CENTRAL COAST RUGBY UNION
RESULTS
GRAND FINAL
CENTRAL COAST STADIUM
SATURDAY, 10th OCTOBER, 2020
PREMIER 1
Terrigal 31
Dylon Calabria, Arana Taumata, Dan Sargeant tries;
Adam Danckert 2 conversions, 3 penalty goals, 1 field goal
defeated
The Lakes 28
Tim Poese 2, Macui Raulini tries;
Logan Hemopo 3 penalty goals, 2 conversions
PREMIER 2
Terrigal 24
Harry Hughes, Ryan Metcalfe, Blake Irwin tries;
Blake Irwin 1 penalty goal, 3 conversions
defeated
The Lakes 23
Johnny Symington 2, Ben Garrett tries;
Alec Herridge 2 penalty goals, 1 conversion
PRESIDENT’S CUP
Avoca Beach 22
Riley Stevenson, Joel Body, Levi Kasun, Aaron Holder tries;
Nathan Brown 1 conversion
defeated
Terrigal 21
Isaac Riviere 2 tries;
Aaron Tait 2 penalty goals, 1 conversion;
Nick Armstrong 1 penalty goal
UNDER 19 COLTS
The Lakes Maroon 23
Lathan Hutchinson-Walters, Mallie Townsend, Ricky Blake tries;
Lathan Hutchinson-Walters 2 penalty goals;
Sione Vaenuku 1 conversion
defeated
Avoca Beach 14
Jack Birt, Sandon Smith tries;
Sandon Smith 2 conversions
WOMEN’S 10’s
Terrigal 22
Sian George 3, Shenay Ball tries;
Jade Sheridan 1 conversion
defeated
Avoca Beach 17
Ella Buteux, Liana Wheatley, Taylah Welsh tries;
Liana Wheatley 1 conversion
REPORT :
The 2020 Grand Final day at Central Coast Stadium saw some wonderful games of rugby. In what proved a day where all five Grand Finals were only decided in the last few minutes of each match. It proved to be one of the great days in Central Coast Grand Final history in that all matches were wonderful spectacles, they were all nail biters, and the whole day was played at a great stadium before a large crowd in perfect weather conditions. Obviously on the day there were great celebrations but also much disappointment of getting so close to victory. On the day, all Minor Premiers in the men’s grades went on to record Major Premierships.
In the Premier 1 Grand Final Terrigal hung on to record another Premiership victory, winning the decider by the narrow margin of 31 points to 28. There was absolutely nothing in this match throughout. It went point for point for the entire 80 minutes and neither team was able to take a decisive break on the other team on the scoreboard. Terrigal opened the scoring with an early penalty goal but it was to be The Lakes who crossed for the first try in the 10th minute of the match. The conversion of this try and a penalty goal in the 15th minute had The Lakes with a handy early lead of 10 points to 3. However this was to be short-lived. Terrigal quickly responded with their first try to square up the match at 10 points apiece at the 20 minute mark of the first half. This try for Terrigal was an intercept by winger Dylon Calabria, in his 100th game for the club, and he raced 60 metres to score under the posts. The match was proving to be a very exciting affair to say the least. It was hard rugby but a match which was seeing plenty of action right across the paddock. The Lakes regained the lead 13-10 with a further penalty goal but it was Terrigal who took the lead in the 30th minute when their centre Arana Taumata crossed wide out to make the score 15-13. It was at the 35th minute of the match that Terrigal grabbed the biggest lead in the match. Winger Dan Sargeant crossed for the team’s third try to make the score Terrigal 22 The Lakes 13 at the halftime break. It was definitely a handy lead but one that was going to make the second half quite exciting. The Lakes commenced the second half brilliantly. They crossed for a try in the second minute of the half when their mercurial fullback Macui Rauluni crossed for a try and then they went over for their third try in the 8th minute of the half. So suddenly they were back into the lead by 25 points to 22. The Lakes had posted 2 tries and 12 points in just 8 minutes and the match was suddenly opened up and developing into a classic Grand Final. Terrigal was not able to score a try in the second half because of great The Lakes defence and The Lakes were also not able to cross for any further tries. Even though no tries were scored by either team in the final 32 minutes, the