NEDLANDS Rugby Club scrumhalf Michael Ruru won the PG Hampshire Award at the RugbyWA Grand Final Breakfast this morning, ahead of Nedlands’ grand final rematch against Wests Scarborough on Sunday.
Ruru, who was selected for the Perth Spirit team for the third consecutive season, was the centrepiece for the Nedlands attack playing at scrumhalf and flyhalf throughout the season.
His outstanding game management, explosive speed and a rocketing pass made him a menace to deal with across the park and his work in the attacking end led to him scoring 15 tries this season.
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READ NOWRuru said being a grand final rematch added a bit of spice to the game but claimed Nedlands did not feel like favourites going in to the game.
Wests Scarborough coach Dwayne Grace, who was named Coach of the Year, said at the breakfast his team had won 18 consecutive games but that did not matter going in to the grand final.
“Nedlands are a strong team but we’re trying to find that weaknesses but that’s been pretty hard,” Grace said.
“We’ve got the same team this year so didn’t have to change too much but just wanted to improve from last year.”
Kickoff for the Premier Grade grand final is 3.20pm at McGillivray Oval.
2016 RugbyWA Award Recipients
Top Try Scorer: Brody Lam (Nedlands)
Top Point Scorer: AJ Alatimu (Wests Scarborough)
Most Improved Player: Sean Flatman (Wests Scarborough)
Best Colt Player (U20): Shambeckler Vui (UWA)
Women’s Best & Fairest: Vesinia Taufa (Palmyra)
Referee Award: Louis De Klerk
Life Membership: Bill Watt (Wanneroo, formerly Perth Bayswater)
Premiership Club Champions: Palmyra
Championship Club Champions: Southern Lions
About the 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.