The victorious Gosford Kariong U13(2)s who went through the 2014 season without suffering defeat
The Gosford Kariong Rugby League Club marked its 15th anniversary with premiership success over the weekend of September 13 and 14 when the Storm’s U13 (2)s overcame a gallant Wyong to complete an unbeaten season.
The Gosford Kariong Storm’s 22-18 grand final victory over the Wyong Roos at Morry Breen Oval developed into a seesawing contest in which Gosford led early. They trailed 8-6 at the break, retained the advantage early in the second half before finding themselves down by six with a handful of minutes remaining. Two late tries turned an 18-12 deficit into victory for Gosford, however, with talented lock forward John Connolly voted Player of the Match. A late try to Sulivenusi Hakalo, which saw the prop forward charge across field before straightening, pulled the score line back to 18- 16, however, the difficult conversion attempt drifted wide. The Storm remained in arrears on the scoreboard until, with just 90 seconds of the grand final remaining, five eight Ben Oliver executed the winning play; chipping, chasing and miraculously re-gathering the ball to score at the foot of a north western hill that was awash with purple and gold bunting. The Gosford club’s other grand finalists, the U16 (2) s endured a nightmarish opening to their battle with Budgewoi, finding themselves 14-0 behind after as many minutes. In an often scrappy affair, the Storm fought back to level the game up at 20 apiece midway through the second half, however, two late tries to Bulldogs’ centre Ben Stanford edged Budgewoi to a 30-24 victory.
Media release,
15 Sep 2014
Andrew Stark, East
Gosford