The Gosford Kariong Club won four from four Semi Finals over the weekend of August 30 and 31 as the 2014 Central Coast Junior Rugby League competitions head toward their respective Grand Finals.
The Gosford U10s celebrate Thomas Sumners’ last gasp conversion against Umina
The Storm U10(2)s continued their fairy-tale run through the Finals with an upset 18-6 win over Erina; a team Gosford had lost to on three occasions throughout the year. The win was built upon resolute defence and followed on from their thrilling, come from behind, 18-16 victory in the opening week of the semi-finals over a desperately unlucky Umina Bunnies team played at a muddy Erina Oval. The age old footy adage, “It isn’t over until it’s over”, featured prominently in Greg Eather’s mid game oration against the Peninsula boys as the Storm coach implored his players to remain patient and to play the game right out to the final whistle. As this tense elimination semi-final wound down toward its thrilling conclusion, the coach’s earlier words assumed an eerily predictive tone. Having trailed 0-12 early in the game, the Gosford team fought back gallantly, however found themselves still 12-16 behind with only seconds remaining on the clock. One final charge was made at the Umina line by a determined Dylan Gale; the powerful forward burrowing in under a host of Bunnies to plant the ball upon the barest sliver of try line chalk for a belated, game levelling try. Thomas Sumners then stepped forward to calmly slot the high pressure conversion, enabling Gosford Kariong to prevail in the most dramatic of circumstances. To add greater gravitas to the high drama, Umina were earlier denied two points from a successful second half conversion as it was ruled to have been taken by a player who had already kicked a goal. U10 rules stipulate that goal kicking needs be shared amongst different members of a team. The front running Storm U13(2)s and U16(2)s have advanced directly to Grand Finals day following respective Major Semi Final victories; the unbeaten 13s notched four tries to one in overpowering Wyong 22-4, while the 16s led 18-0 early before edging out a plucky Budgewoi 28-26. The U14(2s) made it a perfect weekend for the Narara based club by overcoming an early 0-4 deficit to finish too strongly for Erina winning 18-4 in the Minor Semi Final. Back rower Logan Campbell continued his fine season by notching important tries either side of halftime to help book his team a spot in the Preliminary Final against Terrigal.
Media release,
30 Aug 2014
Larry Thomson, Central
Coast Rugby Union