Wild winds down south coast lead to thrilling footy action and freak tries: Group 7 Round 13 talking points
Wild windy conditions down the south coast of NSW led to some chaotic and thrilling local footy action in round 13 of Group 7. Check out the full round wrap and big talking points.
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A wild and windy round of local footy action in Group 7 led to some exciting action.
There were some interesting results and some wonderful solo tries that stole the headlines this week.
We’ve put together seven of the big talking points to come from the round, as finals begin to show themselves on the horizon.
Check out the talking points and read on to see the full round wrap.
Wind leads to errors galore
Mother nature was the 11th team competing in Group 7 this week, with wild winds leading to errors and kicking difficulties for all teams across the competition.
On more than one occasion the wind would catch teams off from the first kick off of the match, namely Hamish Holland of Gerringong and Nathan Gallastegui of Jamberoo unable to gather the opening kicks, leading to their opposition scoring from the next sets.
Warilla-Lake South Gorillas were another victim, with a towering Stingrays bomb getting completely lost in the wind and allowing Ben Weatherall to regain the footy and score easily.
Conversions were also a mission impossible for some sides, with the Shellharbour Sharks going just one from six, Kiama Knights one from four and Gerringong Lions two from five.
Stone stars in highlight reel despite loss
Speaking of great tries from a losing team, Jamberoo’s Kyle Stone picked up both his side’s tries in their loss to the Shellharbour Sharks, showing off some of his skills in the process.
His first try was a showcase of strength, sending Shellharbour’s Brody Rigg flying backwards in a big collision before muscling his way through some more attempted tackles on his way to the line.
His second try he showed great positional play and line running as he was sent through the Shellharbour line by Jayden Morgan, showing a good turn of pace as well on his way to score his second.
Angelic try a highlight for Kiama
While the Kiama Knights were unable to get the better of local rivals Gerringong Lions, Thomas Angel scored an absolute peach of a try.
A stellar individual effort from the interchange forward, regaining a Gerringong drop out and running the ball himself, smashing through five attempted tackles with great running strength and fending, crashing over to score in the corner.
Rumble Walsh does it all himself
Despite Thomas Angel’s efforts, the try of the round might be the long range effort from Nowra Bomaderry Jets’ Braydon Rumble Walsh.
Turning defence into attack with ease, Rumble Walsh cleaned up an attacking grubber kick from Kane Ball and wove his way right back through the staggered Eagles defensive line, breaking into the clear and running the length of the park.
That was his first of two on the afternoon for the Jets, bringing his season total to eight.
Tight at the top
It could hardly be closer at the top of the Group 7 ladder with both the Stingrays and Lions picking up victories.
Incredibly, after 13 rounds played the teams are locked on 20 points with just three points difference separating the Stingrays on top.
The Lions face a massive test next week against the Shellharbour Sharks who have won their last seven games on the trot, so no doubt that will be the match of the round.
Young gun Treweek shows his class
Young gun Jarrah Treweek had some moments of magic for the Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs as his side returned to winning ways.
The young gun who was promoted from U18s this season was in the thick of the action, providing a beautiful inside pass to Luke Millard for his try, while also setting up Zane Gallagher for his opener.
Treweek also added his name to the scoresheet in the second half, charging through a pocket of space off a nice ball from Sam Stewart.
Bulldogs centres back among the tries
Standing out for the Bulldogs as well in their victory were their powerhouse centres Zane Gallagher and Mitch Simington.
Simington has had a quiet couple of weeks after his highlight reel tries earlier in the season, but returned to the scoresheet this week after combining nicely with his winger Dwayne Longbottom down the right touchline.
Gallagher showed great strength and agility after being released down the left flank by Jarrah Treweek, fending off the attempted challenge of Liam Conlon with ease before stepping the fullback Max Jennings for a beautiful solo try.
Full round 13 wrap
Wild winds wreaked havoc down the south coast of NSW for round 13 of Group 7 rugby league action.
It was NAIDOC Round across the league, meaning teams were sporting unique jerseys featuring designs from local Indigenous artists that partnered with clubs and represented their regions.
And while teams were looking terrific visually, there was some terrific footy action to compliment them, with five exciting matches leading to plenty of exciting results.
Check out the full round wrap.
Lions triumph in local derby
The Gerringong Lions did enough to remain at the top of the Group 7 ladder by defeating the Kiama Knights 24-18 in a thrilling local derby.
The windy conditions were still playing a role at the scenic Kiama Showground, as Gerringong’s Hamish Holland spilt the opening kick-off of the game over the touchline, allowing Kiama halfback Thomas Atkins to open the scoring on the next set within the opening minute.
Gerringong would click in to gear from here by attacking down their left, first through Liam Holland finishing in the corner after a freakish Jack Walsh assist through his legs, before shortly after Walsh went in to snag one himself to put the Lions ahead.
No side was allowing the other to get away with this one though, as Kiama would get over the line for the next two tries, first a spreading move finished by Matt Laughton in the corner, followed up by a burst over from close range from Braith Crane.
