2009: Success, Heartbreak and Club Spirit

Sources: The following is a summary of the 2009 year which appears in A History of the Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club 1959 - 2015. Other acknowledgments: The Wagga Wagga Daily Advertiser, Waratahs Player Register & Southern Inland Rugby Union finals programs.

Following six successful years as Club President, including the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2008, Warwick Grant stepped down, with Linden Gunn elected as his successor at the November 2008 Annual General Meeting. There were few changes to the committee, providing continuity and experience. Kym Crawford became Vice President, Daniel Selmes was elected Club Captain, and Richard Skellern took on the role of 1st XV coach, assisted by Terry Williams as manager.

The 2009 season was another highly successful year for the Club, with the Waratahs claiming the Wal Blake Club Championship. The Under 17s completed an outstanding undefeated season to secure back-to-back premierships, while the 1st XV and 2nd XV both finished as minor premiers. Although the 1st XV ultimately fell agonisingly short of the premiership, its achievements throughout the competition were exceptional.

A Club Beyond the Rugby Field
The Waratahs continued to demonstrate that the strength of the Club extended well beyond its performances on the field. The social calendar was again busy, with after-game barbecues, the Mid-Year Masquerade Ball, Ladies Day lunch, a ladies' trip to Leeton, Mexican Night, a winery tour, the Old Boys' Smoke Night, Life Members' dinner, Christmas celebrations and Presentation Night. The traditional post-grand final barbecue remained a fixture, as did the Club's commitment to welcoming new players and recognising its sponsors.

The sixth annual Chris Cameron Charity Golf Day attracted 108 golfers and the support of 25 local businesses, despite wet and cold conditions.

The cattle trading venture continued with the project expected to return a healthy profit. The canteen, coordinated by Mathew and Nicole Young, remained an important source of Club income.

From the excitement of representative rugby and the Hong Kong Sevens to the humour of the Bondi 10s, the traditional social gatherings, the Old Boys' involvement and the support from Life Members, 2009 was another year in which the Waratahs demonstrated that their strength lay not only in playing rugby, but in the friendships, loyalty and sense of belonging that make the Club what it is.

At representative level, Michael Gooden, Chris Dowell, Xavier Chigwidden, Patrick Barrett and Matthew Meggison were selected in the Southern Inland representative squad, with Meggison progressing to the Brumbies Provincial team.

Jim Lenehan, former Club President and coach was also recognised by the Australian Rugby Union as one of its seven Classic Wallabies Statesmen.

Sadly, the Club farewelled Richard 'Corky' Walker and Deb McCaffery during the year.

1st XV – An Outstanding Season Ends in Heartbreak
Played 16; won 16; BP 16; points for 792; points against 146; points 80.

Under Richard Skellern, the 1st XV produced a remarkable season, finishing the competition rounds undefeated. The team had now won 30 consecutive competition games dating back to 2008, establishing itself as the benchmark of the Southern Inland competition.

The season began with a convincing 31–15 victory over Rivcoll, followed by wins against Temora (44–0), Wagga City (46–7) and Tumut (31–15). The team continued to demonstrate its attacking strength, recording impressive victories over RARC (78–0), Ag College (60–24), Leeton (78–0) and Cootamundra (93–5). A 32–5 win over Albury in the final round secured the minor premiership and maintained the unbeaten record.

There were, however, challenges along the way. Tumut provided a stern test, while Griffith and Albury also demanded strong performances. Coach Skellern continually emphasised the importance of discipline, composure and adherence to the game plan, particularly as the finals approached.

The finals campaign began with a hard-fought 21–15 victory over Ag College. After a week to regroup, Waratahs faced another demanding encounter before earning their place in the grand final.

On 12 September 2009, a record crowd filled Conolly Rugby Park and the Jim Lenehan Stand for the eagerly anticipated clash against Ag College. The Waratahs were seeking back-to-back premierships after an outstanding two seasons in which they had lost only once.