match was still proving an exciting, nerve wracking event for both groups of supporters. Play went from one end of the field to the other. The last quarter of the match saw Terrigal kick two penalty goals to The Lakes’ one, and the scored was locked at 28 points apiece with time running out. It was going to be anyone’s Grand Final. However, a field goal in the last few minutes to Terrigal’s’ five-eight Adam Danckert broke the deadlock, and enabled Terrigal to secure the victory by 31 points to 28. It was a great Grand Final, with another Premiership to Terrigal and with The Lakes going so close. Terrigal had several excellent players in the match. None were better than No.8 Josh Vainikolo, five-eighth Adam Danckert, lock Will McDonald and centre Arana Taumata. Best for The Lakes were lock Matt Lanzini, prop Tim Poese, No.8 Va Talaileva and halfback Logan Hemopo. Both teams scored three tries in the match and this fact alone shows just how close this match was. The Premier 1 Grand Final proved a fitting way to conclude the 2020 Central Coast Rugby Union season.
Terrigal recorded the closest of wins in the Premier 2 Grand Final when they defeated The Lakes by 24 points to 23. There was absolutely nothing in this match throughout. In fact the first half went point for point until The Lakes grabbed a break late in the first half. The Lakes went to the halftime break leading by 20 points to 10. While The Lakes had the slightly better first half it was Terrigal who proved the stronger in the second half. Terrigal crossed for a try early in the second half and with The Lakes having kicked a penalty goal, The Lakes led in the match by 23 points 17 with time running out. Best players for Terrigal were five-eight Harry Hughes and flanker Ryan Metcalfe, while for The Lakes the best on the paddock were lock Chad Goodhand and halfback Liam Baker. Just when it seemed The Lakes would hang on for victory, Terrigal crossed over for try in the corner right on the fulltime siren to make the score 23-22. A conversion from the sideline saw Terrigal take the Premiership after fulltime. It proved to be another extremely close and hard fought Grand Final.
In another one point victory, Avoca Beach was able to win the President’s Cup Grand Final defeating Terrigal by 22 points to 21. Terrigal opened the scoring with a penalty goal before Avoca Beach scored early in the match with a try, to see them lead early by 5 points to 3. However the remainder of the first half was dominated by Terrigal and they went to the halftime break leading by 18 points to 5. It seemed a handy lead but it proved not to be. The second half saw an Avoca Beach revival with two tries being posted to a lone penalty goal to Terrigal. Best players for Avoca Beach were prop Josh Meadham and hooker Tim Newton, while the best performers for Terrigal were centre Stephen Bright and lock Blake Cavanagh.
In what proved another enthralling Grand Final, The Lakes Maroon defeated Avoca Beach in the Under 19 Colts Grand Final by 23 points to 14. In what proved a turnaround from the Major Semi-final it was The Lakes Maroon team that proved the stronger on the day but there was never too much in it. The first half was an arm wrestle with The Lakes Maroon leading by the slender margin of 8 points to 7 so anything was up for grabs in the second stanza. The match continued to go point for point and with time almost up The Lakes Maroon team led by the very narrow margin of 16 points to 14. The victory was cemented as the fulltime siren went when they crossed for a converted try to record a 23 points to 14 victory.
The Women’s 10’s Grand Final saw Terrigal record a narrow 22 points to 17 victory over Avoca Beach. This encounter was even throughout. Scores were locked at 5 points apiece at the halftime break and even very late in the match scores were still squared up, at 17 points each. It was proving a nerve wracking and enthralling game of rugby. It was only late in the match that Terrigal broke the deadlock to score the match winning try. Terrigal scored 4 tries to 3 and that was the difference in the match.