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

After a tough start to 2025 there were plenty of smiles as one club broke through for its first win of a new era.

Erina’s outstanding start to the season has continued. Julian Andrews

There were clinical statements, inspirational comebacks and a couple of teams breaking through for their first wins of the season during an action-packed rescheduled round three in the NRRRL.

Check out a wrap of the weekend’s games below.

TERRIGAL BREAKS THROUGH FOR ‘MILESTONE WIN’

Terrigal recorded its first victory of 2025. Picture: Sue Graham

Terrigal has bounced back from a difficult start to 2025 and broken through for its first win of the season – and indeed a new era – after the Sharks defeated Berkeley Vale 20-6 at Sir Joseph Banks Oval in Bateau Bay.

After having scored just six points in their opening three games, the young Sharks were impressive as they ran in four tries to one to chalk up a very special victory.

“It really was something. I’m very proud of them,” said coach Aaron Groom, who noted that the team benefited from taking a simpler approach into the game.

“Over the first few weeks I think we were getting caught up in the moment and obviously that can happen with young guys coming through. It was more of a mental thing, because I wouldn’t play these boys if I didn’t think they were genuine first graders,” he said.

“But this weekend was about stripping it back, getting them to focus on their two or three key tasks as an individual – and just getting that right. It was about being better than that one bloke opposite them for 80 minutes, and that was it.”

After three losses to kick off 2025, the result marks the first victory for Terrigal since the club made the decision in the off-season to overhaul its playing squad and focus strongly on its local juniors coming through the system.

“It was a milestone victory for us, but it’s also not the pinnacle,” said Groom.

“I know what these boys have, I’ve said it to them and I say it publicly everywhere: I will be here until we win a competition, and I know the squad we have is the squad to do it.

Jarrod Dann crossed for a late try to seal the win. Picture: Sue Graham

“So yes, the win meant absolutely everything, but at the same time we go back to work, we recover, go back to camp on Tuesday, train Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and go again next week.”

Following the tough initiation to senior football for a lot of the rookies, which included a 60-0 loss at the hands of Kincumber in round one, the coach said that the win should give his young chargers plenty of confidence moving forward.

“It’ll do everything in terms of confidence for the boys and that means everything for me. I have nine teenagers in my team. My front-row had a combined six games of first grade experience.”

Taking on Berkeley Vale after a three-week break due to the weather, Terrigal started brightly and crossed through Kaidyn Peckham early.

The Sharks had a spring in their step and stretched out to an 8-0 lead thanks to a try to Harrison Govind-Aley.

The team then took a decisive lead when fullback Sam Gillespie scored to make it 14-0.

And while the Panthers pulled one back through Ayden Leyshon, the Sharks weren’t to be denied as hooker Jarrod Dann capped off the win with a four-pointer to deliver his side their first competition points of the season.

Terrigal 20 (Peckham, Govind-Aley, Gillespie, Dann tries; McLean two goals) defeated Berkeley Vale 6 (Leyshon try; Austin one goal)

WOY WOY PREVAILS IN GUTSY COMEBACK

Woy Woy broke through for its first win of the season. Picture: Sue Graham

Woy Woy has overcome widespread injuries, the early loss of its captain and a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat Kincumber 26-22 in a dramatic comeback at MacKillop Oval.

In what was very much a tale of two halves, the Colts raced out to a commanding lead early before the Roosters showed plenty of grit to work their way back into the contest before ultimately surging ahead at the death.

And although Woy Woy scored three tries to one in an impressive second half, it was some sharp goalkicking from Reece Piepers that proved to be crucial as Kincumber actually outscored its opponents five tries to four.

“It was a really good win, a great comeback. The boys fought hard the whole game,” said Woy Woy coach Blake McLean.

“We were already sort of struggling with injuries, second grade only had 14 players and we had 15 fresh, then we lost our captain Luke Moore, who’s an 80-minute middle, in the first set of the game, which was a massive loss for us. We were down 18-6 at halftime, so to come back and win, it was a really tough, gritty effort from the lads.”

Moore’s loss to a pectoral injury was felt heavily in the opening stages as Kincumber dominated the middle and capitalised on its chances.

“We were a bit sloppy in the middle. I think after losing Luke the boys were a bit deflated and Kincumber went on to score in the first set of the game. They were rolling us in the middle,” said McLean.

Kincumber dominated the battle of the forwards in the first half. Picture: Sue Graham

“But we had a chat at halftime, they reflected on what they needed to do better and turned it around in the middle.”

