Tallon Smith

The Corrimal Cougars have secured a place in the Illawarra Rugby League finals for the first time in 16 years after a 40-12 win over De La Salle Caringbah in Woolooware on Saturday.

Led by doubles to Joe Duggan and Logen Dillon, the Cougars ran in a remarkable seven tries to two to secure a crucial victory that elevated them above Thirroul into fifth place and into their first postseason campaign since 2009.

Corrimal Cougars President Grant Plecas said that it was a nervous day as the side looked to secure a win themselves whilst also relying on traditional rivals Collegians to beat Thirroul.

“We were definitely going in there as best prepared as we could, we had a belief because we’d beaten them so well the last time we played them,” he said.

“A few things needed to go our way, Collies needed to beat Thirroul, we needed to make sure we were set and going to be able to get the win.”

Having not played finals for a decade and a half, and with a premiership drought stretching back 51 years to their 1974 triumph, Plecas said it was a great feeling to finally return to postseason football this year.

“It’s pretty special for the whole club, our club is one of the stalwarts of the competition, been around since day one [and] always had a first grade side in there, even through the tough times,” he said.

“We went about eight years without an Under 18s side, so it was really hard when we’re not as financially [stable] as some of the other clubs to be able to prop up that first grade team year in year out.

“But now we’ve got the fruits of some great juniors coming through, and we’re starting to build something special at the club.

“The feeling was just fantastic at the whole club the week leading into it.

“For 16 years, this is what they’ve been working towards, and to get this result, it’s huge for the club and huge for the community.”

The fifth-placed Cougars benefit from the recent change to the competition’s finals structure, with five teams qualifying for the playoffs this year compared to the traditional four.

Illawarra Rugby League operations manager Carlo Napolitano said that the changes were announced at the start of the year by the NSWRL, who oversee the Illawarra Cup First Grade as a Major Competition.

“The cup competition is handled by the NSWRL, which we agreed to at the beginning of the year,” he said.

“It’s just following the protocol of the major comps, so we decided that the plate and the shield would follow suit and we’d all be aligned then.”

However, despite some criticism of the fact only one team was eliminated through 15 weeks of regular season football, Napolitano said that the increased competition for finals spots which kept all teams alive until the final day has made the change a worthwhile one.

“It was a bit of a close competition, it did come [down] to the last weekend, that means the competition is working and the excitement is there, so I think everyone is looking forward to the finals series.”

“Only one team misses out in a six team comp, and this year it is Thirroul, but again the level of competition has been immense and all the games I’ve been to have been of a high standard.”

Looking at other games on Saturday, Minor Premiers Collegians helped the Cougars’ cause in securing a top five spot, eliminating Thirroul with a 24-12 win at Collegians Sports Complex. 

Fullback Callum Gromek starred in the win, crossing for two tries, while Blair Grant added a try to his four goals in a strong performance.

Finally, the Western Suburbs Devils secured a critical two points in their clash with Dapto at the Dapto Showground.

The win in the second versus third showdown gives Wests hosting rights in the Qualifying Final to be played between the two sides this coming Saturday.

The first round of finals action kicks off this Saturday when Wests host Dapto, before Corrimal battle De La Salle on Sunday.

Group 7: Sharks get revenge on Lions

The Shellharbour Sharks exacted revenge on perennial foes Gerringong in the year’s second Grand Final rematch with a hard-fought 24-18 win at Ron Costello Oval on Sunday.

After falling to Gerringong 13-12 in their first clash of the year back on the 12th of July, the Sharks exacted revenge, running in five tries to two to secure their second straight win.

The win sees the Sharks leapfrog the Lions and Kiama Knights into second place, behind leaders Stingrays who enjoyed a bye.

The Knights’ failure to pick up competition points came courtesy of a 26-18 loss to the Albion-Park Oak Flats Eagles at Centenary Field on Saturday.

Led by a 14-point performance from star half Kane Ball, who finished with two tries and three goals, the Eagles made it four wins and a draw from their previous six games, and are yet to lose to Kiama this year.

The Nowra-Bomaderry Jets were also among the winners in round 16, picking up a valuable two points in their fight to avoid the wooden spoon with a 24-22 win over local rivals Berry-Shoalhaven Heads.

The win draws the Jets level with the Magpies on 12 points as they fight to avoid the spoon, though Berry have a game in hand on Wednesday night against Kiama.

