Central Coast Rugby League round seven: results, photos, standouts
There were some almighty defensive efforts, a huge try-scoring haul and an emphatic return to form as the competition was shaken up during round seven of the Central Coast Rugby League.
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One team put in a defensive effort for the ages, another bounced back from its worst performance of the season with a crucial win, while the tries kept flowing for one young gun during round seven of the Central Coast Rugby League competition.
The weekend’s action had significant implications for the run in towards the finals, with a new leader emerging and the top four putting space between themselves and the rest of the competition.
MID-SEASON REVIEW: See how all teams are faring
ROUND SIX: key takeaways and wrap of the action
Catch up on what happened with a wrap of the action and key takeaways with the CCRL Set of Six.
Meanwhile, with our snappers catching some of the action at EDSACC Oval and Duffys Road, take a look at some of the best shots from round seven below.
1) Hawks’ unbeaten run comes to an end
It included a premiership-winning run and stretched back nine games to August last year, but Toukley’s winning streak was broken on the weekend as the Hawks went down to Terrigal 14-12 at Duffys Road Oval.
The Sharks came back from 12-0 down early in the match to claim the win, with two Josh Moffitt penalty goals getting his side over the line in a tight second half.
While it might have come to an end, the run was particularly impressive given the tight nature of the comp.
Highlights undoubtedly included last year’s 20-10 grand final victory over Erina and the nailbiting 19-18 extra time victory over Wyong in the preliminary final the weekend before.
Meanwhile, bruising back-to-back-to-back wins against the Roos, Eagles and Tigers in the first three rounds of this year’s competition were hugely impressive and have helped set the side up to try and repeat their premiership efforts.
The Hawks’ defence has largely laid the platform for their success. During their unbeaten run Toukley scored 219 points in nine games, at an average at just over 24 per match, while they conceded just 110, at an average of just over 12 per game.
Unsurprisingly the Hawks are the best defensive team in the competition so far this year, conceding just 78 points across the first seven games.
2) Sharks back to defensive best
It took an almighty defensive effort to knock the Hawks off, with Terrigal captain-coach Dylan McKeown saying that the performance from his side was “one of the best defensive efforts I’ve ever been involved with”.
Down 12-0 early before clawing their way back into the game, the Sharks edged ahead in the second half through a Josh Moffitt penalty goal before they were forced to hold back Toukley’s late onslaught.
“We defended a lot on our line and turned them away multiple times. It was a nailbiter but it was a great game,” said McKeown.
Behind Toukley, Terrigal has been the second-best defensive team in the competition this year, conceding just 106 points in its first seven games.
And while the team let in 40 against Erina a fortnight ago, improved performances against Woy Woy (42-6) and the Hawks have seen Terrigal get back to their defensive best.
“I don’t think the scoreline (against Erina) was a great indication of the game and we knew that, so we didn’t dwell on it too much and just looked to the next week,” said McKeown.
“Then obviously that big win against Woy Woy was really good to put on some points and everyone just got some confidence from that, which helped this week against Toukley.
“It was low scoring, but that’s always the way with Toukley – it’s a tough grind.”
3) Try-scoring gun bags four
From rock solid defence to blistering attack, and Erina winger Riley Burke is the competition’s top try scorer after crossing for four tries over the weekend in the team’s 48-18 victory over Berkeley Vale.
The haul takes Burke to the top of the first grade try scoring charts with nine, a whopping four ahead of Woy Woy pair Wade Hannell and Ashton Carroll on five.
It has been quite the rise for the Central Coast Roosters junior rep player, who only made his first grade debut against in Toukley in the grand final rematch in round two.
After bagging a double against Woy Woy in round three, Burke scored one against The Entrance and another two against Terrigal, before the weekend’s four-try haul against the Panthers.
It is perhaps no surprise to see an Erina player at the top of the try scoring list, with the Eagles amassing 234 points so far this season to be the best attacking team by far, with goalkicking centre Finn Douch the competition’s leading point scorer with 72.
4) Patience pays off for the Tigers
The Entrance maintained third spot on the ladder with a come-from-behind 30-16 victory over Kincumber at EDSACC Oval.
