Central Coast Rugby League: the major talking points from round three
The premiers continue their charge, a dark horse is quietly going about its business, while one of the Central Coast’s most famous local derbies has returned. CCRL round three talking points.
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The Central Coast Rugby League competition continued over the weekend with round three action.
It was highlighted by a top-of-the-table clash between The Entrance and Toukley at EDSACC Oval. Elsewhere, Wyong and Kincumber met as both sides searched for their first win, Terrigal hosted Berkeley Vale and Woy Woy took on Erina.
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Catch up on a wrap of all the action and major talking points with the CCRL Set of Six.
1) Hawks keep grinding it out
In what is becoming a regular talking point, Toukley has once again shown its resolve and premiership credentials with its third straight victory to kick off season 2023.
The Hawks downed The Entrance 16-12 at EDSACC Oval on Sunday, which came after narrow victories over Erina (18-10) and Wyong (12-4).
While they might have a perfect record, it certainly hasn’t been easy, with the side forced to grind out certain parts of all three matches as their opponents came knocking.
“Off the back of last year, to come up against three leagues club teams and win them all, you couldn’t have asked for a better start,” said a very happy president Phil Gearside.
2) Terrigal quietly going about its business
It might surprise a few, but Toukley aren’t the only undefeated team after round three, with Terrigal also yet to taste defeat this season.
After their round one clash with Woy Woy was washed out, the Sharks have beaten Kincumber (12-10) and Berkeley Vale (14-10) in two very tight encounters.
It has been a strong start from Terrigal results-wise, however they will face a stiff challenge in the form of Wyong at Morry Breen Oval on Sunday.
3) Roos get on the board
Speaking of the Roos, they finally clicked into gear on the weekend with a 54-10 victory over Kincumber.
After first-up losses to competition heavyweights Toukley and The Entrance, the win was Wyong’s first of the season.
Last year’s preliminary finalists had only scored 10 points heading into the match, but broke the shackles by crossing for 10 tries in the convincing round three win.
4) Colts battle Panthers to break their duck
On the other side of the coin, Kincumber and Berkeley Vale are still looking for their first points of the season after opening with three consecutive losses.
It hasn’t necessarily been as bad as it sounds, with both sides coming close to victories over the course of the past few weeks.
Berkeley Vale pushed The Entrance all the way in round one, falling six points short in the 20-14 loss, before narrowly going down 14-10 to the Sharks on the weekend. Meanwhile the Colts also came close in their round two fixture against Terrigal, losing 12-10.
While it might not have been the best start for the clubs, we will see at least one of them get points on the board this weekend as the two clubs face off at Ted Doyle Oval on Sunday afternoon.
5) Woy Woy downs Umina in peninsula derby
On top of the obvious feel-good factor of having players in red and green jerseys back in Central Coast senior footy again, the return of Umina Beach to the open grade competition has also brought back the one of the Coast’s fiercest rivalries – the peninsula derby.
In the first instalment of the derby since 2015, it was the Woy Woy Roosters who scored bragging rights, edging out their locals rivals 16-14 in a tight clash at Woy Woy Oval.
6) Blues tag with match of the round
While there is plenty of good footy on show this weekend, arguably the match of the round for the whole division will be found in the Blues tag competition, with undefeated sides The Entrance and Erina facing off at EDSACC Oval.
Both sides go into the clash having won all three of their previous fixtures, and in a sign of just how evenly matched they appear to be, both the Tigers and Eagles have almost identical records.
The Entrance head into the game having scored 128 points and conceding just four, while Erina have also scored 128 in their first three games, at the cost of just six points against. So, who’s tipping a draw?
Round three wrap
Premiers jump into outright lead
Defending premiers Toukley have moved to outright first in the competition after a come-from-behind victory over The Entrance in a top-of-the-table clash at EDSACC Oval on Sunday.
In a seesawing contest that saw the teams trade tries, Hawks winger Ben Rashid-Neville scored the matchwinner 15 minutes from time to give Toukley a 16-12 victory and extend their record to three wins from three to start the season.
With both teams going into the match unbeaten, Hawks winger Kiran Page got his team off to the perfect start with a try after just three minutes.
But the advantage was short lived, with The Entrance’s Lachlan Bell crossing a couple of minutes later to level scores at 4-all.
Toukley re-established its lead through a try to Jarrod Kessler after 15 minutes and took a 10-4 lead into half-time. However just as they’d done in the first half, the Tigers struck back again, with Matthew Gentles tying things up at 10-all early in the second half.
Five minutes later The Entrance took the lead for the first time in the match through a Josh Kessler penalty goal, which made the scores 12-10.
But as they’ve already done numerous times this season, the Hawks showed their premiership credentials, with Neville’s try 15 minutes from time claiming the tight four-point victory and ensuring that Toukley sit in outright first position on the ladder.
Roos click into gear
In Saturday’s match, Wyong finally clicked into gear with a 54-10 victory over Kincumber in what was the Roos’ first victory of the season.
After Wyong narrowly went down to Toukley in round one and lost out to The Entrance in round two, it was all one-way traffic at Morry Breen Oval as the Roos scored 10 tries to two in the convincing victory.
The win was Wyong’s first of the season, with the team, which was only eliminated in last year’s preliminary final by a golden-point field goal, hoping the victory can kickstart their season.
Meanwhile Kincumber will hope to get off the mark next weekend against Berkeley Vale, who will also be looking for their first win.
Sharks edge out Panthers
Terrigal has kept its unbeaten run going after downing Berkeley Vale 14-10 in a tight contest at Duffys Road.
In what was a classic tale of two halves, the Sharks led 14-0 early in the second half, only for the Panthers to stage a stirring comeback.
Fullback Michael Cheer scored in the 57th minute and winger Kane Williams crossed with eight to go to set up a grandstand finish.
However Terrigal held on to extend its record to two from two, with the washed out round one clash against Woy Woy to be replayed next month.
Meanwhile for the Panthers, the loss was their second near miss of the season after they were defeated 20-14 to The Entrance in round one.
Feathers fly as Erina outguns Woy Woy
Erina has returned to the winner’s circle after outgunning Woy Woy 36-28 in a high-scoring contest to cap off round three.
The Eagles ran in six tries to five as the points flowed at Woy Woy Oval in the entertaining clash.
After last week going down to Toukley 18-10 in a tight one at Darren Kennedy Oval, the Eagles jump up to four points and sit in second place behind the defending premiers.
Meanwhile the loss was the Roosters’ first of the season after downing Berkeley Vale in its only other clash in 2023.
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