The grand final was a tense and closely fought contest. Waratahs led 10–7 at half-time, with Scott Hannaford scoring the opening try for the Club and Ian Croft adding a penalty goal. The teams traded tries in the second half, with Hugh Palmer extending the Waratahs' lead before Ag College again drew level at 24-all.

With the match heading towards extra time, a late infringement proved costly. Ag College capitalised, leaving the Waratahs with a devastating defeat. After such a dominant season, the disappointment was understandably profound. The silverware had eluded them, but their performances had firmly established the 1st XV as one of the competition's outstanding teams.

Ryan Moseby also shared the 2009 SIRU Leading Try Scorer award, a fitting individual recognition in an exceptional season.

The team: Michael Gooden, Daniel Francis (c), Lyndon Benecke, Matthew Meggison, Bernard Schiller, David Walker, Ian Croft, James Finlay, Sandy Middleton, Chris Dowell, Matthew Joseph, Scott Hannaford, Ryan Moseby, Xavier Chigwidden, Patrick Barrett, Daniel Selmes, Robert Elliott, Jackson Blake, Mathew Young, Simon Moloney, William Purcell, Hugh Palmer.

2nd XV – Consistency and Determination
Played 16; won 15; lost 1; BP 14; points for 562; points against 155; points 74.

The 2nd XV enjoyed another highly successful season under coach Angus Macleod, winning 15 of its 16 competition games and finishing minor premiers. The team began with a commanding 52–12 victory over Rivcoll and continued its winning form with impressive performances against Temora, Wagga City, Tumut and RARC.

The season was characterised by strong forward play, effective support running and an increasingly structured approach. President Linden Gunn regularly acknowledged the team's willingness to work for one another, particularly the way players backed up line breaks and supported the next phase of play.

There were some particularly close encounters, including a narrow 22–21 victory over Leeton, secured by a late try to Luke Hulm, and a 28–24 win over Cootamundra after the opposition had held the advantage for much of the match. Victories over Albury and Young further strengthened their position at the top of the competition.

Despite their impressive record, the 2nd XV could not convert its minor premiership into a premiership. Defeated by Ag College in the qualifying final, the team subsequently bowed out of the finals following a 27–18 loss to Rivcoll in the semi-final.

The Round 1 team comprised: Mathew Young, Richard Skellern, Simon Moloney, Andrew Hannaford, Christopher Mullins, Matthew Clark, Paul Goldsmith, Sam Cruikshank, Rhys Greentree, Angus Stanford, Paul Noble, Jock Fowler, Angus Lamont, William Purcell, Luke Hulm, Ben Austin, Michael Delaney, Robert Wells, Kade MacDonald, Matthew Hannaford and Trent Walker.

3rd XV – The Spirit of Third Grade
Played 7; won 4; lost 2; drew 1; BP 2; points for 85; points against 76; points 20.

The 3rd XV continued to provide an important part of the Club's rugby program. With a mixture of experience and enthusiasm, the team finished third in the competition after recording four wins, two losses and a draw.
One memorable performance came against RARC, when Waratahs played much of the match with only 14 players and no interchange. A late try to the ever-young Matthew 'Nob' Hannaford secured a 5-all draw, although Sean Daly's conversion attempt narrowly missed.
The team also experienced the challenge of facing a much younger and fitter Ag College side, going down 32–0. Nevertheless, the 3rd XV continued to turn out and represent the Club, demonstrating the commitment and enjoyment that have always been an important part of Waratahs rugby.

Under 17s – Undefeated and Back-to-Back Premiers
Played 13; won 13; BP 11; points for 491; points against 109; points 63

The Under 17s enjoyed a magnificent season under Dave Walker, supported by Hugh Palmer and Patrick Barrett, with Chris Coleman as manager. The team won all 13 competition games, finishing undefeated minor premiers before securing the premiership for the second consecutive year.

