Rugby League Central Coast: Wrap, results, standouts from rescheduled round six

The defending premiers have bounced back from their last-start loss in brutal fashion by piling on the biggest margin possible in the RLCC.

Woy Woy chalked up its third straight win during the rescheduled round six. Picture: Julian Andrews

One of the competition’s big guns returned to their form of old in a top-four clash while another kept its hopes of playing finals footy alive in an entertaining clash during the rescheduled round six of the RLCC.

Check out a wrap of the action below.

TOUKLEY TURNS TABLES ON KINCUMBER

Kiran Page scored the decisive try as Toukley defeated Kincumber. Picture: Michael Gorton

Toukley has put together one of its most impressive wins of the season and in the process ended Kincumber’s six-match unbeaten run after coming from behind to defeat the Colts 26-20 at Darren Kennedy Oval.

After trailing early the Hawks ground their way back into the game before running over the top of their opponents in the second half to leapfrog them into third spot on the ladder.

“It was a very tough win,” said captain-coach Jake Fitzpatrick.

“The first 15 minutes didn’t really go the way we wanted it to: we had to do a lot of defence, a couple of penalties, mistakes – they got out to 12-0.

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“But credit to the way the guys stayed resilient and tough and fought back into the contest. At halftime I was pretty happy with where we were at that point, getting back into the game. Then I feel we kind of dictated the whole second half, which was great.”

The skipper was particularly pleased with the way his team went about getting back into the contest, noting that the performance felt like a return to the Toukley of old.

“We just stayed in the contest, we kicked pretty well, we defended really well and held the footy and completed, which is no secret. It’s the backbone of our identity,” Fitzpatrick said.

“All the sides know what’s coming when they play us. As long as we’re doing those things correctly I feel like we can run over the top of teams.”

Kyle Lang helped get Kincumber off to a strong start. Picture: Julian Andrews

In a highly anticipated round four clash, it was Kincumber who started the brighter and took a 12-point lead early on thanks to tries to outside backs Jesse Abbott and Kyle Lang.

Toukley started to wrest back some momentum and was rewarded with a try to the skipper to make it 12-4 at halftime.

The Hawks then carried this momentum into the second half, with early tries to Scott Fitzpatrick and Josh Veacock giving them a 16-12 lead.

David Fifita crossed to regain the lead for Kincumber before Toukley fullback Kiran Page hit back almost right away to once again edge ahead, before the teams traded penalty goals in the final stages.

The victory follows Toukley’s very impressive 28-0 win over Wyong last weekend and reverses the 10-point loss at the hands of the Colts a fortnight ago, a game in which Fitzpatrick was disappointed in his team’s performance.

“It’s funny, you can be not that bad and lose a game, but when the commitment level is where it needs to be, those little areas that you haven’t been performing in change automatically – just through commitment, nothing else,” he said.

“That’s the level we’ve gone to in the last fortnight, which is pleasing.”

The win sees Toukley jump above their opponents into third spot on the ladder, while Colts are one point further behind in fourth, although they do have a game in hand.

Toukley 26 (J Fitzpatrick, S Fitzpatrick, Veacock, Page tries; J Fitzpatrick 5 goals) defeated Kincumber 20 (Abbott, Lang, Fifita tries; Moylan 4 goals)

ERINA PILES ON THE POINTS

Erina racked up a big win against Terrigal. Picture: Sue Graham

Erina has bounced back from its first loss of the season in brutal fashion, reaching the mercy rule differential limit in the 66-6 thrashing of Terrigal at Erina Oval.

Centre Mitchell Deegan claimed a hat-trick while Tim Fitzpatrick and Toby Elliott scored doubles as the Eagles ran in 13 tries to one before reaching the maximum 60-point margin allowed under the rules with 11 minutes still on the clock.

And while the teams continued to play until full-time and Erina scored another couple of tries, they were not added to the total as the team was awarded a 60-point victory.

“It wasn’t panic stations after last week, we know how poor we played against an opposition that was certainly up for it,” said Erina coach Dane Allen about last weekend’s 12-6 loss to The Entrance.

“It gave us a bit of a wake-up call about what our identity is as a team, and getting back to that was going to be important.

“We talk about staying composed in situations and we certainly didn’t do that last week, whereas this week, I know we were playing against a different opposition, but we got back to those foundational principles of the team and I think it was really positive to see.”

In particular, the return of key players Dan Peters, who was outstanding in the back-row, and halfback Cameron Davies gave the side a huge boost as it clicked into gear.

“To get back to just taking ownership of our own individual roles in the footy side was something that we spoke about and all players got that directive and executed it well. I was really pleased with that,” said Allen.

Mitchell Deegan scored a hat-trick for the Eagles. Picture: Supplied

“We had some guys come back from injury who really played integral parts of just changing the dynamic of our footy side.

“These guys just had to come in and worry about their role and they played a good brand of footy that suited what we needed. We have certainly missed them over the last month so it was good to get them back.”

In an early sign of things to come, the Eagles came firing out of the blocks as tries to Deegan, Fitzpatrick and Zade Besley got the side off to a flying start.

And while Jarrod Dann pulled one back for Terrigal to make to 14-6 midway through the first half, that was as close as the visitors got as four-pointers to Peters, Finn Douch and another to Deegan gave Erina a 28-6 lead at the break.

