Central Coast Rugby Union: Terrigal and Ourimbah clash in round seven thriller

There were big hits and a dramatic finish as two big guns met in a nailbiting top-of-the-table clash in Central Coast Rugby Union.

The Terrigal Trojans and Ourimbah Razorbacks clashed in a thriller in round seven. Picture: Scott Gardiner Photography

Terrigal has prevailed in a battle of the competition heavyweights, edging out the Ourimbah Razorbacks 22-20 in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash at Ourimbah Rugby Park.

Five penalty goals from the boot of Trojans’ flyhalf Jayden Woolley proved decisive as the defending premiers prevailed in the seesawing round seven clash despite only scoring one try to their opponents’ two.

“It was a nice, tense game. It was good to have a really competitive game,” said Terrigal coach Jonathon Bell.

“Two good clubs who love playing against each other, there are also a lot of boys who plays reps together, so they left nothing out there on the field. They really got stuck into each other.”

He added: “Conditions were a little bit slippery out there so it wasn’t free-flowing rugby but it was a good game to be involved in and it went right down to the last minute. And obviously getting a win was good for us.”

Terrigal prevailed in a game that went down to the wire. Picture: Scott Gardiner Photography

Indeed, in what was a clash between the competition’s two previously undefeated sides, the contest went back and forth all game as neither team was able to break away from the other.

“It was just close all game, no one really got away,” said Bell.

“I think the lead was within four points all game. It was really tight, the tension was up the whole game. I’m glad I’m already bald because it was tight. But it was really fun; it’s a shame we can’t do that every week.”

Given the greasy conditions, the Trojans made a conscious effort to bank as many points as they could at any opportunity, with Woolley’s boot – fresh from delivering the Central Coast the Caldwell Cup at the Country Championships – once again on song.

“Both defences didn’t give much up, it was a very physical battle and we just took the points when they were on offer,” said Bell.

“We took the opportunities knowing that it wasn’t going to be a high-scoring game and it paid off.”

And despite there only being three tries and not a great deal of free-flowing rugby on show, the Terrigal coach said the spectators were treated to an excellent spectacle.

“I think those who were there really enjoyed the tension of the game because some low-scoring games can actually be quite entertaining as well.

“Most of it was played in the centre of the field, there wasn’t too much in the 22s, but both teams just gave everything and the boys were pretty buggered at the end of it.”

Given the tight nature of the clash, all eyes will be on the return fixture between two teams very evenly matched both on and off the field.

“The boat race afterwards was even closer than the game. They actually had to go back to the video replays to see who won,” said Bell. “And it’s still up for debate.”

The result has extended Terrigal’s unbeaten start to their title defence to six games and moves the team two points ahead of the Razorbacks at the top of the ladder.

In other round seven fixtures, Avoca Beach recorded an impressive 19-17 win over high-flying Lake Macquarie, Warnervale hammered Gosford-Kariong 52-7 and Woy Woy chalked up its third win of the year with a 31-12 victory over Northlakes/The Bay.