CENTRAL COAST RUGBY UNION
PREVIEW
GRAND FINAL
SATURDAY, 24th AUGUST, 2024
INDUSTREE GROUP STADIUM, GOSFORD
The culmination of the 2024 Central Coast Rugby Union season has been reached. The conclusion of the season sees the Premier 1 Grand Final between Terrigal and Avoca Beach at Industree Group Stadium in Gosford. This will be a most enthralling game of rugby and it is most difficult to predict the winner.
The Grand Final is an interesting contest as these two teams have only met once this year. Wet weather affected their games so there are some unknowns about this contest. Terrigal are going into the Grand Final with an undefeated record so that situation builds its own pressure. Terrigal defeated Avoca Beach in their only outing this year so they will go into this contest with plenty of confidence. However, Avoca Beach are the reigning Premiers from last year and will be most keen to repeat that honour again this year. Terrigal had a good win over Warnervale two weeks ago. They have only had that one game during the Finals. Avoca Beach have had two close wins in the Final Series so they are definitely used to Finals rugby. Their heavy schedule does however bring some injury concerns. Both teams have plenty of depth and because they both have their two top grades in the Grand Final their resources will be tested on the day. These two teams are traditional rivals and the clashes between the two clubs brings out the best in both sides. The fact that this particular match is a Grand Final makes this contest even far more intense. It is certainly a mouth-watering clash with both teams desperate to win. It will be an emotional day for both teams, and it will come down to the team who can best control those emotions and who can play the most consistent rugby on the day.
The Premier 2 Grand Final on Saturday sees the same two teams meeting – Terrigal takes on Avoca Beach in what will prove a physical and fast game of rugby. Both teams will be will be most hungry to get success. These two teams have both been good all year and both fully deserve to be playing in the big one on Saturday. Terrigal won their only encounter this year and this fact will hold them in good stead in this clash. Because of that, and the fact that the clash was quite a while ago, there are a few unknowns about their form against each other. Terrigal will go into this match as slight favourites but Grand Finals are a whole new ball game.
The President’s Cup Grand Final has Terrigal playing The Lakes in another enthralling encounter. The Lakes took out the Minor Premiership in this grade and have been the team to beat all year but Finals rugby is a totally different game. The Lakes won both the matches between these two teams this year so they will go into this encounter as favourites. The Lakes also won their Major Semifinal clash against Terrigal two weeks ago. Terrigal were, however, much improved in their win last week against Kariong. It all makes for an exciting Grand Final on Saturday.
The Women’s 12’s Grand Final between Avoca Beach and Lake Macquarie should be just as close as any match in this competition this year. They have been the two standout teams all season. This match is a repeat of the Major Semifinal where Avoca Beach snatched the victory in the dying seconds of that match. This contest will be just as close. Lake Macquarie were Minor Premiers and have had some great wins. They will be most keen to have another match up with Avoca Beach on Saturday. This Grand Final will prove a nail biter from start to finish.
TEAM LINEUPS ON SATURDAY :
GRAND FINAL on Saturday
Industree Group Stadium, Gosford 24th August
12.30 am President’s Cup The Lakes v. Terrigal
2.10 pm Women’s 12’s Avoca Beach v. Lake Macquarie
3.30 pm Premier 2 Terrigal v. Avoca Beach
5.00 pm Premier 1 Terrigal v. Avoca Beach