Kentwell Cup Subbies historic win from proud western Sydney team but minus biggest fan

It was a moment 67 years in the making, orchestrated by a group of old mates proud of their western Sydney roots. The only downside was their biggest fan was a world away in Albania.

Historic winners of the 2023 Kentwell Cup. Picture: Brad Redfern Photography

It was a historic and emotional victory 64 years in the making, orchestrated by a group of old mates proud of their western Sydney roots but now spread across NSW and watched by their biggest fan on a stream of the match a world away in Albania.

When the Blue Mountains rugby club beat Hunters Hill for the prized Kentwell Cup - the major trophy in the NSW Suburban Rugby Union ‘Subbies’ competition - it was a moment of celebration, elation and fanfare.

The team was mainly comprised of childhood mates who grew up in western Sydney who decided to reunite to throw the spotlight on rugby in Sydney’s west - and to try and end a very long dry spell for their old club.

“It was incredible, very emotional,’’ said captain Chris Nay who gave a rousing speech at the end.

“A lot of us are from western Sydney who have over the years moved out of the Blue Mountains area.

Blue Mountains player Samisoni Tonganivalu. Picture: Brad Redfern Photography

“I am proud of being from western Sydney. And I don’t like seeing the area not getting too many opportunities in rugby.

“We made the decision to play together and help out our childhood club.

“But we weren’t expected to win. No expected us to do better than last.’’

The club's biggest fan was missing in action

The team, who held off a fast-finishing Hunters Hill - who had made it into the grand final thanks to a miraculous charge down of a kick a week - for the 44-40 win, dedicated themselves to the task of proving their critics wrong all season.

Players, including Nay, from out of the area and now living as far away as Carringbah, Bondi, Drummoyne and Randwick, met weekly in a CBD car park after work to get a mini bus to and from training at Lapstone Park at the base of the mountains.

“Someone would be on snacks, someone the DJ,’’ said Nay, the CEO of Wheelchair NSW and who heads to the Solomon Islands this week to coach their rugby sevens teams for the upcoming Pacific Games.

“The club was formerly a Kentwell Cup club that never had much success and then got relegated to division three.

“They won and then got put up to division two and finally got promoted back in 2019.

“The reaction to us being in the grand final was phenomenal.

“I didn't realise how much it meant to people.

“They came from Coffs Harbour and Mudgee to see us.

“Chris Moloney is the president of Subbies and a Blue Mountains life members for 40 years.

“His daughter was getting married in Albania so he missed the first ever win but apparently he managed to stream it in a pub there.’’

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Originally published as Kentwell Cup Subbies historic win from proud western Sydney team but minus biggest fan