Menai Hawks win 2015 Robertson Cup in style

Tricky conditions welcomed the combatants of the 2015 Robertson Cup final at Valentine Sports Park as Lilli Pilli 1 took on Menai Hawks 2 on a blustery afternoon and it was the Hawks who adapted the quickest and went on to win a fiercely contested match in some style.

Hawks’ Aaron De La Harpe started brightly down the right flank but two early crosses failed to find their target in the opening stages of a hurly burly beginning.

Elliot Ofori, between the sticks for Lilli Pilli 1, had the full force of the wind coming straight at him which made goal-kicks and awkward matter to deal with, barely reaching the centre circle at times.

Liam Azzopardi broke through and made Ofori work hard to block his effort as the Menai side attempted to utilise the wind at their backs to put pressure on their counterparts.

Ben Snellenburg floated in a free-kick however the wind took control to leave Ofori back-peddling and unable to reach the ball. He was deceived by the flight and was relieved to see it cannon back into play off the crossbar. There was no doubt the Hawks mastered the conditions quickest but were so far unable to make their possession count.

Whereas Menai were able to play the quick wind assisted ball over the top, Lilli Pilli quickly realised their best option was to keep the ball on the ground and in doing so took the lead in the 18’ minute when Luke McCosker was played into space and wrong-footed Towell to plant the ball just inside the ‘keepers right-hand post.

Going behind set the Hawks back on their heels somewhat and it was now Lilli Pilli who were sparked into action and putting together some neat passes as we neared the midway point of the half.

Ofori needed to be sharp to deny Pearce Coles-Sinclair in the 25’ minute but parity was restored when Liam Sparke again floated in a free-kick that deceived everyone once more by curling wickedly and found the back of the net seconds later.

To further compound the issue Blake Barlow sent in a delicious cross begging for a Hawks striker to get a touch but it evaded everyone and Lilli Pilli breathe a little easier.  Sparke then sent a shot wide of the woodwork as Menai looked to turn their dominance into further goals, Thomas Matthews responding but Towell was well positioned and comfortably held the ball.

Kurt Pepper was the first to find himself cautioned for a niggling foul on his Menai counterpart as the derby match between two near neighbour sides took shape.

The scores were locked at the break however Lilli Pilli would now have the wind to their backs and with all to play for it would be an interesting 45-minutes of play to come.

A tricky weaving run from Jacob Williams down the left ended with a shot into the side netting in the 50’ minute for the Hawks as they looked to reimpose themselves after the restart. It was they who now found the biting wind problematic.

Sparke sent Connor Davaram away with a delightful flick from the outside of the right boot that Lilli Pilli skipper Jerome Cameron managed to block with a well-timed last ditch tackle in the box however the Hawks took the lead less than 60-seconds alter when Jared Snellenburg found the net.

What ensued was a hotly contested midfield battle with no quarter asked nor given in a hard but fair encounter.

Micah Manion couldn’t control a volley that was scuffed and wouldn’t fall to a team mate in the area and the Hawks scramble the ball away for a corner in the 70’ minute that would have put Lilli Pilli level once more but the chances were getting fewer and father between. Both sides knowing at this late stage of the match exactly what was at stake.

Davaram sealed the cup in the 73’ minute with a breakaway strike to give Menai a two goal cushion that would prove too high a mountain for Lilli Pilli to climb.

Mitchell Rutar found time to pick up his second caution in the 80’ minute for Lilli Pilli and Menai found a fourth goal a minute later through Andrew Agius to put the icing on the cake.

Kane Currie nearly pulled a consolation goal back but for the quick reactions of Towell getting down quickly on his line to smother the ball in the 85’ minute but it wasn’t to be for Lilli Pilli.

It was Ben Towell who, having sent a flick onto the post, added the fifth for Menai in the 88’ minute against their 10-man opponents which wasn’t truly a reflection on Lilli Pilli’s performance on the day.

It had been a thrilling cup final between two sides who had given everything on the pitch. Congratulations 2015 Robertson Cup winners Menai Hawks, commiserations Lilli Pilli and well played to both sides on a magnificent effort.

Match Stats

Robertson Cup Final (21 Mens)

Lilli Pilli 1 (McCosker 18’)

Menai Hawks 5 (Sparke 26’, J.Snellenburg 56’, Davaram 73’, Agius 81’, B.Towell 88)

Sunday 12th July, 2015

Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood

Referee: Tim Danaskos

Assistant Referees: Yosemite Guilmeer & Angelo Psarros

Lilli Pilli 1:  1.Elliot Ofori, 3.Jerome Manion ©, 5.Kane Currie, 6.Mitchell Rutar, 7.Jack Scott, 8.Jordan Beazley, 9.Thomas Matthews, 10.Fabio Carvalho, 11.James Eccleston, 12.Brett Ryall, 18.Micah Manion, 19.Kurt Pepper, 24.Paul Fenech, 27.Michael Metros, 29.Jake Smith, 33.Brandon Paul, 48.Luke McCosker

Yellow Cards: Pepper 34’, Rutar 60’, J.Manion 87’

Red Cards: Rutar 80’

Coach: Glen Eccleston

Assistant Coach: Gerard Manion

Manager: Debra Manion

Menai Hawks 2: 1.Joshua Towell ©, 2.Liam Azzopardi, 3.Jacob William, 4.Nicholas Samios, 5.Luke Basic, 6.Andrew Agius, 7.Connor Davaram, 8.Liam Sparke, 9.Joshua Mendez, 10.Blake Barlow, 11.Ben Snellenburg, 12.Jared Snellenburg, 14.Mekael Barnes, 17.Ben Towell, 19.Salman Almeer, 27.Aaron De La Harpe, 29. Pearce Coles-Sinclair

Yellow Cards: J.Snellenburg 74’

Red Cards: 

Coach: John Diaz

Assistant Coach: John Basic

Manager: Stephen Samios

-By Micky Brock, Football NSW State Cup reporter at Valentine Sports Park