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Cottesloe playmaker David Cloete was today honoured with the PG Hampshire Award, presented to the best player in the KWIK Premier Grade competition, for a second consecutive season.
Cloete, who was also the competition’s top point-scorer, will be hoping to add team glory to his individual accolades when the Seagulls play in the Grand Final on Sunday afternoon after helping steer Cott to victory last season.
“This was totally unexpected,” Cloete said after receiving the award.
“I’m really honoured to win for a second season but in terms of my focus it is absolutely on Sunday’s grand final and the opportunity for us to win back to back championships. That would be unbelievable,” he said.
The competition decider between Nedlands and Cottesloe will be played at 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon at McGillivray Oval capping off a massive weekend that will see nine grand finals played over two days.
After brushing aside Associates in the preliminary final, Cott will look to take that form into Sunday’s clash however their opponents will be well rested after Nedlands earned a week off following a win in the major semi-final a fortnight ago.
Neddies will head into the game favourites after taking out the minor premiership and securing an all important win the last time these sides met. Cottesloe however had the wood over their rivals during the season with two well crafted victories meaning this match is wide open for either side to claim top billing in the game that really matters.
“Nedlands are always a tough opponent, there is never an easy run against them and I think this will be a game of high quality and intensity,” Cloete said.
“Neddies strengths are pretty similar to us really in terms of their forward pack with a good halfback and 10 combination as well. I think it will really come down to who wants the game more.”
In a tightly contested count Palmyra No.8 Anare Koliavu finished second just a single vote behind Cloete, Wanneroo’s Winston Cameron-Down was third while three players tied for fourth, Lance Hamilton (Perth-Bayswater), Richie Naylor (Nedlands) and Tane Puki (Kalamunda).
The efforts of Cloete, Koliavu, Hamilton and Puki have seen them all selected in the Perth XV squad to represent WA in the Southern State Championships to be held in Adelaide from September 30 to October 4.
Cottesloe coach Ian Fowler received the Coach of the Year award, winger Nathan Hunt topping the try scorers list with 12 while young Seagulls flanker Ryan Hodson was named Most Improved Player.
Cott also received the ‘Club Championship’ with their senior teams across the various grades performing admirably while Associates took out the ‘Healthway Champion Club’ which takes into account both senior and junior grades.
Emirates Western Force Academy player and Associates hooker Siliva Siliva took home the Best Colt Player (U20) while Perth-Bayswater star and current Wallaroo, Stacey Kilmister, was named the Women’s Best and Fairest.
Julian Pritchard claimed the top whistle blower gong and will be in charge of the KWIK Premier Grade decider on Sunday afternoon.
Following 31 years of service to rugby in Western Australia, referee David Procopis was unanimously endorsed as the latest RugbyWA life member. Amongst his various roles in rugby he sat on the Referee Association’s Coaching & Appointments Board for 10 years, eight of those as Chairman. Such was his standing in local rugby he officiated four consecutive Premier Grade grand finals in the 80’s and remains actively involved in developing the next generation of officials.
2010 PG Hampshire Award
Player,Club,Votes
David Cloete,Cottesloe,21
Anare Koliavu,Palmyra,20
Winston Cameron-Dow,Wanneroo,14
Lance Hamilton,Perth-Bayswater,12
Richie Naylor,Nedlands,12
Tane Puki,Kalamunda,12
RugbyWA 2010 Awards
Award,Recipient,Club
PG Hampshire Award,David Cloete,Cottesloe
Coach Award,Ian Fowler,Cottesloe
Top Try Scorer,Nathan Hunt,Cottesloe
Top Point Scorer,David Cloete,Cottesloe
Most Improved Player,Ryan Hodson,Cottesloe
Best Colt Player (U20),Siliva Siliva,Associates
Women’s Best & Fairest,Stacey Kilmister,Perth-Bayswater
Referee Award,Julian Pritchard,-
Club Championship,-,Cottesloe
Healthway Champion Club,-,Associates
About the PG Hampshire Award
Percy George Hampshire was a long time passionate promoter of rugby and served as an administrator and President of the WARU after moving to Western Australia from NSW in 1919.
He completed six terms as President (1946-51) and 23 years as Patron (1946-68).
The first PG Hampshire Award was presented in 1949.
Mr Hampshire was born on 3 June 1885 and died on 11 August 1968, aged 83.
RugbyWA
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