Tai awarded 2008 Macdougall Medal

2008 Macdougall Medal winner, Sokai Tai

Royals lock/back-rower Sokai Tai has won the 2008 Macdougall Medal awarded at the ACT & Southern NSW Rugby Union’s Macdougall Medal and Presentation Dinner held at the Canberra Southern Cross Club in Woden tonight.

Click here to view the individual winners/photos from the 2008 Macdougall Medal Presentation Night

The 24-year-old back-rower (20 votes) finished ahead of Easts flanker Henry Vanderglas (16) while 2007 Macdougall Medal winner Jack Vanderglas also polled well with 10 points. Gungahlin centre Matt Hawke (14) finished in third place despite missing the first six weeks of the season playing in the USA.

In his first year in the Tooheys New John I Dent Cup, Tai finished joint leading try scorer for the competition, including a four-try haul against Uni-Norths in Round Seven. He also starred in the ACT Representative side’s only fixture for the year scoring three tries in their 61-10 win over the NSW Country Cockatoos at Canberra Stadium in April.

The rampaging, Tongan-born forward started in each match for Royals during the season and has developed into a cult figure of the Tooheys New John I Dent Cup courtesy of powerful brand of rugby and his easily recognisable hairstyle.

Royals coach Frank Condi said Tai, who will start at blindside flanker for Royals in their minor semi final against Gungahlin at Viking Park on Sunday, has been an integral part of his team’s success this season.

“Sokai’s been extremely valuable for us this year and he’s been the number one player picked at each selection meeting,” he said. “It’s great having a player of his versatility who can play both lock and back row but is also someone who can play aggressively when it’s tight as well as outrunning wingers.

“I think his hair’s helped him stand out [in the voting], but when you’re scoring four tries in a game and top try scorer after the first round of matches it’s easy to stand out.

“This [award] is great recognition for a player who’s performed for us every week and fit into our club extremely well.”

The Macdougall Medal is presented to the best and fairest player in the Premier Division First Grade competition, as judged by the referees on a 3-2-1 basis for each match. The medal was originally donated by the Western District Rugby Union Club to honour the contribution made by Stuart Macdougall to ACT Rugby Union.

In the evening’s other awards, Queanbeyan outside centre Henry Seavula claimed back-to-back Gus Vallance Memorial Trophies for the competition’s highest point scorer (163 points). Seavula also won his second successive John Hunter Memorial Trophy for top try scorer, sharing with the award with Tai and Henry Vanderglas who each finished the regular season with 13 tries. Jack Vanderglas was also awarded the Anderson Trophy for Sportsmanship.

Queanbeyan coach Glen Christini, who helped his side to their first minor premiership in 26 years, received the Michael Hickey Memorial Trophy for Coach of the Year.

Royals and Wallaroos prop Lindsay Morgan received the Helen Taylor Trophy for ACT Women’s Representative of the Year with Easts’ Director of Rugby Anthony Radcliffe recognised for more than 18 years service to the club with the ACT & Southern NSW Rugby Union Volunteer of the Year.

Former Royals player and current club administrator Paul Maguire was awarded the HS Quinn Trophy for Service to Rugby while referee Brett Bowden was the inaugural recipient of the Peter Lawler Trophy for Referee of the Year.

Royals, Brumbies Academy and Brumby Runners front rower Kesomi Lolotonga received the Graham Gordon Memorial Trophy (Best & Fairest Under 21) while CA Brumbies and Wallabies flanker George Smith received yet another accolade for a stellar season with the Tommy Byrne Memorial Trophy (Best & Fairest ACT Player).

2008 Macdougall Medal

20 –     Sokai Tai (Royals)
16 –     Henry Vanderglas (Easts)
14 –     Matt Hawke(Gungahlin)
13 –     Rhyan Caine (Queanbeyan)
11 –     Sitauti Mailei (Wests)
10 –     Jack Vanderglas (Easts)

Macdougall Medal History
 
2008    Sokai Tai (Royals)
2007    Jack Vanderglas (Easts)
2006    Ryan Carmichael (Wests)
2005    Craig Robberds (Wests)
2004    Jamie Andrews (Royals)
2003    Craig Robberds (Wests)
2002    Eddie Langi (Easts)
2001    Craig Robberds (Wests)
2000    Damien Hill (Wests)
 

Other awards:

Vodafone Club Shield: Queanbeyan
Vodafone Club Shield Best & Fairest: Jesse Parahi (Tuggeranong) and Anthony Dawes (Gungahlin)

Women’s Division Minor Premiership: Royals
Second Division Minor Premiership: Taralga
First Division (Second Grade) Minor Premiership: Royals
First Division (First Grade) Minor Premiership: Goulburn
Premier Division Fourth Grade Minor Premiership: Wests
Premier Division Third Grade Minor Premiership: Wests
Premier Division Colts Minor Premiership: Queanbeyan
Premier Division Second Grade Minor Premiership: Queanbeyan
Premier Division First Grade Minor Premiership: Queanbeyan

Turner Cup (Premier Division Club Championship): Queanbeyan
Premier Division Champion Club: Queanbeyan

John Hunter Memorial Trophy (Top Try Scorer): Henry Seavula (Queanbeyan), Sokai Tai (Royals), Henry Vanderglas (Easts) – 13 tries
Gus Vallance Memorial Trophy (Top Point Scorer): Henry Seavula (Queanbeyan) – 163 points
Helen Taylor Trophy (ACT Women’s Representative Player of the Year): Lindsay Morgan (Royals)
Bill Priest Trophy (Monaro representative Player of the Year): Matt Chalker (Taralga)
Graham Gordon Memorial Trophy (Best & Fairest Under 21): Kesomi Lolotonga (Royals, Brumbies Academy, Brumby Runners)
Tommy Byrne Memorial Trophy (Best & Fairest ACT Player): George Smith (CA Brumbies, Wallabies)
Michael Hickey Memorial Trophy (Coach of the Year): Glen Christini (Queanbeyan)
Second Division Best & Fairest Player of the Year: Peter Henderson (Bungendore)
First Division Best & Fairest Player of the Year: Will Grogan (Yass)               
Anderson Trophy for Sportsmanship: Jack Vanderglas (Easts)
HS Quinn Trophy for Services to Rugby: Paul Maguire (Royals)
Peter Lawler Trophy (Referee of the Year): Brett Bowden
ACT & Southern NSW Rugby Union Volunteer of the Year: Anthony Radcliffe (Easts)

Macdougall Medal (Premier Division Best & Fairest Player of the Year): Sokai Tai (Royals)