CENTRAL COAST COMPETE AT THE
NSW COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS IN TAMWORTH
12th/13th JUNE, 2021
Central Coast had a quite successful, but at times frustrating, weekend in Tamworth at the NSW Country Championships. The Senior XV, Colts and Women’s XV teams all put in good performances over the two days of the Championships. It was a gruelling weekend of rugby for all 3 teams, The 3 teams played a total of 12 matches over the 2 days – an extremely difficult task.
The 1st XV had a win and 2 close losses, the Colts team reached the Final after three great victories and one loss, while the women won 1 match and lost three.
SENIORS ….. CALDWELL CUP
Game 1 CENTRAL COAST v. FAR NORTH COAST
Saturday, 12th June, 2021 9.10 am
Far North Coast started this match very well. The team led early on and went to an early 12 points to nil lead. However Central Coast was not to be denied and they responded on the scoreboard to narrow the gap. The halftime score was FNC 12 CC 7 so the match was definitely up for grabs. The second half was very topsy turvy on the scoreboard with the lead alternating regularly. Central Coast took the lead early in the second half when Adam Danckert took an intercept for Central Coast to lead 14-12. It was anybody’s match. FNC were then awarded a controversial penalty try which swung the match in their favour. Central Coast did regain the lead 20-19 with two successful penalty goals. However, FNC scored a converted try close to fulltime to secure the victory. It was a great performance by the Central Coast but at the same time a very disappointing result. It was so close, yet so far.
Central Coast 20
Ethan McInnes, Adam Danckert tries;
Adam Danckert 2 conversions, 2 pen. goals
lost to
Far North Coast 26
3 tries, Penalty Try, 2 conversions
Game 2 CALDWELL CUP SEMIFINAL
CENTRAL COAST v. CENTRAL WEST
Saturday, 12th June, 2021 12.40 pm
This was a typical top tier playoff with both sides prepared to throw the ball around. It was a very even start but it was Central West who took the early lead. They scored a converted try early on to lead 7 nil and that remained the score until halftime. Central Coast had a disallowed try, and went close to scoring on several occasions but with no resulting effect. The Central Coast attack was good but no points resulted. Central West slowly took control on the scoreboard in the second half with a further two converted tries. Central Coast were rewarded with a converted try late in the match but it was all too late. It had proved a tough day at the office for the Senior 1st XV. Things just did not go their way despite playing very well.
Central Coast 7
Elekana Laupola try;
Adam Danckert 1 conversion
lost to
Central West 21
3 tries, 3 conversions
Game 3 CALDWELL CUP PLAYOFF
CENTRAL COAST v. NEWCASTLE HUNTER
Sunday, 13th June, 2021 11.50 am
This match was a clash between two neighbouring rivals and both were keen to defeat the other. It started off quite evenly with contact very physical at the breakdown. However, it was the Central Coast who were playing the more effective rugby and they gradually took control in the match. It was a great effort by the Central Coast team, and a great victory over their arch rivals. The 4 tries to 2 victory was a good indicator of the flow of the match and it was a great way to conclude the Championships after what had proved a frustrating day the day before.
Central Coast 29
Jordan Clark, Josefa Biu, Dylon Calabria, Matt Martin tries;
Adam Danckert 3 conversions, 1 pen. goal
defeated
Newcastle Hunter 10
2 tries
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COLTS
Game 1 CENTRAL COAST v. ILLWARRA
Saturday, 12th June, 2021 8.40 am
This was a tough physical encounter right from the opening whistle. Each of the Colts matches were a shorter game because of the number of matches to be played over the 2 days, so both teams knew early points were crucial. Illawarra scored first with a converted try, and went to the halftime break leading by 7 points to nil. They had controlled proceedings in the first half. However, the game changed completely in the second half. Central Coast took control and were rewarded with two great team tries. Central Coast had taken victory through some excellent play in the second half.
Central Coast 12
Nick Anderson, Josh Martin tries;
Braedyn Hutchinson-Walters 1 conversion
defeated
Illawarra 7
1 try, 1 conversion
Game 2 CENTRAL COAST v. FAR NORTH COAST
Saturday, 12th June, 2021 10.40 am
Central Coast backed up their very good start to the Championships with a strong win over Far North Coast. However, they did not have it all their own way. It was hard fought and intense. The two teams went to the halftime break locked at nil all so the match was there for the taking. It was the Central Coast who came out victors in the match with two tries in the second half. It had proved a great day for the Colts team as they had finished Day 1 with 2 very good wins under their belt against two very strong teams.
Central Coast 10
Sam Taylor, Austin Kirk-Cark tries
defeated
Far North Coast 0
Game 3 CENTRAL COAST v. NEWCASTLE HUNTER
Sunday, 13th June, 2021 8.40 am
Central Coast went into this match with full confidence. The team played extremely well but it was Hunter who got the goods. There was absolutely nothing between these two teams in this match. However, it was Hunter who were able to cross for a try right on half time, to lead by 5 points to nil at the break. The second half was exactly the same – hard fought, very even and nothing in it. However, once again, Hunter scored right on the fulltime whistle to take the match 10 nil.
