CCRU Round 1 Results

April 8, 2019

5CENTRAL COAST RUGBY UNION
RESULTS
SATURDAY, 6th APRIL, 2019
ROUND 1

PREMIER 1    (bonus points in brackets)

Ourimbah                    29 (1)
Josefa Biu 2, Daniel Ford, Ross McKean, Josh Holman tries;
Jarrod Grange 2 conversions

defeated
The Lakes                   27 (2)
Macui Raulini 3, Jack Akehurst tries;
Logan Hemopo 2 conversions, 1 penalty goal

Gosford                       27 (1)
Josh Reid 2, Jordan Franklin, Alec Corcoran tries;
Josh Reid 2 conversions, 1 penalty goal

defeated
Woy Woy                    13
Fokolulu Taumololo try;
Damon Boxsell 1 conversion, 2 penalty goals

Terrigal                        73 (1)
Josh Vainikolo 2, Kevin McNamara 2, Elekana Laupola 2, Nathan Simpson, Sam Kenny, Vaughan Kernan, Mitch Johnson, Dylan Calabria tries;
Aaron Tait 7 conversions;
Cameron Strachan 2 conversions

defeated
Hornsby                        0

Avoca Beach               10
Emile Thomas try;
Pat Wheatley 1 penalty goal;
Mitchell Jacob 1 conversion

drew with
Warnervale                  10
Ben Butler try;
Atunaisha Turagaveci 1 conversion, 1 penalty goal

PREMIER 2    (bonus points in brackets)
The Lakes                   19        Ourimbah        12 (1)
Gosford                       20 (1)   Woy Woy          7
Terrigal                        52 (1)   Hornsby            0
Avoca Beach               26 (1)   Warnervale      14
PRESIDENTS CUP    (bonus points in brackets)
Ourimbah                    34 (1)   The Lakes         0
Woy Woy                    39 (1)   Gosford           10
Terrigal                        20 (1)   Hornsby            0
Avoca Beach               20 (1)   Warnervale        0
The Entrance               19        Kariong           17 (1)

COLTS    (bonus points in brackets)
Kariong                       38 (1)   Gosford             0
Terrigal                        36 (1)   Avoca Beach   10

WOMEN    (bonus points in brackets)
Terrigal                        43 (1)   Hornsby            0
Terrigal                        46 (1)   Hornsby            0
Ourimbah                    27 (1)   The Lakes        5
The Lakes                   20 (1)   Ourimbah          5
Avoca Beach               47 (1)   Warnervale        5
Avoca Beach               22 (1)   Warnervale        0

REPORT :

The 2019 Central Coast Rugby season opened with some very interesting matches. There were some close matches, but all of the teams would have enjoyed their first competitive hit out of the season and certainly all teams will get stronger and stronger as the season continues as they get their combinations more settled.

In the Match of the Round at Slade Park, Ourimbah held on to defeat The Lakes by 29 points to 27 in what resulted in a very close contest. Played in quite damp conditions at Slade Park, it was Ourimbah who started the strongest. It only took 2 minutes before Ourimbah had crossed for their opening try. Lock Josefa Biu finished off an attacking move to cross for this opening 5 pointer. After that the match certainly evened out. For the next 30 minutes play went from one end of the field to the other but the very heavy conditions made it quite difficult to get any effective go forward. Both teams had their chances during this period however but there was no action on the scoreboard. Best players for The Lakes included five-eight Marshall Hemopo, halfback Logan Hemopo, fullback Macui Raulini and lock Reihana Hemopo. During this same period Ourimbah were best served by halfback Josh Holman, new player and No.8 Ross McKean, lock Josefa Biu, centre Brenton Law and flanker Jarrod Grange. At the 35th minute of this half Ourimbah were able to cross for their second try to go to a handy 10 points to nil lead close to halftime. However there was to be plenty of action in the final 5 minutes of the first half. The Lakes did respond with their own penalty goal to reduce the gap to 10-3. In the final few minutes both teams were able to cross for a further try each. Ourimbah scored first to lead by 15 points to 3 before The Lakes scored an important try right on halftime. This made the scoreline Ourimbah 15 The Lakes 8. No team were able to convert any of the tries in the first stanza. Despite Ourimbah scoring 3 tries to one in the first half, the match was still very much up for grabs. The opening 20 minutes of the second half was dominated by Ourimbah. They were winning the set pieces and also controlling much of the activity on the paddock. This dominance saw them cross for two converted tries and took them to a very handy 29 points to 8 lead. At that stage it seemed the match was well and truly over. However the home team were not going to accept this situation. In the final 15 minutes of the match the home side played some exceptional rugby. Fullback Macui Raulini was able to cross for a total of 3 tries in the match and was outstanding. His final couple of tries in the final stages of the match almost saw The Lakes grab the win. It was an excellent game of rugby to start the 2019 season. The result showed that both teams will have a good year and have much to look forward to this year.

