Mobile Cottesloe utility forward Nick Haining has been recognised as the outstanding player in the 2012 Pindan Premier Grade competition after receiving the PG Hampshire Award, presented by Solo, at this morning’s RugbyWA Awards Breakfast.
Haining, who played at lock and across the back row during the season, was a staple option in the Gulls’ lineout, busy and effective in general play and crossed for seven tries throughout the season.
His form in the Pindan Premier Grade was recognised with his selection in the Emirates Western Force side that defeated a South Australian President’s XV in June, with Haining crossing for a try in the 42-0 win.
The PG Hampshire Award is voted upon by referees on a 3-2-1 basis, with Haining claiming maximum points on five occasions during the season to finish with 18 points.
The 22-year-old finished just two points ahead of Emirates Western Force and Associates flyhalf Kyle Godwin, who was recognised as the top Under 20 player having guided Associates through to this weekend’s grand final against Nedlands. Godwin, who represented the Australian Under 20 side at the IRB Junior World Championship and made his Super Rugby debut during the year, polled points in six of Soaks’ final seven matches of the regular season to finish on 16 points.
Each of the 10 Pindan Premier Grade clubs were represented within the top 11 points getters, while loose forwards accounted for
seven of the top eight places.
In the event’s other awards, Tony Ball claimed the Coach of the Year award after taking Nedlands through to their 30th consecutive finals series before winning through to Sunday’s grand final with a 22-18 major semi-final win over Associates. Nedlands will meet Soaks in Sunday’s decider in what will mark Ball’s 100th Senior Grade match as a coach at the club.
In a prize usually reserved for the competition’s outside backs, Nedlands No.8 Richard Naylor was the unlikely recipient of the competition’s top try scorer. The dynamic Neddies back-rower, who finished equal sixth in the PG Hampshire Award tally, crossed for 17 tries over the season, including three in his side’s 89-12 win over Wanneroo and four in the 34-5 win over Kalamunda. Naylor finished the season five tries ahead of Perth Bayswater loosehead prop Laione Mulikihaamea, who crossed for a triple of his own in the narrow 20-17 loss to Associates.
Wests Subiaco flyhalf Teava Te Rangi, was recognised as the competition’s most prolific points scorer, crossing for three tries in his season total of 166 points.
The competition’s most improved player went to Wanneroo winger Waqa Blake, who was promoted to Pindan Premier Grade from the Under 18 competition and went on to score seven tries and poll seven points in the PG Hampshire Award during his first season of senior rugby. Perth Bayswater outside centre Katrina Barker took out the Women’s Best & Fairest ahead of her side’s grand final showdown against Wanneroo on Saturday.
Southern Lions club president Mike Penhaligon was recognised for his 24 years of continuous service to rugby in Western Australian when he received Life Membership to RugbyWA. Penhaligon has been a club committee member for ARKS and the Southern Lions since 1989 and club president for a total of nine years (five with ARKS and four with Southern Lions). The former ARKS and Southern Lions player and coach also established rugby at Corpus Christi College in 1990, where he continues to coach, and served on the WA Schools Committee.
Referee Matt O’Brien, who will oversee the Pindan Premier Grade grand final this weekend, was acknowledged for his consistency throughout the season in receiving the Referee Award voted on jointly by RugbyWA and the Referee’s Association.
UWA was awarded the 2012 Champion Club after five of the club’s nine senior grade sides qualified for the finals with three earning places in the weekend’s grand finals. The Students also claimed the Champion Club, taking into consideration performances of both senior and junior grades.
The Pindan Senior Competition grand finals will be played across two days at McGillivray Oval culminating in the Pindan Premier Grade decider on Sunday afternoon, kicking off at 4pm.
2012 PG Hampshire Award, presented by Solo – Points Tally
18 –Nick Haining (Cottesloe)
16 – Kyle Godwin (Associates)
14 – Mark Jackson (Perth Bayswater)
12 – Richard Hardwick (UWA)
12 – Jimmy Tioki (Palmyra)
9 – Jeremy Corless (Wests Subiaco)
9 – Tyler Edwards (Rockingham)
9 – Tetera Faulkner (Wanneroo)
9 – Tobias Hoskins (Cottesloe)
9 – Richard Naylor (Nedlands)
9 – Tubola Niumataiwalu (Kalamunda)
PG Hampshire Award – Previous Winners
2012 – Nick Haining (Cottesloe)
2011 – Anare Koliavu (Palmyra)
2010 – David Cloete (Cottesloe)
2009 – David Cloete (Cottesloe)
2008 – Ryan Tyrrell (Rockingham)
2007 – Nathan Roberts (Nedlands)
2012 RugbyWA Awards - Award Recipients
PG Hampshire Award: Nick Haining (Cottesloe)
Coach Award: Tony Ball (Nedlands)
Top Try Scorer: Richard Naylor (Nedlands)
Top Point Scorer: Teava Te Rangi (Wests Subiaco)
Most Improved Player: Waqa Blake (Wanneroo)
Best Colt Player (U20): Kyle Godwin (Associates)
Women’s Best & Fairest: Katrina Barker (Perth Bayswater)
Referee Award: Matt O’Brien
Life Membership: Mike Penhaligon (Southern Lions)
Champion Club: UWA
Champion Club: UWA
RugbyWA Senior Grade Grand Final Fixtures
Saturday, 29 September 2012
12.30pm – 4th Grade Blue: Nedlands v Cottesloe
1.00pm – Women’s: Perth Bayswater v Wanneroo
2.00pm – 4th Grade Gold: UWA v Nedlands
2.30pm – 4th Grade Black: Mandurah v Curtin Uni
3.30pm – 3rd Grade Gold: Nedlands v Kalamunda
4.00pm – 3rd Grade Black: Curtin Uni v Mandurah
Sunday, 30 September 2012
11.00am – Under 18: Wanneroo v UWA
12.30pm – Under 20: Associates v Kalamunda
2.10pm – Reserve Grade: UWA v Associates
4.00pm – Pindan Premier: Nedlands v 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.