And while they scored five converted tries, it was perhaps the Tigers’ patience and discipline that was most impressive in the win.
The Colts started brightly and led 16-12 at half time thanks to two converted tries to Brayden Spencer and Kyle Lang, and two penalty goals from Josh Starling.
However the Tigers fought back in the second half, scoring three converted tries to run out 14-point winners.
The Entrance’s coach Kyle Whiteford was pleased with the second half reaction from his troops, and was particularly impressed by the side’s composure as they sought to regain the lead.
While they have been competitive in all of their games so far this year, the Tigers have at times made life difficult for themselves through a series of handling errors and penalties, which have often been made in quick succession.
Forwards Jerry Ratabua and Troy Adams were strong in the middle against Kincumber, fullback Aaron Hill performed well, while young half Haydan Ritchie continued his good form since joining the club with another impressive display.
The half has added another dimension to the Tigers’ attack since finishing up with the Roosters SG Ball Cup team in the NSWRL junior reps.
As for Kincumber, while they might not have come away with the win, the performance was another step in the right direction for Brad Bennett’s young side, whose enthusiasm cause The Entrance plenty of troubles in the first half.
5) Woy Woy bouncing back
It was a happy drive back to the peninsula on Sunday afternoon for Woy Woy’s players and fans after the Roosters defeated Wyong 24-14 at Morry Breen Oval.
The win was just the Roosters’ second of the season and moves them up to four competition points.
While they have played some excellent attacking football over the first seven rounds, scoring the second-most points in the competition, the Roosters have struggled to close out games, losing four matches by eight points or less.
The win, which was arguably the team’s best result of the season, came on the back of their worst, with Woy Woy well beaten 42-6 by Terrigal in the wet weather round last weekend.
6) The ladder takes shape
While there wasn’t too much movement in positions, the weekend’s results certainly had serious implications for the competition ladder as teams start to look towards the finals.
In the only change to positions, Erina switched places with Toukley and now sit first on points difference after their victory over Berkeley Vale took them to 12 competition points, equal with the Hawks.
The Entrance’s win over Kincumber and Terrigal’s tough victory sees both sides remain third and fourth, respectively, on nine points.
However Wyong’s loss to Woy Woy has seen the Roos slip three points behind the semi final spots. They remain on six points, the Roosters move up to four, while Kincumber and Berkeley Vale stay in seventh and eighth position on two points.
Round seven wrap
The longest winning streak in the competition has come to an end, a couple of upsets have shaken up the race for finals positions, while a new ladder leader has emerged during round seven of the Central Coast Rugby League competition.
After picking up a win last weekend during the wet weather round, Terrigal hosted competition leaders Toukley in the match of the round.
Elsewhere, high-flying Erina met Berkeley Vale, The Entrance hosted Kincumber while Wyong faced off with Woy Woy as the Roos looked to keep in touch with the top four.
Sharks end Hawks’ unbeaten run
Some desperate goal line defence and a couple of second half penalty goals have helped Terrigal hand Toukley its first defeat of the season as the Sharks prevailed 14-12 in a nailbiting contest at Duffys Road Oval.
The Sharks came from two tries down defeat the defending premiers, with Terrigal captain-coach Dylan McKeown crediting his side’s excellent second half defence with getting them over the line.
“It was a big win. It was obviously a tough game but we just defended so well,” he said.
“We knew if we stuck to our game plan that we’d definitely match them. Going 12-0 down early isn’t ideal, but it was literally two little lapses in defence. But we didn’t let them score again, which was unreal, to be honest. One of the best defensive efforts I’ve ever been involved with.”
Coming into the game on a nine-match winning streak that stretched back to August last year and in outright first on the competition ladder, the Hawks got off to an ideal start, racing out to an early 12-0 lead thanks to tries to Kiran Page and Kallin Adams.
However the home team hit back midway through the half when five-eighth Josh Moffitt pounced on a loose Toukley pass to run the length of the field to score.
The Sharks then closed the lead to two when hooker Jadyn Field snuck over from dummy half to leave the scores at 12-10 in favour of Toukley at half time.
