WESTERN FORCE MEDIA RELEASE

Friday, 21 August 2015

KALAMUNDA’S DALEY HARPER CLAIMS 2015 PG HAMPSHIRE AWARD

Kalamunda utility back Daley Harper has been recognised as the Pindan Premier Grade’s most outstanding player for 2015 after receiving the PG Hampshire Award at the RugbyWA Awards Breakfast this morning.

Harper’s consistent performances, game management and attacking flair were key contributors to Kalamunda’s rise up the Pindan Premier Grade table, and enabled him to cross for eight tries during the season, including a hat-trick against Perth Bayswater in Round Four.

The PG Hampshire Award is voted upon by referees on a 3-2-1 basis, with Harper claiming maximum points on four occasions to finish with 18 points.

Harper took the tally board lead after Round 10 and held it for the remainder of the season with Wests Scarborough flyhalf AJ Alatimu (16 points) finishing runner-up ahead of a three-way tie for third, featuring Western Force and UWA flanker Chris Alcock, Nedlands scrumhalf Michael Ruru and UWA back-rower Richard Hardwick – all on 15 points.

Alatimu took out the Top Points Scorer after finishing the regular season with 208 points, with two 26-point hauls against Perth Bayswater and Cottesloe.

Kalamunda winger, Faamanatu Apineru claimed the competition’s Top Try Scorer after crossing 21 times in 17 matches this season including a massive seven-try haul in the Bulls’ 71-5 win over Perth Bayswater.

Coach of the Year Award was presented to Wests Scarborough’s First Grade coach, Dwayne Grace, who progressed his side to within one point of the minor premiership and have qualified for their first grand final since their 2006 premiership – a match in which Grace played at fullback.

The competition’s Most Improved Player went to Nedlands tighthead prop, Jermaine Ainsley, who was not only selected for the WA Under 20’s and Perth Spirit squads this season, but has been a key player in Nedlands’ formidable front row in their grand final qualifying season.

Southern Lions flyhalf and Australian Girls Sevens squad member Shanice Parker was identified as the Women’s Best and Fairest player. The award capped off a stellar season for the 17-year-old, who not only represented both the Alcohol.Think Again Youth Women’s and senior representative teams at the 2015 National Sevens Championships, but finished the local season with 12 tries from her six matches.

Former Palmyra and Referees Association President, Kim Short was recognised for more than 25 years’ contribution to rugby with Life Membership to RugbyWA. Short has been officiating rugby union since 1991, and was awarded Life Membership into the WA Rugby Union Referee’s Association in 2005, having served roles as President, Secretary, Committee Member and Referee Coach. Short, who also received Life Membership to Palmyra last year, has made a significant contribution to the riverside club as President, Secretary, Coach and a sponsor over the past nine seasons.

Referee Graham Cooper received his third successive Referee Award for his consistency with officiating games this season. Cooper, who will oversee matches through the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship, had another excellent Pindan Premier Grade season, coupled with six Asteron Life Super Rugby appointments as an Assistant Referee. He was also selected to referee at the Oceania Under 20s Championships earlier this year.

Nedlands was crowned 2015 Premiership Club Champions with their Under 19’s, Pindan Reserve Grade and Pindan Premier Grade (minor premiers) sides all qualifying for their respective grand finals this Sunday.

The 2015 Championship Club Champions was Curtin Uni, who finished in the top two in both their A and B Grades, with both teams qualifying for their respective grand finals on Saturday.

2015 PG Hampshire Award – Points Tally
18 – Daley Harper (Kalamunda)

16 – AJ Alatimu (Wests Scarborough)

15 – Chris Alcock (UWA)

15 – Michael Ruru (Nedlands)

15 – Richard Hardwick (UWA)

14 – Justin Turner (Associates)

12 – Davis Tavita (Nedlands)

12 – James Wepener (Joondalup)

11 – Anaru Rangi (Nedlands)

10 – Shane Hemi (Nedlands)

PG Hampshire Award – Previous Winners

2015 – Daley Harper (Kalamunda)

2014 – Dylan Timu (Perth Bayswater)

2013 – Joe Savage (Palmyra)

2012 – Nick Haining (Cottesloe)

2011 – Anare Koliavu (Palmyra)

2010 – David Cloete (Cottesloe)

2009 – David Cloete (Cottesloe)

2008 – Ryan Tyrrell (Rockingham)

2007 – Nathan Roberts (Nedlands)

2015 RugbyWA Awards - Award Recipients
PG Hampshire Award:  Daley Harper (Kalamunda) 
Coach Award: Dwayne Grace (Wests Scarborough)
Top Try Scorer:  Faamanatu Apineru (Kalamunda)
Top Point Scorer: AJ Alatimu (Wests Scarborough)
Most Improved Player: Jermaine Ainsley (Nedlands)
Best Colt Player (U20): Riley Winter (Wests Scarborough)
Women’s Best & Fairest: Shanice Parker (Southern Lions) 
Referee Award: Graham Cooper
Life Membership: Kim Short (Palmyra)

Premiership Club Champions: Nedlands
Championship Club Champions: Curtin Uni

RugbyWA Senior Grade Grand Final Fixtures
Saturday, 22 August 2015
12am – Pindan Division 5: Associates v Cottesloe All Stars
12.30pm – Alcohol.Think Again Women’s: Wanneroo v Cottesloe
1.30pm – Pindan Division 4: Cottesloe v Mandurah

2pm – Pindan Division 3: Curtin Uni v Palmyra
3.10pm – Pindan Division 2: Palmyra v ARKs
3.40pm – Pindan Division 1: Rockingham v Curtin Uni

Sunday, 23 August 2015

12pm – Under 19s: Joondalup v Nedlands
1.30pm – Pindan Reserve Grade: Associates v Nedlands
3.20pm – Pindan Premier: Nedlands v Wests Scarborough

About the PG Hampshire 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.