Terrigal defeated Avoca Beach by 23 points in the Premier 1 Minor Semi-final of the Central Coast Rugby Union at Joseph Banks Oval on Saturday, September 5.
In a match that was not decided until the full time whistle, Terrigal were the team to continue onto the Preliminary Final in two weeks’ time. The match opened on a very even footing with both teams having their respective periods of attack and defence.
There were no real inroads made by either team at the start and it was proving quite physical at the breakdown. Play was based around the half way area and neither team, because of some very good defence, was able to go any further into the oppositions’ territory.
There was no scoring in the match until the 16th minute when Avoca Beach crossed for a very good try. Number 8 Peter Steele made a surge and crossed adjacent to the posts. The conversion of this try by five-eight Dylan Hardaker took Avoca Beach to a very handy 7 points to nil lead. Avoca Beach were playing the better rugby from this time for the remainder of the first half. They were doing most of the attacking close to the line and went close to scoring on a couple of occasions.
The ball was dropped once when the line was open. They were not taking their chances. A couple of penalty goal attempts by Avoca Beach were also missed with one hitting the upright. Terrigal did kick a penalty goal to reduce the lead to 7 points to 3, but it was Avoca Beach who jumped further ahead with a try right on halftime.
They did deserve this try, and it was winger Daniel Aguirre-Acevedo who swooped on a loose ball close to the line to score in the corner. Avoca Beach had jumped to a 12 points to 3 lead and that was the halftime score. Avoca Beach was the better team in the first half and things were looking good for them.
They had several very good players, but none was playing better than outside centre Matt Anderson, prop Luke Sheridan, Number 8 Peter Steele and locks Emile Thomas and Elliott Dawkins. The commencement of the second half saw another very even struggle in the opening period.
For 15 minutes both teams gave it their all, with Avoca Beach trying to increase their lead and Terrigal trying to get back into the match. It was Terrigal who were to succeed. Terrigal closed the gap in the 15th minute of the second half when winger Frankie Webber crossed for a try and the conversion of this try by Adam Danckert made the score Avoca Beach 15 Terrigal 10 with over a quarter of the match remaining.
The game was suddenly back on an even keel. Terrigal were now playing the better rugby and things were happening for them. They were getting to the breakdown quicker and they were looking more dangerous in the backs. The second half was certainly a big change from the first half in the flow of the match.
For the last 20 minutes of the game, Terrigal were basically camped in Avoca Beach’s half and were controlling proceedings.
Avoca Beach just could not get out. Terrigal kicked a penalty goal through Adam Danckert and with scores at 15 to 13, the match was extremely tight.
Terrigal continued to attack and were tackled on a couple of occasions close to the line. Terrigal took the lead for the first time in the match in the 34th minute went Adam Danckert kicked his third penalty goal, and Terrigal led by 16 points to 15 with time running out.
Terrigal had several great efforts in the match, especially in the second half. Their best players were five-eight Adam Danckert, flankers Aaron Carrigg and Ryan Metcalfe, fullback Alec Herridge and inside centre Tom Lowe.
The win for Terrigal was cemented right on fulltime when Danckert crossed for an individual try which he converted. Terrigal won by 23 points to 15 in what proved a high standard and exciting game of rugby.
The result sees Avoca Beach bow out and Terrigal continue on in two weeks’ time. Warnervale had a last second win over Terrigal in Premier 2 when they won the Minor Semifinal by 15 points to 14.
The match was a very even tussle from start to finish. Terrigal led by the single point at halftime, by 6 points to 5, while Warnervale were to gain the victory with a single point win at fulltime.
Warnervale won the match when they kicked a field goal after the fulltime hooter, through their fullback Mitch Reilly. Warnervale did score three tries to one, but when Terrigal had kicked a penalty goal with only a few minutes to go, everyone felt Terrigal had got the win.
But it was not to be with the goal after the bell. Warnervale continue on and play in the Preliminary Final in two weeks’ time.
Woy Woy were able to win the President’s Cup Minor Semifinal defeating Terrigal by 20 points to 10. Woy Woy did open the scoring, and maintained that lead for the remainder of the match. They only led by seven points to nil at the break so both teams knew they had their chances in the match.
But it was Woy Woy who scored a further two tries in the second half to secure the win. Terrigal definitely had their chances and were playing the better rugby in the early stages of the second half but were not allowed to score when they had to.
A long range try late in the match to Woy Woy fullback Joel Weeks sealed the match for Woy Woy, and sees them continuing on in the Finals Series.
This match was much closer than scores indicate. In what proved a scrappy game of rugby Gosford defeated Warnervale in the Under 19 Minor Semifinal by 23 points to 0.
Gosford were the better team on the day but the match saw many handling errors and wrong options. Gosford Number 8 Chad Sneyd led the way all day.
Gosford were always in control on the scoreboard and showed they have the ability to go further in this Finals Series.
Media release,
Sep 7, 2015
Larry Thomson, Central
Coast rugby Union