Central Coast 0
lost to
Newcastle Hunter 10
2 tries
Game 4 CENTRAL COAST v. NEW ENGLAND
Sunday, 13th June, 2021 10.40 am
Central Coast went into this match knowing they had win well to be able to reach the Colts Final. The team did play well, and put in their best performance of the weekend. The Central Coast team started like ‘a house on fire’ and continued to attack with dominance for the whole match. The team led by 17 points to nil at the halftime break, and then went on to score a further 17 points in the second half. It was a wonderful effort. The 6 tries to nil effort saw the Colts team into the Final in the afternoon.
Central Coast 34
Nick Anderson, 2, Sam Richardson 2, Braedyn Hutchinson-Walters,
Connor Adams tries;
Kurt Ferrari 2 conversions
defeated
New England 0
Game 5 COLTS CUP FINAL
CENTRAL COAST v. NEWCASTLE HUNTER
Sunday, 13th June, 2021 1.30 pm
The Central Coast team played good rugby in the opening stages of the match. In fact, if anything, they had the better of the start of the match. They were fired up and were playing some good rugby. The feature of the match was the strong defence from both teams. It was Hunter who scored first however, when they crossed for a converted try to lead 7 points to nil. A great try on halftime to Central Coast saw the scores levelled. The team scored a 90 metre try when flyhalf Braedyn Hutchinson-Walters made an initial break, before passing to fullback Kurt Ferrari who raced the remining 70 metres to score under the posts. This converted try made the halftime score 7 points apiece. The second half continued in much the same vein. It was intense, hard fought rugby. The only points scored in the second half was a converted try to Newcastle after the fulltime whistle. It was such a great effort by Central Coast and one where the team went so close to taking the honours. It was a tough weekend where 5 hard fought matches were played.
Central Coast 7
Kurt Ferrari try;
Braedyn Hutchinson-Walters 1 conversion
lost to
Hunter 14
2 tries, 2 conversions
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WOMEN
Game 1 CENTRAL COAST v. MID NORTH COAST
Saturday, 12th June, 2021 10.20 am
Central Coast defended so well in the first half but despite this it was MNC who took the early lead by 10 points to nil. The Central Coast did score before halftime to make the halftime score 10-5 in favour of MNC. Many of the players in the Central Coast team had never played 15-a-side rugby before but they were able to put on a wonderful performance. The second half was almost a repeat of the first half, in that MNC scored a further two tries to that of one try scored by the Coast. It was a pleasing hit out for the Central Coast team although the loss was disappointing.
Central Coast 10
Elise Conolly, Taylah Welsh tries
lost to
Mid North Coast 24
4 tries, 2 conversions
Game 2 CENTRAL COAST v. CENTRAL WEST
Saturday, 12th June, 2021 3.00 pm
Central Coast were fully prepared for this clash with the reigning NSW Country champions, and the team who were ultimately to repeat that Championship win this year. Central West took control very early on in the match and by halftime had secured a handy 17 points to nil lead. The feature of the match was the strong defence from both teams, and the physical tackles made by both teams. It was a tough encounter despite the score getting away from the Central Coast team. Central Coast did score their only try early in the second half to make the score 17-5 but it was the Central West who went on to score a further 10 points to record a 27 points to 5 victory.
Central Coast 5
Ebony Millgate try
lost to
Central West 27
4 tries, 2 conversions, 1 penalty goal
Game 3 PLAYOFF 1 :
CENTRAL COAST v. MID NORTH COAST
Sunday, 13th June, 2021 3.00 pm
Due the intricacies of the Women’s Draw, Central Coast had to play Mid North Coast for the second time in these Championships. But what a turnaround from the previous day’s match against this team. This match saw the Central Coast team put on their best performance of the Championships. They controlled proceedings right from the very start and were always in total control for the entire match. It was great to get the win for the team that had played so well during the Championships.
Central Coast 31
Taylah Welsh 2, Prue Bright, Elise Conolly, Ellie Dark tries;
Prue Bright 3 conversions
defeated
Mid North Coast 15
2 tries, 1 conversion, 1 penalty goal
Game 4 PLAYOFF 2 :
CENTRAL COAST v. CENTRAL NORTH
Sunday, 13th June, 2021 2.00 pm
The Central Coast team played well in this match but were defeated by an experienced 15-a-side team from Central North. There was absolutely nothing in this match and it went right down to the wire. The match finished with Central Coast attacking but it was Central North that hung on for the very narrow win. The women were bruised and battered in this match, after what had been a most gruelling 4 matches in 2 days.
Central Coast 10
Ally Woutersz, Emily Lufe tries
lost to
Central North 17
3 tries, 1 conversion
CONCLUSION :
It was a pleasing weekend for Central Coast Rugby Union overall. Many thanks to Craig, Nick and Michael, and their respective coaching staff, on completing such a great job. It was a tough weekend of rugby for all 3 teams, and in fact many would say that had to play too much rugby. The 3 teams were involved in 12 matches of rugby over the 2 days, and in what was Championship standard rugby. The final situation sees the 1st XV finish 4th, the Colts 2nd, and the Women 4th.