Storm prop Max Russell on a hair raising charge for the Gosford Kariong Open Grade
Photos: Andrew Stark
The Gosford Kariong U16s rugby league team maintained their undefeated record with a hard fought 26-10 win over the Budgewoi Buff Point Bulldogs at Halekulani Oval.
It was the Gosford Kariong Storm’s sixth win of the season and followed on from their 22 all draw against the second placed Bears of St Edwards in the previous round; a game that ebbed and fl owed to the last play. The Storm’s U13s have opened up a four point lead at the top of their competition ladder despite having suffered the misfortune to lose popular play maker Ben Oliver to a fractured arm.
Ben’s off field accident forced Coach Nathan Linsley to slightly tinker with his successful Storm line up for their follow-up fixture at Narara; his charges notching an abridged 6-0 win over Kincumber in a game that concluded mid-way through the opening half. The result has subsequently become the subject of an official protest lodged by the Colts, who reasonably claim that as less than half of the game was actually completed, then the two competition points should be shared.
Sadly the contest was cut short when Colt’s forward Mickey Stapleton fell awkwardly in a tackle and like Ben Oliver before him, also suffered a broken limb; on this occasion it was the tibia and the fibula that were fractured as well as a dislocation of the ankle. Up until his injury, Mickey had been playing strongly in what was his 97th game for the Kincumber club.
In the Senior Division, a miserable first day of winter was had by the battling Gosford Kariong Open Grade team who ran into a committed squad of Entrance Tigers. The Storm fell 60-0 to the seventh placed Tigers, conceding eleven tries at Bateau Bay’s EDSAAC Oval. Congratulations go out to Storm players Hayden Green and Josh Pine on their selection in a talented Central Coast Centurions U15s Development Squad.
Media release, 6 Jun 2014
Andrew Stark,
East Gosford