The Central Coast Rugby Semis thread

[dibo (pron. "DIB-OH")]

you *do* know this is a forum for football (as in 'association football' rather than 'rugby football') , right?

[theman]

RUGBY PREVIEW

16th SEPTEMBER, 2006

GRAND FINAL

Central Coast Stadium

The Grand Final between Gosford and Avoca Beach should be a classic. Many rugby pundits felt it was going to be a Terrigal v. Avoca Beach Grand Final but Gosford turned the tables on Terrigal last week and will take on the undefeated Avoca Beach on Saturday at Central Coast Stadium.
Avoca Beach and Gosford have won the last two Grand Finals with Avoca Beach having not lost a game on the Central Coast since the Grand Final in 2004. They have a wonderful record but Gosford is one side that can put that undefeated record to the test. Both teams are brimful of experience and youth. Avoca Beach won the Grand Final last year with a very similar team to what they have at present so they all know what it takes to win the big one. They have experienced halves in Justin Staben and Aaron Bolte, they have an excellent back three headed by winger Brookelan Morgan, and fullback James Latham, and their forwards have been their strength all year. Prop Luke Sheridan is in great form while the second row combination of Peter Steele and Adam Winter is the best in the competition. To top all that off, No.8 Emile Thomas is at the back of a very strong scrum. However many of the Gosford players have been around for a long time and that experience will hold them in good stead. Five-eight Adam Carlisle is a great player and although carrying an injury will still make his mark on the match. Centres Nick Cash and Jarrod Christensen are playing good rugby, while at fullback Andrew Ryan can be dynamic in attack. Much will depend on the Gosford forward pack. Their backrow is very strong and will match any combination. Flanker Andrew Moseley is in fine touch while No.8 Shanon Hardgrave has been playing great rugby in recent matches. The tight five must perform. If they can match the Avoca Beach five the game will be up for grabs. All Grand Finals are the pinnacle of any season and anything can happen on the day. Avoca Beach will go into the clash with much pressure on their shoulders, as they are in sight of a wonderful achievement. To go through two seasons undefeated is an unique achievement and Gosford will go all out to stop that. That undefeated factor alone creates its own pressure. Avoca Beach has been the form side all year and will go into the Grand Final as deserved favourites. No team has really got close to them this year. However Gosford is one team, if they are on their game, could get the closest. The team that gets the early lead will be hard to catch. If Avoca Beach hit the lead early that will grow in confidence and they will go out all guns blazing to achieve that undefeated record. However if Gosford get in front, and maintain that lead for quite awhile, Avoca Beach may start to feel the pressure and that is when funny things start to happen. Gosford have come from fourth on the competition ladder and play a team that has been undefeated for almost two years. It will be great game under lights on Saturday night and should be a great finale to the 2006 rugby season on the Central Coast.

The Second Grade game between Avoca Beach and Terrigal will be interesting. Avoca Beach will go into the game as firm favourites after their most convincing win over Terrigal in the Major Semi-final. Avoca Beach simply blew Terrigal away on that day. However had a nail-biting win last week and will be keen to have another go at Avoca Beach in the big one this Saturday.

Terrigal will enter the Third Grade Grand Final as favourites in their clash with Avoca Beach. Terrigal have been the form side all year but Avoca Beach have come through from the Minor Semifinal, and will see themselves as a good chance of troubling Terrigal at the weekend.

The Entrance and Avoca Beach play in the Colts Grand Final on Saturday. This game will go down to the wire and the result will more than likely not be known until the final moments of the match. It caps a great day for Avoca Beach as their club is in all four senior Grand Finals on the day.


Games on Saturday are :

FIRST Grade Gosford v. Avoca Beach 7.30 pm
SECOND Grade Avoca Beach v. Terrigal 5.40 pm
THIRD Grade Avoca Beach v. Terrigal 4.10 pm
COLTS Avoca Beach v. The Entrance 2.50 pm

The JUNIOR games for the early part of the day are as follows :

Under 11’s – 7.00 am
Under 12’s – 8.00 am
Under 13’s – 9.00 am
Under 14’s – 10.00 am
Under 15’s – 11.10 am
Under 16’s – 12.20 pm
Under 17’s – 1.30 pm

[theman]

The Gates have OPENED, SEE EVERYONE OUT THERE!!!

[dibo (pron. "DIB-OH")]

theman said:

The Gates have OPENED, SEE EVERYONE OUT THERE!!!

er... no. if i wanted to watch grown men running around and hugging each other in mud, i'm sure there's a club on oxford st that can cater...

meanwhile i've got the shits because they're gonna trash our surface...