LAKEMAN WINS MAIN AWARD

Collegians front rower Nathan Lakeman capped off a great year for Collegians by taking out the Illawarra Tooheys League Player of The Year Award t the Steelers Club on September 10. Lakeman won the award narrowly from Port's Clint Hill.

The Player of The Year is voted for by referees on a 3-2-1 basis after each game. After the first nine rounds of competition, Lakeman had scored 11 votes to be followed by Clint Hill (Port Kembla - 8 points) and Johno Johnson (Port Kembla), Grant Roberts (Port Kembla) and Don Tweddle (Corrimal) all on 7. Lakeman held a two vote lead over Don Tweddle after 12 rounds, and slightly extended his lead to three votes after 16 rounds (Clint Hill in second). Over the final two rounds, Lakeman failed to score any votes, but his 21 points were enough to see off Clint Hill who polled two votes in the final two rounds to finish a single vote adrift of Lakeman.

Ben Couchman (Thirroul - 17), Jade Lucas (wests - 16), Grant Roberts (16), Johno Johnson (13), Don Tweddle (Corrimal  - 11) and Justin Brooker (Collegians - 10) rounded out the scoring.

Clint Hill received the award for Best Forward in the Competition while Justin Brooker was crowned Best Back. Mark Simon received the trophy for Highest Pointscorer in First Grade, Justin Brooker the leading Try scorer. Port Kembla received the trophy for the most tries by a club in the regular season as well as the Club Champions trophy. Collegians added the Minor Premiership trophy to their Premier's silverware.

Port Kembla's Keith Lulia was awarded the highest pointscorer trophy in the Under 18 competition.