nichol, Darcy Lawson, Billy Leung, Preston Scully and Bastiaan Osborne-Zorbas in final round action last Friday night at Tomaree Sports Complex.

They finished the series with twelve wins from as many games on 57 points, with skipper Nash Campbell and Osborne-Zorbas the standouts in a mighty team effort.

The club’s talented Under-13 Boys line-ups stood tall.

Nelson Bay Whites rolled Merewether 32-19 and Maitland 17-5 with Logan Jarvis proving a workhorse around the rucks to engineer both victories.

Jarvis created opportunities with his strong running as the Whites backline trio of Jaylan Nettle, Jack Costello and Isaac Seehusen capitalised, along with Rhys Fisher.

Nelson Bay Under-13 Blacks blitzed the previously undefeated Hamilton Hawks Blue team by 31 points.

Holding the Hawks scoreless, the Gropers’ rugged defence proved a highlight.

Strong running from Leon Calder, Elvis Nathan and Ollie Hoffman made for some great entertainment with the Blacks’ superior team work securing victory.

The second game of the night resulted in a resounding 50 points plus victory for the Gropers for the first time this spring competition.

Halves Clancy Buckley and Baelin Scully led the way while big forwards Costa Lazarou, Axel Kelman and Ryder Grogan were dominant in the middle.

Both Nelson Bay Under-13 Girls sides also posted wins.

Standouts were Rahf Kareem, Narlu Jackson and eleven-year-old Cleo Kerapa.

Nelson Bay’s courageous Under-15 Boys squad pulled off superb wins over title favourites Wanderers (26-24) and second ranked Southern Beaches (12-10) to book a finals spot.

Fourteen-year-old Harrison Stone, Levi Findlay, Kai Morris-Maher and Abdul Kareem notched tries for the Gropers with Max Peachey, Rhyder Pirini and Lachlan Dunning potting conversions.

It followed the team’s 24-all draw with Medowie the previous week.

Outstanding play by local Medowie product Xavier Powell proved a feature.

Powell, who plays 15s at Nelson Bay, put in a top performance against winter season teammates such as Dunning and Zac Martin.

Medowie Under-15s finished a creditable sixth after trouncing Newcastle West Wildcats 34-0.

Nelson Bay’s Under-15 girls squads impressed with strong performances from Isla Forster, Charli Vogtmann, Inez Low, Daisy Clark, Kobi Dunn and Milly Cashen.

Findlay stated that this year’s success has come off the back of the highest-ever level of participation in the fast paced rugby format with 110 players across five age groups.

Having a team represented in all age groups the club entered, is also a record.

By Chris KARAS