Gosford were able to record a pleasing win over Woy Woy at Gosford Showground when they ran out winners by 27 points to 13. It was a quite even encounter throughout but Gosford just always had their nose in front. Gosford led by 12 points to 6 at halftime and maintained that lead for the remainder of the match. Best for Gosford was Josh Reid, who posted 17 individual points in the match. However it was a good team effort and coach Adam Beavis would have been most pleased with their opening performance of the year. Woy Woy gave it their all but just never got a roll on. Best players for the visitors were back Fokolulu Taumololo, who scored their lone try, and halfback Damon Boxsell. The win by Gosford got them the start they needed this year after a most disappointing year in 2018 while Woy Woy know they can play much better than what this result indicates.

In a tough, hard fought encounter at Heazlett Park, Avoca Beach and Warnervale played out a 10 all draw. This low scoring match saw both teams have their chances but at the end of the day they had to settle on the draw. Avoca Beach scored the only points of the first half and led by the single penalty goal at the break. Warnervale scored soon after the break and took the lead by 7 points to 3. This was a brilliant try by their fullback Ben Butler which saw them right back into the match. Avoca Beach regained the lead soon after when they scored their only try of the match. Veteran prop Emile Thomas crossed wide out to take the lead by 10 points to 7. eButler was certainly one of ther best players on the fieAvoca Beach regained the lead with weir only try of the match when veteran prop Emile thomnas crossed.However Warnervale were not to be denied. They kicked a late penalty goal to square the match. Best players for Avoca Beach were hooker Fion Henderson-Foley and Blake Jacob. Best for the visitors were centre Jacob Griffin and fullback Ben Butler. Both teams can take a lot from this result. They both know they can improve on this performance and they both expect to have good seasons.

Terrigal proved far too strong for Hornsby at The Haven Oval and ran out winners by 73 points to nil. It was one way traffic for the entire match. Terrigal led by 45 points to nil at the halftime break and never looked in danger. They continued the onslaught in the second half. It was not a good day for Hornsby and they will be hoping to turn things around in the coming weeks. Best players for Terrigal were prop Nathan Simpson, lock Josh Vainikolo, and backs Vaughan Kernan, Mitch Johnson and Dylan Calabria. However it was an excellent all round team performance and was certainly the start to 2019 that the home team desired. Hornsby were best served by centres Nathan Webb and Andrew Taylor.

In the President’s Cup, The Entrance proved too strong on the day when they held on to defeat Kariong by 19 points to 17. It was a good game of rugby and both teams gave it their all. It was hard fought and great opening game for both teams to commence the 2019 season. The Entrance jumped to a handy lead and Kariong fought back to almost grab the win.

Women’s 7’s rugby got under way again on the Central Coast when teams competed in their first matches of the season. Avoca Beach proved they will again be a force this year when they had two easy wins over Warnervale, while Terrigal demonstrated the same when they proved too strong for Hornsby in their two clashes. The Lakes proved they will be a force when they recorded a win and a loss against Ourimbah.