CENTRAL COAST RUGBY UNION
RESULTS
SATURDAY, 3rd JUNE, 2023
ROUND 8
PREMIER 1
Avoca Beach 20
Alex Halls, Sam Evans tries;
Fionn Henderson-Foley 2 conversions, 2 penalty goals
drew with
Razorbacks 20
Jordan Clark, Mackenzie Zammit tries;
Ryan Fenning 2 conversions, 2 penalty goals
Gosford 24
Michael Jones, Philip Brown tries;
Ben Shelley 1 conversion, 4 penalty goals
defeated
Warnervale 19
Jack Alipate, Isaiah Niumata, Enosi Falekaono tries;
Paul Sipu 1 conversion;
Isaiah Niumata 1 conversion
Terrigal 48
Adam Danckert 2, Blake Irwin, Brent Merritt, Harry McWilliam, Frankie Webber, Bailey Platt, Todd Atkins tries;
Adam Danckert 4 conversions
defeated
Hornsby 3
Hunter Bird 1 penalty goal
The Lakes 68
Sione Vaenuku 3, Malakai Haleavalu 3, Josua Camaisele 2, Connor Starkey, Geoff Hiku tries;
Ashton Hutchinson-Walters 9 conversions
defeated
Lake Macquarie 12
Wayne Gorman, Liam Eather tries;
Franco Quinones 1 conversion
PREMIER 2
Avoca Beach 29 Razorbacks 12
Warnervale 31 Gosford 7
Terrigal 78 Hornsby 7
The Lakes 47 Lake Macquarie 7
PRESIDENTS CUP
Razorbacks 20 Avoca Beach 7
Gosford/Kariong 18 Warnervale 5
WOMEN’S 10’s
Avoca Beach 26 Warnervale 15
The Lakes 80 Woy Woy 0
Terrigal 59 Hornsby 0
REPORT :
The 2023 Central Coast Rugby Union season saw several exciting matches yesterday in Round 8 action in local rugby. Two matches were very close, while the other two contests saw teams get away to a comfortable victory.
The Match of the Day at Ourimbah Rugby Park saw Avoca Beach and the Razorbacks play out a 20 all draw in a match that saw nothing between the two teams for the full 80 minutes. The first half was an even tussle and the two teams basically went point for point for most of the contest. Avoca Beach led by 14 points to 10 at the halftime break and that was basically the biggest lead that either team had in the match. It was not long before the match was squared up at 17 all midway through the second half and only a penalty goal to each team later in the half saw the final score locked at 20 points apiece. Both teams will take a lot from the result even though being disappointed about not getting the win. Best players for The Razorbacks were flankers Matt Martin and James Blanch, prop Jordan Clark, and hooker Jade Strongman, while best performers for Avoca Beach were prop Matt Ritchie, lock Joel Delaney, centre Alex Halls and flanker Fionn Henderson-Foley.
Warnervale met Gosford at Gosford Rugby Field and this match also proved to be a cliff-hanger. Gosford held on to win by 24 points 19. Gosford got away to the better start with an opening converted try but Warnervale soon hit back to square the mach at 7 points apiece. There was plenty of action in the match with play going from one end of the field to the other and with great physicality. Gosford were able to go ahead on the scoreboard with a further try and two long range penalty goals to Ben Shelley. Gosford went to the halftime break with a handy lead of 18 points to 7. The first 20 minutes of the second half was a real arm wrestle. Both teams had chances to post points but none were secured. It was at the midway point of this half that Warnervale got right back in the match with a converted try to make the score 18-14. Gosford however maintained the difference on the scoreboard with a further two penalty goals to lead 24-14. A late try to Warnervale reduced the gap on the scoreboard but it was all too late in terms of getting the win. Best players for Gosford were halfback Ben Shelley, hooker Joel Wagner, centre Michael Jones and lock Taylor Mildren. Warnervale were best served by flanker Dean Crofskey, lock Ben Austine and centre Alfred Brown. Like the match above, the two teams maintain their existing position on the competition ladder.
Hornsby hosted Terrigal at Mark Taylor Oval and it was Terrigal who secured a 48 points to 3 victory. Hornsby kicked the opening penalty goal to lead 3 nil but that was the only time in the match that they were to do so. It was from this point that Terrigal gradually asserted their control on the match. The first half was still quite a close affair with both teams giving it their all. Terrigal went to the halftime break leading by 15 points to 3 so both teams were still definitely in the match at that stage. However, the second half saw Terrigal post a further 33 points to secure the win. It was a most convincing win for the Terrigal side and the result sees them remain undefeated at this stage of the season. Best players for Terrigal were prop Antonio Cunha, lock Isaac Riviere and flanker Josh Moorhouse. Hornsby’s best players were lock Dominic Cole, hooker Jackson Cole and No.8 Hamish Perring. Hornsby would be most disappointed with the result especially after last week’s great result.
The Lakes got their second win of the season with a 68 points to 12 victory over Lake Macquarie at Slade Park. The Lakes got away to a quick start and it was not long before they had jumped to a 14 points to nil lead. Lake Macquarie did hit back and they crossed for their first try midway through the first half. However, it was The Lakes who maintained the control and they went to the halftime break leading by 28 points to 12. They were basically in control of the match at that stage and so it proved to be in the second half when they went on to post a further 40 points in the second stanza. Best players for The Lakes were five-eight Sione Vaenuku, flanker Paul Wilson, hooker Connor Starkey and No.8 Geoff Hiku, while for Lake Macquarie their best were centre Sekove Tamanivalu, prop Matt Bartley and five-eight Franco Quinones.
There were some exciting games in Women’s 10’s matches this weekend. There were three matches on display. Avoca Beach, Terrigal and The Lakes all recorded vital wins in what is developing into an interesting race to the Finals later in the year.