David Hickey was named Sydney University Football Club’s Best and Fairest player for 2014 at the annual presentation of awards last week.
The tireless flanker enjoyed a strong season on the side of the scrum and was competitive to the end when Sydney University dipped out in a nail-biting final against Southern District.
A penalty goal from the sideline, after the final bell, ended Sydney University’s decade of dominance in Sydney’s premier rugby union competition, the Shute Shield.
Southern Districts five-eighth Ben Volavola elected to take the shot, into a breeze, when University were penalised 30m out with seconds to play in the semi-final to determine who would meet Eastwood in the grand final.
It was a brave decision. While Volavola didn’t look missing when he landed a conversion and three penalty goals with his first four kicks in the first half, he missed a conversion and three penalty goal attempts from easier positions each side of halftime. He then landed a penalty from under the posts with 12 minutes to play before becoming the hero of the day with his after-the-bell effort to end the day with six from 10 attempts.
Defending premiers Sydney University looked to be heading for a 10th consecutive grand final appearance when they clawed their way to a 25-24 lead with 10 minutes remaining, but Southern Districts had other ideas.
Sydney University fielded teams in six of the seven grand finals and came away with four premierships, the Colts Club Championship and the coveted Club Championship.
While Hickey earned the major award, winger James Dargaville was awarded the Michael Griffin Cup for Players Player for 2014.
Other awards were:
First Grade
Best and Fairest: David Hickey
Best Back: Tom Carter
Best Forward: Tom Boidin
Leading Pointscorer: Daniel Kelly (139 points)
Leading Tryscorer: James Dargaville (19 tries)
Second Grade:
Best Forward: Byron Hodge
Best Back: Jack Macklin
Third Grade:
Best Forward: Jack Jones
Best Back: David Fong
Fourth Grade:
Best Forward: Nick Lyall
Best Back: Kodie Drury-Hawkins & Rhys Griffiths
Encouragement Awards
Colts Encouragement Award: Alexander Jackman
Craig Fear Encouragement Award: Hugh Frazer
First Colts Awards
Best and Fairest: Ben Hughes
Best Forward: Matthew Sandell
Best Back: Matthew Hood
Best Fresher: Christian Yassmin
Second Colts Awards
Best Forward: Byron Wicken
Best Back: Dylan Viera
ThirdColts Awards
Best Forward: Ben Martin
Best Back: Alexander Jackman & Edward L’Estrange
Achievement Awards
Most Improved (Grade): Henry Clunies-Ross
Most Improved (Colts): Jack Leger-Ryan
Most Promising Colt: Matthew Sandell
1st Colts XV Best Fresher: Christian Yassmin
Leading Try Scorer for the Club: Christian Yassmin (32 tries)
Leading Points Scorer for the Club: Christian Kagiassis (202 points)
Player of the Finals: James Dargaville
Major Club Awards
Club Captain: Dane McCarthy
Colts Clubman of the Year: Stewart Nutt
Clubman of the Year: Jack Macklin
Stephen Rowntree Volunteer of the Year: Ed Walgien
