Terrigal and Avoca Beach are neck and neck at the top of the points ladder as Central Coast Rugby heads into its final round this Saturday, August 26.
The two top teams, each sitting on 66 points, are set to meet each other in the last round of the season in what is sure to be a nail-biting encounter which will decide the Minor Premiers for 2023.
The penultimate round on August 19 saw Avoca Beach defeat the Razorbacks at Heazlett Park 28-15.
Avoca Beach got away to the better start, scoring two tries quickly and heading into the half-time break with a 22-5 lead.
The second half was a far more even affair, with the Razorbacks outscoring the home team by 10 points to 6, but the damage for the visitors had been done in the first half.
Best players for Avoca Beach were centre Liam Jenkins, No.8 Thomas Murphy, winger Shaun Townsend, who crossed for two tries, and lock Matt Anderson.
The Razorbacks had several good players but none were better than prop Mackenzie Zammit and flankers Matt Martin and Rob Peden, who crossed for two tries.
The win sees Avoca Beach maintain its undefeated record for the season with just the one match to go.
Gosford travelled to Woongarrah Oval to meet Warnervale in a match which was a hard-hitting affair from start to finish and saw Warnervale win the day 28-19.
Warnervale got away to a great start and took control of the match very early on, crossing for their first try within the first four minutes and following that up with two further tries in the first half.
Warnervale went to the halftime break leading 21-0.
Gosford tried to bridge the gap in the second half, outscoring Warnervale by 19-7 in the final 40 minutes but it was all too late for the visitors.
The win more or less assures Warnervale fourth spot on the competition ladder
Best players for Warnervale were No.8 Tevita Piukala, fullback Isaiah Niumata, who was dangerous every time he touched the ball, and five-eight Sione Braxton.
Best for Gosford were flankers Hugo Pike and Jackson Steinbeck and halfback Ben Shelley.
Hornsby met Terrigal at The Haven Oval, with Terrigal running out victors by 45-5.
Terrigal was in control right from the opening whistle, going into the halftime break with a 26-0 lead.
The home team followed this up with a further 19 points in the second half while Hornsby was able to respond with only a lone try
Best players for Terrigal were centre Harry Hughes and flankers Sam Kenny and Elekano Laupolo, while flanker Chris James, winger Jack O’Connor and lock Blake Davenport put in the best efforts for Hornsby.
The Lakes proved too strong for Lake Macquarie at Walters Park, Boolaroo, running out victors by 47-19.
In their final match of the year, The Lakes had leapt to a 17-0 nil lead by half-time halftime and were able to maintain control throughout the match.
To Lake Macquarie’s great credit, the home team finished strongly and was able to cross for three tries in the final periods of the match.
Best players for The Lakes were flanker Seth Olsen, hooker Navitalai Naduguduivalu, centre Lathan Hutchinson-Walters and prop Ben Kaifa.
Lake Macquarie was best served by halfback Matias Furno, prop Nathan Keogh and No.8 Ken Villamu, who crossed for two individual tries.
The points table heading into the final round sees Terrigal and Avoca Beach tied in first spot on 66.
The Razorbacks are on 57, with Warnervale on 47, Gosford on 42, Hornsby and The Lakes on 23, Woy Woy on 7 and Lake Macquarie on 5.
The Women’s 10s competition matches saw victories for Terrigal, The Lakes and Avoca Beach.
In the final round of the competition on Saturday, August 26, Avoca Beach will meet Terrigal at The Haven, Warnervale will host the Razorbacks at Woongarrah Oval, Woy Woy and Hornsby will meet at Woy Woy Oval and Gosford will travel to Boolaroo to take on Lake Macquarie.
In the President’s Cup, Gosford/Kariong will meet The Bay on Friday night, August 25, at Joseph Banks Oval, while on Saturday, August 26, Terrigal and Avoca Beach clash The Haven Oval, and Warnervale will host the Razorbacks at Woongarrah Oval.
In the Central Coast Women’s 10’s competition, Warnervale will host the Razorbacks at Woongarah Oval, Terrigal will meet Avoca Beach in the top of the table clash at The Haven Oval and Woy Woy and Hornsby will meet at Woy Woy Oval.
Source:
Central Coast Rugby