The second half was a battle of attrition with neither sides crossing the stripe. Moffitt levelled the scores at 12-all midway through the half after Terrigal was awarded a penalty, while he slotted another penalty later in the match to give his side a slender two-point lead.
And despite Toukley throwing everything at Terrigal, the Sharks held on for their fourth win of the season, with the skipper named man of the match for his excellent performance in the middle.
“We defended a lot on our line and turned them away multiple times. It was a nailbiter but it was a great game,” said McKeown, who noted that points were hard to come by with two strong defensive sides playing against each other.
“It was scrappy, but you take those wins, it doesn’t matter how you get the points. Toukley are great defensively so you just take points how you can get them, that’s why we took the penalties when they were on offer.”
The victory lifts Terrigal to nine points, equal with third-placed The Entrance and three points behind joint competition leaders Erina and Toukley.
“Everyone knew going into the game that they were undefeated and that it would be a good challenge, so we were coming in keen and to knock them off was really good,” he said. “The boys have had a couple of good wins in a row, so hopefully we can keep building towards the back end of the season.”
Terrigal-Wamberal 14 def Toukley 12
Eagles flying high after win over Panthers
Erina has jumped to the top of the table following a convincing 48-18 victory over Berkeley Vale at Ted Doyle Oval.
Winger Riley Burke bagged four while backrower Jackson Pennell scored a double in the nine-tries-to-three victory.
On a four-match winning streak themselves, the Eagles came out of the blocks flying with three tries inside the first 15 minutes.
And while Berkeley Vale hit back with two of their own either side of half time to narrow the gap, Erina crossed for another five tries in the second half to cap off the emphatic win.
With Toukley’s loss at Terrigal, the victory takes the Eagles into first place on the ladder, equal with the Hawks on 12 points but ahead on goal difference.
Indeed, the win continues the Eagles’ excellent attacking run, with the team scoring 234 points so far this season, an average of 33.4 per game, to be by far the best offensive team in the competition.
Erina 48 def Berkeley Vale 18
Tigers outgun Colts
The Entrance has maintained its spot in the top four after a 30-16 victory over Kincumber at EDSACC Oval.
Winger Ryan McDonald bagged a double while Jake Slee kicked a perfect five from five with the boot as the Tigers outgunned the Colts five tries to two.
The home side started well with hooker Chase Partridge crossing early in the match to give his team a 6-0 lead.
However the Colts, who have improved in recent weeks following their round five victory over Woy Woy, hit back with two quickfire tries to Brayden Spencer and Kyle Lang to lead 12-6 midway through the first half.
The Tigers had an answer of their own though, with Aaron Hill crossing after 28 minutes, however two Josh Starling penalties ensured that Kincumber led 16-12.
While the first half was a tight affair, the Tigers took control in the second, with a try to McDonald just after the break putting the side ahead once again.
Troy Adams then extended the lead and made the scores 24-12 with a four-pointer on 51 minutes, while McDonald’s second late in the game sealed the 30-16 victory.
The win ensures that The Entrance remains in third position on nine points, three behind leaders Erina and Toukley, and equal on points with Terrigal.
Meanwhile the Colts remain seventh, with a record of one win and six losses.
The Entrance 30 def Kincumber 16
Roosters round up the Roos
Woy Woy has bounced back from a disappointing last-start loss to defeat Wyong 24-14 at Morry Breen Oval.
Winger Ashton Carroll crossed for a double in the 10-point win, which was just the club’s second so far this season.
Despite being highly competitive in five of their previous six games, losing by margins of two, six, six and eight, the Roosters had only one win to show for some of the impressive attacking football played throughout the season.
This frustration turned to concern when they were comprehensively beaten 42-6 by Terrigal last week in the wet weather round.
However the victory moves Woy Woy up to four points on the ladder, just two behind fifth-placed Wyong.
As for the Roos, the loss sees them slip a little further behind in the race for the semi finals, with both The Entrance and Terrigal winning over the weekend to move up to nine points.
Woy Woy 24 def Wyong 14
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