Finally, on Saturday, the Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs got a much-needed victory over Jamberoo Superoos with a 40-22 win at Kevin Walsh Oval.

Kye Lynch crossed for a double as one of six try scorers for the Bulldogs as they secured a much-needed victory that sees them draw level with Jamberoo in sixth on 12 competition points.

Group 16: Stallions end Devils’ dream

The Cooma Stallions have made it through safely to the second week of the Group 16 finals with a 30-10 win over the Narooma Devils in the Elimination Final at Bill Smyth Oval on Sunday.

A double to Matthew Fellows headlined a six tries to two performance from the Stallions, who overcame the devils on their home turf for the victory.

Meanwhile, in the Qualifying Final, the Tathra Sea Eagles stormed to a 34-0 win over the Eden Tigers to set up a Major Semi Final showdown with the undefeated Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs remain favourites for the Clayton Cup should they win the premiership, as the last undefeated first grade team in country New South Wales this year.

Statewide Scoreboard

Canberra

Queanbeyan Roos 38 defeated Gungahlin 22

Woden 30 defeated Goulburn 18

Queanbeyan Roos 24 defeated Yass 14

West Belconnen 50 defeated Belconnen 22

Central Coast

Wyong 38 defeated Berkeley Vale 6

Toukley 58 defeated Terrigal 0

Erina 34 defeated Ourimbah 14

The Entrance 24 defeated Kincumber 20

Illawarra

Corrimal 40 defeated De La Salle 12

Collegians 24 defeated Thirroul 12

Wests 14 defeated Dapto 14

Newcastle

Cessnock 16 defeated The Entrance 6

Macquarie 29 defeated Lakes United 28

Maitland 18 defeated Wests 14

Wyong 22 defeated Souths 10

Centrals 20 defeated Northern Hawks 6

Northern Rivers

No scores reported

Group 2

Elimination Final: Coffs Harbour 26 defeated Macksville 20

Qualifying Final: Sawtell 32 defeated Nambucca Heads 30

Group 3

Wauchope 64 defeated Taree City 4

Port Macquarie 32 defeated Macleay Valley 24

Forster-Tuncurry 6 defeated Wingham 4

Old Bar v Port City no score reported

Group 4

Moree Boars 20 defeated North Tamworth 4

Gunnedah 29 defeated Boggabri 10

Werris Creek 60 defeated Kootingal 0

Dungowan 66 defeated Wee Waa 6

Group 7

Shellharbour Sharks 24 defeated Gerringong 18

Nowra-Bomaderry 24 defeated Berry-Shoalhaven Heads 22

Albion Park-Oak Flats 26 defeated Kiama 18

Milton-Ulladulla 40 defeated Jamberoo 22

Group 9

Wagga Kangaroos 64 defeated Wagga Brothers 0

Temora 12 defeated Tumut 10

Albury 46 defeated South City 30

Young 34 defeated Junee 18

Gundagai 30 defeated Cootamundra 12

Peter McDonald Premierhip (Group 10/11)

Qualifying Final: Forbes 32 defeated Orange CYMS 0

Qualifying Final: Dubbo CYMS 16 defeated Mudgee 12

Elimination Final: Wellington 32 defeated Dubbo Macquarie 12

Elimination Final: Orange Hawks 18 defeated Bathurst St Pats 10

Group 16

Elimination Final: Cooma 30 defeated Narooma 10

Qualifying Final: Tathra 34 defeated Eden 0

Group 19

Minor Semi: Uralla 38 defeated Warialda 18

Major Semi: Inverell v Tingha no score reported

Group 20

Hay 22 defeated Griffith Waratahs 20

Leeton 32 defeated Yanco-Wamoon 16

Tullibigeal-Lakes United 72 defeated West Wyalong 10

Griffith Black & Whites 30 defeated Yenda 18

Group 21

Aberdeen 26 defeated Muswellbrook 24

Singleton 60 defeated Denman 18

Scone 24 drew Greta-Branxton 24

George Tooke Shield

Binalong 40 defeated UC Stars 12

Boorowa 78 defeated Googong 0

North Canberra 24 defeated Snowy River 18

Harden 22 drew Bungendore 22

Castlereagh League

Minor Semi: Coonabarabran 36 defeated Gulgong 30

Major Semi: Coolah 30 defeated Narromine 16

Woodbridge Cup

Semi Final: Canowindra 24 defeated Orange United 20

Semi Final: Molong 28 defeated Cowra 24