Following Moore’s injury in the first set, Kincumber winger Lewis Radley rubbed salt into the wound by crossing in just the second minute, and while Cameron Moran pulled one back for Woy Woy 12 minutes in, Colts flyer Josh Wourtesz scored midway through the half to give the Colts an 8-6 lead.

Kincumber was well on top and really made it count late in the half as tries to Jack Legge and Wourtesz’s second put the side ahead 18-6 at the break.

It could well have been far worse had the Colts had their kicking boots on, with the team managing to kick just one of its four conversion attempts.

However the Roosters came out of the sheds a different side in the second half and soon drew level on the back of tries to Wade Hannell and Leighton Tali. An injury to Kincumber captain-coach David Fifita gave Woy Woy another boost and the team then remarkably took a 22-18 lead midway through the half when Moran went over for his second.

Luke Moore suffered a serious pectoral injury early in the game. Picture: Sue Graham

While it had been one-way traffic in the second half, Kincumber hit back with Radley’s second to once again level things up.

However Woy Woy maintained the pressure and were rewarded with two late penalty goals to Piepers to break through for its first win of the season following losses to Wyong, Erina and Toukley.

“We’ve been in every game,” said McLean. “That Erina game sort of crept away from us after halftime, but in the other two games against Toukley and Wyong we were winning late in the second half.

“We haven’t been too far off, just penalties and discipline and little things. I knew it would come eventually. We also had a really tough draw to start the season, playing what you could arguably say could be the top four,” he added.

“I’m just really proud of how the boys played. To be short on players and to lose our captain in the first minute, it’s a massive win.”

Woy Woy 26 (Moran 2, Hannell, Tali tries; Piepers five goals) defeated Kincumber 22 (Wourtesz 2, Radley 2, Legge tries; Lang one goal)

CLINICAL ERINA MARCH ON

Erina has continued its outstanding start to the season and extended its record to five wins from five after accounting for Ourimbah 38-0 at Bill Sohier Park.

After taking a 16-0 lead into the break, the Eagles took things up a notch in the second half as they ran in seven tries to nil for yet another comprehensive victory.

“They (Ourimbah) were a pretty fair footy side and turned up with a really good attitude after a long break but we completed high in the second half,” said Erina coach Dane Allen.

“In the first half there were just a couple of loose passes and we were trying to capitalise too early. But we improved the completion rate and the points came off the back of that.

“It was really pleasing because our first half wasn’t bad, but there were a couple of little errors, execution and timing were a bit off, obviously having a bit of a break probably played its part.

Scott Schreiber scored the first of the day for the Eagles. Picture: Julian Andrews

“But in the second half we were much more patient, and it was probably one of the better halves we’ve played all season, which is pleasing after a long break.”

And while the 38 points scored has ensured that the Eagles are streets clear in terms of points scored, the rock-solid defensive effort has meant that the side has remarkably only conceded a miserly 30 points across its first five games.

“We spoke in the pre-season about how we can improve and it was just resounding how many blokes said ‘defence,’” said Allen.

“Our on-line defence is good, we’ve always known that, but it’s that defence around the 20m-40m space where we really have improved and we’re not giving chances to the opposition on our tryline as often.

“Our discipline has also been great and that makes it easy to defend. We’re not turning the ball over constantly, and in terms of discipline I don’t only mean penalties but also our completions. That’s really put us in the right direction. That was a focal point in the pre-season, but it’s one thing to talk about it and another to actually transition into game day and I’m proud of the boys.”

With Erina coming into the game clear at the top of the ladder, prop Scott Schreiber got the premiers off to a strong start with a try four minutes in.

Fellow forward Dan Peters crossed midway through the half before winger Luke Maljevac crossed late on to give the Eagles a 16-0 lead at the break.

The Magpies are still looking for their first win of the season. Picture: Sue Graham

Having taken a strong lead into the sheds, Erina really started to click in the second 40.

Fullback Lincoln Tubridy was outstanding, centre Finn Douch was once again excellent and hooker Zade Besley put in a monster 80-minute shift in the middle as the Eagles really turned it on and crossed for a further four tries to cap off the excellent victory.

The win keeps Erina clear at the top with a record five wins from five, while the Magpies remain on the hunt for their first victory of the season.

Erina 38 (Maljevac 2, Schreiber, Peters, Tubridy, Stevenson, Douch tries; Douch five goals) defeated Ourimbah 0

In the other round three fixture, Wyong earned bragging rights with a 16-8 win over local rivals Toukley.