By Marc McGowan
ENDEAVOUR Hills’ struggles went from bad to worse on Saturday when it was trampled 65-12 by ladder leader Power House at Frog Hollow Reserve.
It was the team’s seventh straight loss in the Rugby Union Victoria Premier One competition and continues its stunning fall from grace.
Unpaid fees, forfeits, injuries, work commitments and the introduction of the Pillar Cup have all been a part of Endeavour Hills’ woes after the season began so promisingly for the local side.
The weekend was never going to be easy for Endeavour Hills, with its ‘dad’s army’ squad, complete with five players over the age of 40, facing a tough foe, but it became an embarrassing mismatch.
Apart from star inside centre Seyla Khat, it was a sorry tale for Endeavour Hills, with Power House dominating possession and running in try after try.
David Finau, who also plays for the club’s Colts team, finally put Endeavour Hills on the board in the second half when he picked off a Power House pass and scored in the left corner.
Khat converted Endeavour Hills’s second try for maximum points.
All in all, however, the end to 2007 cannot come quickly enough for Endeavour Hills, although coach Mark Thompson still hopes to make something of the remaining four rounds.
“The way I’m thinking is that we have a core of about 10 players that I’d like to develop for next year,” he said.
“We’ve already (lost respect) and you would call us easybeats at the moment, which is a pity.”
Thompson plans on conducting a massive recruiting drive in the off-season to get Endeavour Hills, which looks set to be relegated to Premier Two, back on its feet.
“I’m actually going to go out and see some young guys I know around the Endeavour Hills and Berwick area and ask them if they want to play rugby,” he said.
“I don’t know what kind of answer they’ll give me, but we need to make sure we get guys who are wanting to play for the club.”
Endeavour Hills battles fifth-placed former A Grade rival Boroondara at John Gardiner Reserve in Hawthorn on Saturday.
