MEDIA RELEASE ………
Central Coast win the NSW Country Senior Championship after 2 days of committed rugby. The Caldwell Cup returns to the Central Coast after a 15 year wait.
The Central Coast team yesterday defeated Central West in a thrilling Final. Central Coast won in extra time by 32 points to 29. It was a wonderful exhibition of high standard rugby from start to finish. Central Coast last won the top tier Caldwell Cup in 2007 so it has been a long wait between drinks.
The scores were locked together for much of the match. Central West went to the halftime break leading by 17 points to 12. However, great rugby from the Coast team saw them hit the front by 19 points to 17 midway through the second half. The final 20 minutes was hard fought, intense and emotional for everyone at the ground. With 10 minutes to go Central Coast led by 26 points to 22 so it was still anyone’s match at that stage. At the 80 minute mark Central Coast led by 29 points to 22 but a Central West converted try after the fulltime hooter levelled the scores at 29 points apiece. This put the match into extra time and during that period Central Coast was able to convert a penalty goal to take the match and the Caldwell Cup. Wild scenes of celebration were seen at the end of the match, having won the NSW Country Senior XV Rugby Championship.
Central Coast won both their matches on the Saturday to enable them to reach the Final. They defeated Mid North Coast by 47 points to 5, and then defeated Far North Coast by 39 points to 26. It was a great display of running rugby in both these great wins.
The Central Coast also went so close to winning the Colts Championship by finishing 2nd. They won 3 of their 4 matches over the weekend, while the Women’s XV played well all weekend to finish 5th.
A detailed report on all matches will be posted later in the week.