Their opening match against traditional rivals Rivcoll set the tone. Trailing 17–14 with ten minutes remaining, the boys showed considerable composure and determination to secure a 29–17 victory. It was an indication of the character that would carry them through the season.
The team produced several outstanding performances, including an 85–12 victory over Leeton, a 57–10 win over Young and a 48–0 result against Leeton later in the season. Their ability to combine strong forward play with speed and attacking flair made them difficult opponents. As the competition progressed, the margins narrowed, but the Waratahs continued to find a way to win.
Having completed the competition rounds undefeated, the Under 17s faced Albury in a hard-fought semi-final, winning by two tries to nil. This set up a grand final rematch with Young, who had defeated second-placed Rivcoll to earn their place in the decider.

A Grand Final to Remember
The Under 17 grand final on 12 September 2009 was a thrilling contest. Young produced its best performance of the season and matched the Waratahs throughout the afternoon. Both sides scored five tries, but the Waratahs maintained their composure to prevail 31–30.
The decisive moment came in the final minute when Sam Burns crossed for the winning try, following a Waratahs scrum near the Young line. It was a remarkable finish and a fitting reward for a team that had remained undefeated throughout the season.
Captain Cameron Donoghue led the side superbly, while Roderick Abbas and Jayden Stanton were among the outstanding performers. Coach Dave Walker acknowledged that it had not been the team's best performance of the season, but the boys had scored their tries at the right time, particularly the last one.

The victory secured the Under 17s' second consecutive premiership and completed an undefeated season, an achievement of which the players, coaches, families and Club could be immensely proud.

The team: Callum Hastings, Cameron McAuliffe, Nathan Tilden, Anthony Hill, Cameron Donoghue (c), Henry Sykes, Jake Went, James Blanchard, Sam Burns, Jayden Stanton, Jordon Miinchow, Dan Maskill, Roderick Abbas, Sean Kanaley, Jordon Culgan, George Coore, Matthew Kerry, Eddie Lagaali and Jarrod Petersen.

2009 players. Several more registered and did not play.
Roderick Abbas, Dom Alexander, Ben Austin, Michael Barrett, Pat Barrett, Lyndon Benecke, Jackson Blake, James Blanchard, Chas Burdack, Sam Burns, Xavier Chigwidden, Matt Clark, George Coore, Ian Croft, Lachlan Crooke, Sam Cruickshank, Jordan Culgan, Michael Delaney, Cameron Donoghue, Chris Dowell, Andrew Duke, Rob Elliot, James Finlay, Jock Fowler, Daniel Francis, Eden Galea, Mark Garraway, Paul Goldsmith, Michael Gooden, Warwick Grant, Rhys Greentree, Alex Grigg, Andrew Hannaford, Matt Hannaford, Scott Hannaford, Callum Hastings, Anthony Hill, Charlie Hollingsworth, Peter Hopley, Luke Hulm, Tim Jones, Matthew Joseph, Sean Kanaley, Matt Karpenan, Matt Kerry, Eddie Lagaali, Angus Lamont, Richie Lamont, Dave Lee, Joe Luff, Angus MacLennan, Angus MacLeod, Hugh MacLeod, Dan Maskill, Bryn Mathew, Cameron McAuliffe, Kade McDonald, Gerard McTaggart, Matt Meggison, Sandy Middleton, Jordan Miinchow, Simon Moloney, Ryan Moseby, Chris Mullins, Dave Noble, Hugh Palmer, Andrew Paton, Jarrod Petersen, William Purcell, Nick Salcole, Nelson Sali, Bernie Schiller, Daniel Selmes, Richard Skellern, Jarrod Slattery, Angus Stanford, Jayden Stanton, James Strange, Tim Stuart, Ben Sullivan, Edward Sykes, Henry Sykes, Nathan Tilden, David (jnr) Walker, Trent Walker, Rob Wells, Jake Went, Matt Young