THE Kendall Blues have secured a rare “three-peat”, claiming victory in three consecutive Hastings District Rugby League grand finals.
Playing the Lake Cathie Raiders at Lake Cathie Sporting Complex on Saturday, 27 September, the Blues fought their way to an 18-30 win to secure the silverware once more.
The teams were neck and neck during the regular season, with the Raiders pipping the Blues to the minor premiership by one point.
The Raiders edged the sides’ Round 2 matchup, winning 24-16, before securing a big 34-10 win in Round 13.
The Blues know how to win however, taking out back-to-back premierships in 2023/24.
In a game of twists and turns the Raiders’ Ollie Nosworthy was first to cross the tryline, with a successful conversion from Blake Wells giving Lake Cathie a 6-0 lead.
A show of speed from Ryan Long earned the Blues their first try of the game, which was converted by Jack Chapman to even the scores.
Long then crossed the line for his second, converted again by Chapman to give the Blues a 6-12 lead.
Ollie Nosworthy grounded his second try of the day minutes later, before another successful conversion evened the scoreline.
With the sides locked at 12-12 at the half-time interval, the Raiders were first to draw blood in the second stanza, with Dane Hill going over the line for Lake Cathie.
The score now 18-12, the Blues’ Taylor Eggins soon barged over for four points, allowing the unflappable Jack Chapman to restore parity with another successful conversion.
It was soon the Blues’ turn to take the lead, with the classy Ryan Long breaking from the half-way line to score top-class individual try – his third of the game.
Another Chapman conversion gave his side a 24-18 lead.
The lead was then extended by Taylor Eggins’ second try of the day, before Chapman kicked his fifth conversion to extend the scoreline to 30-18 in favour of Kendall.
Hastings District Rugby League described the game as an “epic battle between the two leading teams throughout the season”.
Hastings District Rugby League Trophy Winners 2025:
Minor Premiers 2025 – Bun Hayward Cup: Lake Cathie Raiders.
Highest Try Scorer 2025: Sam Ylias, Kendall Blues.
Highest Points Scorer 2025: Jack Chapman – Kendall Blues.
Player Of the Year – Keith Young Memorial 2025: Blake Wells – Lake Cathie Raiders.
Player Of the Grand Final 2025 – Catherine Mary/Nifty Nev Dornan Memorial: Ryan Long, Kendall Blues.
Hastings League Premiers 2025 – Bain Cup: Kendall Blues.
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