The final round in Central Coast Rugby Union (CCRU) has ended with all four matches ending as most people had predicted, leaving the Final Five rankings unchanged.
At The Haven oval, the Terrigal Trojans proved too strong for The Lakes, winning the match 38 points to 24.
Terrigal got away to a great start surging to a 12 point leads with two early tries.
The Lakes hit back however and levelled the scores at 12-all and, with another try apiece before halftime, The Lakes went in with a slender 19-17 lead.
But that’s where it ended as Terrigal dominated the second stanza scoring a further 21 points to 5. Best players for Terrigal were centre Brent Merritt, flanker Aaron Carrigg and five-eight Adam Danckert while The Lakes were best served by centre Ashton Hutchinson-Walters and lock Reihana Hemopo.
The win to Terrigal cements their Minor Premiership and will see them retain the Challenge Shield.
They will now have next week off, while The Lakes will meet the Ourimbah Razorbacks in the elimination Minor Semi-final at Woy Woy Oval.
The Avoca Beach Sharks won a tight struggle against Hornsby at Heazlett Park, running out winners by 35 points to 27.
The match was an arm wrestle throughout with neither team able to take a complete break on the scoreboard at any time in the match.
The first half went point for point for the full 40 minutes, with Avoca Beach going in at 18-17 and it was anybody’s match at that stage.
In the second half, the Sharks were able to hold on to the lead and eventually secure second spot on the ladder.
Best players for Avoca Beach were centre Alex Halls, hooker Cooper Elliott, lock Emile Thomas and No.8 Fionn Henderson-Foley.
Hornsby were best served by five-eight Hunter Bird, winger James O’Connor and No.8 Cooper Davenport.
Avoca Beach will now play third place Kariong in the qualifying semi-final after Kariongput away Warnervale 52 points to 17.
Kariong dominated the first 40 minutes piling on 35 points before the break and a further 17 points in the second half.
Best players for Kariong were fullback Jake Hubbard, who scored 2 tries, flanker Ryan Conaghan and five-eight Josh McGlynn.
Warnervale’s best players were props Veipueki Siale and Nick Jansen, and flanker Ricky Halangahu.
In the final match of the round, Gosford were no match for Ourimbah at Gosford Showground, losing 5-35 to the visitors.
It was a convincing win by the Razorbacks, with strong performances from flanker Lochlan Stuhne-Scott, prop Steven Finley and saw them retain the Thomson-Brown Shield.
It also holds them in good stead going into the elimination match against The Lakes.
Source:
Match Report, 28 August
Larry Thomson, CCRU President