The general consensus amongst football fans as they streamed out of Sohier Park last Saturday afternoon was that, despite having suffered a third successive defeat to start the new season, the Gosford Kariong Storm are fast approaching their first Open Grade victory in over half a decade.
A tremendous battle had just ensued between age old rivals Gosford and Ourimbah, a game in which the Magpies snuck away with the competition points via a last gasp try and a 24-18 win over the luckless Storm.
The exciting Easter Saturday clash delivered more twists and turns than the Narara Creek; the game entering its final 10 minutes with both sides striving to break an 18 all deadlock.
Gosford had led 12-4 midway through the first half following tries to Jamie Probert and Billy James, before Ourimbah rallied to nudge themselves ahead 14-12.
A determined, burrowing try scored by Man of the Match, Jordan Groom, saw the Storm retake the lead, and with Brendan Eathers angled conversion raising the flags, hopes were high that a famous victory was in the offing.
Ourimbah however, had other ideas and the black and whites managed to level it all at 18 all with a dozen minutes remaining on the clock.
Both sides had their chances during the game’s frenetic final moments before Magpies prop, Ben Starkey, broke Gosford hearts by barging over for the match winning try against his former club.
A casualty of the narrow loss for Gosford was their captain, Max Russell, who will be forced to miss this Sunday’s clash with Kincumber, having suffered a leg injury during the see sawing second half at Sohier Park.
The Storm will be looking to build on their gutsy effort against Ourimbah when they take on the Colts at Berkeley Vale Oval on Sunday, April 23.
Source:
Media release,
Apr 16, 2017
Andrew Stark, Gosford and Kariong Storm RLFC
Photos: Andrew Stark