Gerringong would again return serve though through Jack Quine, running a great line off a short ball from Rixon Russell to charge through a pocket of space in the Kiama line.
Kiama’s Thomas Angel saw that effort and chose to better it, producing one of the best tries from a forward of the season, returning a Gerringong line dropout by charging his way down the right flank, breaking through a whopping five attempted tackles and finishing in the corner for an unreal solo try.
This would be Kiama’s last hurrah though, as Liam Holland would catch the Knights defence napping by pouncing over on the short side to score his second from dummy half, followed up by Jack Quine charging through a tired Knights defence for his sixth try of the season, sending the points the way of the Lions.
Jets soar over Eagles
The Nowra-Bomaderry Jets have snapped a three-game losing streak with a crucial 42-16 victory over the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles.
Another wildly windy game despite further down the coast at Bomaderry Sporting Complex, the match was anybody’s for the taking in the first half.
In fact, the Eagles led at the break thanks to two first half tries from Jye Ellis and one from Jack Walsh, matching the three first half tries of the Jets that was headlined by a 100m effort from Braydon Rumble Walsh, turning defence in attack after diffusing an attacking grubber and running the length of the field untouched to score.
The second half though was completely in favour of the Jets, flexing their muscles with five unanswered tries as they look to regain their form in the second half of the year.
The back row was getting in on the action with some great supporting runs, first Zachary Kershaw capitalising on a defensive error from the Eagles, followed up by Thomas Latta running a great line down the left.
Then it was time for the wingers to add the extras, first through Rumble Walsh finding himself unmarked on the right after a beautiful Clyde Parsons kick, followed up by two Beau Luland tries on the opposite flank.
Stingrays pile on pain against Gorillas
The Stingrays of Shellharbour kept the ball rolling with a 22-10 win over the luckless Warilla-Lake South Gorillas.
Not the highest scoring affair, but a relatively comfortable win for the Stingrays who are joint at the top of the Group 7 ladder with the Gerringong Lions.
That’s two on the trot for the Stingrays who remain in fine form despite losing to Gerringong three weeks ago, while it’s back to back losses for the Gorillas who are still yet to stamp their mark on the competition in 2023.
The Stingrays put on all four of their tries unanswered to completely blow the game away from the Gorillas.
Elusive hooker Colby Smith opened the scoring for the home side early on, supporting Zaan Weatherall who had regained a neat chip kick from Jake Horton.
Captain coach Tommy Warner would follow this up with a barging effort of his own, making a b-line for the tryline and keeping the legs pumping to score
The winds were continuing to cause havoc across the grounds, with Warilla the latest victim as the swirling winds caused a defensive error of a towering Stingrays attacking bomb, leading to Ben Weatherall regaining the footy and going in to score.
Lock forward Tonga Tongotongo would add the fourth for the home side, supporting Ben Weatherall who made a great leap and catch to field a cross-field bomb.
Maison Acton and Drew Langdon would pinch a couple of tries for the Gorillas inside the final 10 minutes, but there was no hope for a recovery that late on.
Seventh heaven for Sharks
The Shellharbour Sharks have made it a whopping seven wins in a row with their latest triumph over the Jamberoo Superoos.
The Sharks took a 26-10 victory at Kevin Walsh Oval, with all the tries coming in the first half of the game.
The wind once again worked its chaos as Jamberoo fullback Nathan Gallastegui spilt the first kick-off of the game after it got caught up in the wind, with Eze Harper scoring off the next set to open the scoring for the Sharks.
Gallastegui had another moment to forget shortly after, once again misjudging a kick that allowed Wayde Aitken to go in and score.
Brody Rigg would follow up this effort with his side’s third try, scurrying in directly from dummy half, before coming up with an assist shortly after for Max Wolfson.
Jamberoo’s two tries came through interchange forward Kyle Stone, the first of which he put on a massive hit on Brody Rigg to send him flying on his way to the line.
Jye Brooker and a second to Eze Harper would put the game out of reach in the first half though, with both sides remaining scoreless in the second.
Bulldogs back in winning circle
The Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs snapped their three game winless run with a comprehensive 32-6 win over the Berry Shoalhaven Heads Magpies.
Zane Gallagher opened the scoring for the Bulldogs with an excellent break down the left flank, showing great skill, strength and agility to go all the way to score a solid solo effort.
Rory McCall scored the lone try for the Magpies in the first half, taking them into the sheds just two points behind.
From here though the Bulldogs started to pile on the points, first through Cody Roach who pulled off what is becoming a trademark dummy and run through the line for his seventh try of the year.
Mitch Simington would be next to penetrate the Magpies defence, backing up his winger Dwayne Longbottom after a break down the right flank.
Luke Millard would find his way over after a lovely deft inside ball from second rower Jarrah Treweek, before Treweek added his name to scoresheet himself shortly after to seal a good win for the Bulldogs.
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