Al grabs another medal

DAVID HALL

The VB South Coast Group 7 Rugby League season has come to an end following their annual presentation at the Kiama Leagues Club on Friday night.

One of the unusual highlights was that the top two medals, the Michael Cronin Medal and Athol Noble medals for the Best and Fairest players in first grade and Regan Cup both went to countbacks.

The night was a triumph for one of the league’s most respected players, Warilla-Lake South front-rower and captain Damien Paulissen who took out the double of Michael Cronin Medal and Cleary Bros Player of the Year.

He won the Cronin Medal in a countback from Shellharbour City Sharks captain when both players finished on 55 points.

Another highlight was when veteran Jamberoo five-eighth Alan Ward won an incredible fourth Athol Noble Medal for Regan Cup Player of the Year, 12 years after his last success in 1996.

Ward also survived a countback to take the award from Greenwell Point coach John Carey, who was the reigning Noble Medal holder.

The night overall was a good one, with the only disappointing feature being the non-attendance of a large number of people who had booked to attend.

Other major awards went to Referee’s President Ben Byrne who was overcome by emotion after winning the Harold Alcock Memorial Trophy for contribution to the game. Gerringong’s Jason White won the St George Illawarra Dragons Trophy for Best Player Under 21, while the Kevin Walsh Scholarship Awards were taken out by Culburra’s Darcy Heffernan and Milton’s Harrison Miller.

Kiama Knights hooker Mitchell Rein was a popular winner of the Roy Stewart Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year Award, while Rixon Russell won the Bill James Trophy as Under 18 Player of the Year. Grand Final referee Nick McInerney won the Referee of the Year, an award voted on on a weekly basis by the clubs.

Former international John Peard was the guest entertainer.