It’s been 15 years since Hill Top last lifted the men’s first grade trophy and on Saturday they did it again.
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The Kookaburras celebrated a 2-1 win over minor premiers Yerrinbool-Bargo Bushrangers in the men’s premier league one grand final.
Hill Top player Michael Murray said the last time the team had won the premiership was back in 2003.
“It’s been 15 years. The first year Hill Top ever had a first grade team [was] in 2003 and that was my first year in there so it’s been a long wait. I’m stoked,” he said.
The Bushrangers had a strong start to the match and opened the scoring through Scott Hilliard.
It was the only goal scored in the first half and Yerrinbool went to the break with their noses in front.
“We spoke about keeping calm and [doing] each individual job. We lose our way usually,” Murray said.
“The last time we played them we were all over the shop. We kept calm, I think that’s the main thing. We’ve got the ability.”
But a determined Hill Top team showed how much they wanted the silverware and dominated the second half.
Flynn Hessenberger and Andrew Rae both found the back of the net for the Kookaburras to take the lead.
Yerrinbool threw everything they had at Hill Top late in the game and had several chances to level the score but couldn’t capitalise on their opportunities.
It was a physical match and supporters for both teams made themselves heard, particularly in a hard fought second half.
But in the end, Hill Top’s defence held Yerrinbool out and the celebrations began.
A disappointed Bushrangers coach Ben Lynch, said the team lost its composure in the second half.
“We just didn’t play our normal soccer and they got their first goal and got a roll on and we sort of panicked a bit after that,” he said.
“That was it- they ran over the top of us like we normally do to them.”
While it was certainly not the result the team was after, Lynch said he was proud of the team’s never give up attitude.
“It was just fight to the end soccer.”
“Throughout the season we’ve had a decent backline. We had injuries all through the season, so we had young fellas step up and they contributed to every week for us.”
In other grand final results, Hill Top also won the under-15 and youth league premierships.
Bowral won the women's second division premiership and Moss Vale Red finished off a strong season with a win in the women’s first grade grand final.
Yerrinbool Black won the men’s premier league two title and Bundanoon claimed the Highlands League premiership.