The rout continued in the second half as the Eagles flexed their muscles and piled on try after try, surpassing the maximum points limit with 11 minutes on the clock.

The victory, combined with Kincumber’s loss, extends Erina’s lead at the top of the table to five points with five rounds of the regular season remaining.

Meanwhile it was a difficult afternoon for the Sharks, who remain in eighth place.

Erina 66 (Deegan 3, Fitzpatrick 2, Elliott 2, Besley, Peters, Douch, Maljevac, Elton, Tubridy tries; Douch 6 goals, Fitzpatrick 1 goal) defeated Terrigal 6 (Dann try; Webber 1 goal)

FINAL PLAY SEALS HIGH-SCORING CLASH

Lima Teaupa was outstanding for the Roosters. Picture: Sue Graham

Woy Woy has kept its hopes of playing finals football alive after defeating Ourimbah 40-28 in a seesawing clash at Bill Sohier Park.

After leading early, the Roosters were forced to come from behind in the second half, with a hat-trick to big backrower Lima Teaupa and a rather spectacular and fortuitous try at the death by outside back Ashton Carroll eventually getting the side home.

“It was a bit stressful at times. We were up early but then that 10-minute period before halftime we really took our foot off the pedal,” said Woy Woy coach Blake McLean.

“I’m proud of them because we were short again and we had people playing out of position.”

In what has been the story of the year for Woy Woy, the team suffered another couple of injuries, with fullback Hemi Knebel coming from the field and outside Cameron Moran going off with a groin injury to once again leave the side short on numbers.

“We only went in with 15 fresh players and had a couple from reserve grade. We were left with one sub again, which wasn’t ideal. We had front-rowers and middle forwards playing in the centres and on the wing. But we got the two points and I’m happy with that.”

He added: “The boys definitely dug deep. Wounded as we are and short on numbers, it was a good effort.”

After going ahead 8-0 early on and the leading 12-6 midway through the first half, Woy Woy found itself trailing 22-12 at halftime following a late three-try burst from Ourimbah.

James Maloney was excellent for the Magpies. Picture: Sue Graham

However the Roosters regrouped during the break and retook the lead with three unanswered tries of their own to outscore the Magpies seven tries to five.

The coach praised the efforts of hooker Chris Hyde and forward Jayden Horo, who put in an 80-minute performance in various different positions, while backrower Teaupa was outstanding throughout the game, highlighted by an brilliant piece of skill to complete his hat-trick.

“On the run, he literally caught the ball behind his back, held it behind his back and somehow beat defenders and scored,” said McLean.

“He’s a great footballer, Lima. He’s definitely got a lot more skill and ability than this comp, he should be playing at a higher level. But lucky for us he’s here. I’d hate to be playing against him, that’s for sure.”

While the Roosters did finish 12-point winners, the result was only sealed at the death with a rather dramatic try.

Trailing by just six, Ourimbah was on the attack and pushing hard to level things up.

James Maloney put in a dangerous chip over the defensive line that also drew out Woy Woy fullback Ashton Carroll. The well-weighted kick bounced in front of the oncoming fullback but then hit him on the chest before shooting forward 10m.

Ashton Carroll pulled off a stunning try to seal the match. Picture: Nick Friend

Fortunately for the Roosters, Carroll’s momentum meant that he caught the ball before it bounced and ran 70m to score under the sticks and put the game to bed.

“My head was spinning then,” said McLean. “When I saw him chip it, it could have gone anywhere. But luckily it fell into his arms and off he went.”

Despite the slice of luck at the end, McLean felt his team certainly deserved the two points.

“I did think we were the better team for the 80 minutes but just lapses in key parts of the game let them back in,” he said.

“But Ourimbah played some good footy, they’re a decent team. They’ve got some big bodies, they’ve got some good players in their team – they’ll be a problem for anyone they’ll play at the back end of the season.”

The win, Woy Woy’s third in a row, keeps the side’s outside chances of playing finals footy alive, with the team sitting five points behind fourth-placed Kincumber.

Woy Woy 40 (Teaupa 3, Williams, Hannell, Hardman, Carroll tries; Piepers 6 goals) defeated Ourimbah 28 (Vaenuku 2, Bell, McDonald, Maloney tries; Bissaker 4 goals)

TIGERS SHUT OUT BERKA

The Entrance has moved into second on the ladder. Picture: Julian Andrews

The Entrance has jumped up into in second place on the ladder with a comfortable 36-0 win over Berkeley Vale at Ted Doyle Oval.

The Tigers had six different tryscorers as they backed up last weekend’s excellent victory over Erina with a complete shut-out of the Panthers to record the side’s third straight win.

Looking to stay ahead of the pack in the tight race for the top four, the visitors got off to a flying start as early tries to Harrison Mulligan and Adam McInnes put them ahead 12-0.

Another to Ryan McDonald increased the lead while Grant Nelson also crossed to give the Tigers a 24-0 lead at the break.

And while the second half was less explosive, tries to Troy Adams and Haydn Ritchie capped off another strong win for the side.

With that, The Entrance goes ahead of Kincumber into second place on the ladder, equal on points with Toukley but with a game in hand.

The Entrance 36 (Mulligan, McInnes, McDonald, Nelson, Adams, Ritchie tries; Mulligan 6 goals) defeated Berkeley Vale 0