Tallon Smith

The Kiama Knights have taken full advantage of their game in hand from round 4 after securing a 26-4 win over the Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies in their Group 7 Rugby league clash at Bomaderry Sporting Complex on Wednesday evening.

The win sees Kiama move into second place, equal with the Shellharbour Sharks on 23 competition points but ahead on points differential.

After opening the scoring through winger Callan Thistlethwaite in the 11th minute, the Knights maintained their early advantage, adding further first half tries to winger Matt Morris in the 16th minute and skipper Tom Angel in the 28th to open up a 16-0 lead through half an hour of play.

Some strong defence and another try just before half time saw Kiama take a comfortable 22-0 lead into the break.

A bruising opening to the second half followed, before a penalty gifted Berry-Shoalhaven Heads some much needed field position.

After their first attacking raid ended in an error, more good field position led to a chip and chase from dummy half, which was left behind by both teams, before Tyson Walker raced through to pick up the ball and score out wide to bring the margin back to 22-4 on the hour mark.

That was where Berry’s joy ended however, with Kiama having the lion’s share of possession in the final quarter of the match, adding one more try when Morris collected a delicate Sam Hooper kick to slide over for his second with two minutes to play to complete the full time score of 26-4.

Kiama halfback Cameron Vazzoler, who was named the BarTV Player of the Match for his strong performance in the conditions, said that a strong focus on defence and a good approach to wet weather football was key to the victory.

“The most impressive part was our defence, that was the focus coming into this game after conceding a few points last week,” he said.

“We knew it would be a tight game in the wet and points would be hard to come by.

“Extremely happy with our effort and energy in tricky conditions.”

Meanwhile, Knights forward Travis Barrett-Hancock said that while it was a battle in the middle of the field, the Knights stuck to their game plan to secure the win.

“Really happy to get the two points rolling into the end of the season,” he said.

“It was a gritty game in challenging conditions but full credit to the lads sticking to the plan and getting the job done.”

The match itself followed a chaotic afternoon as Group 7 authorities did their best to ensure the already rescheduled game was able to be played.

An 11th-hour venue switch was confirmed via email at 1:46pm, with the match moved to Bomaderry after the Berry Showground was deemed unplayable following heavy rainfall on the South Coast.

Want to see how the match unfolded? Check out our live blog from the match below!

LIVE BLOG – BERRY V KIAMA at Bomaderry

Presented by…

9:47pm – With the match report available now above, it’s goodnight from me, Tallon Smith. Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday evening.

FULL TIME – Kiama 26 (Matt Morris 2, Callan Thistlethwaite, Tom Angel, unknown player tries; Brad Killmore 4 goals) defeated Berry-Shoalhaven Heads 4 (Tyson Walker try) at Bomaderry Sporting Complex, Wednesday August 20 7pm. BarTV Sports Rugby League Player of the Match: Cameron Vazzoler (Kiama)

8:34pm – 80′ FULL TIME – The Knights run out 26-4 winners at the Bomaderry sporting complex. In doing so they take full advantage of their game in hand from round 4 and leapfrog the Shellharbour Sharks into second on points differential.

8:33pm – 78′ TRY Kiama – Berry error and scrum means Kiama get the ball back in good field position again. On a shift out to the left, five-eighth Sam Hooper dabbles a delicate kick through for winger Matt Morris, who slides through to collect the ball in the slippery conditions and score. Conversion unsuccessful, Knights now lead the Magpies 26-4.

8:32pm – 77′ Sustained attack from the Knights again, with multiple sets on the line. Somehow the Magpies defend it all, and a wayward Kiama pass trickles over the sideline. Still 22-4 Kiama’s way.

8:25pm – 71′ Knights on the attack again, shift the ball out to the left but centre Max Jennings drops the ball. You can hardly blame the players for some poor handling in a mid-week game on a wet and freezing night.

8:21pm – 68′ Penalty Kiama right in front of the Berry posts, Knights on the attack, but lose the ball. Berry get out of jail there.

8:13pm – 59′ TRY Berry, after a chip and chase from the Berry hooker is left behind, Tyson Walker scoops up the ball and races in to score in the right corner. Walker then steps up to convert his own try from the sideline. Magpies on the board, Kiama 22 Berry 4.

8:07pm – 54′ penalty to Berry gets them out of their own end, finally get some quality attacking field position. However they lose the ball just short of the line. Kiama scrum.

8:02pm – 49′ Nine minutes into the second half, and no addition to the half time scores. Kiama 22 lead Berry 0.

7:42pm – TRY Kiama 38′, conversion successful by Brad Killmore, Knights lead 22-0 at half time.

7:29pm – GOAL Kiama 29′, successful conversion by Brad Killmore, Kiama lead 16-0.

7:28pm – 28′ TRY to Kiama skipper Tom Angel, Knights lead 14-0.

7:16pm – 7:16pm – 16′ TRY Kiama to Matt Morris, Knights lead 10-0.

7:13pm – GOAL Kiama 13′ conversion successful by Brad Killmore, Kiama lead 6-0.

7:11pm – TRY Kiama 11′, Callan Thistlethwaite goes over, Knights lead 4-0.

7:00pm – Kickoff at Bomaderry Sporting Complex. The match was moved here after the Berry Showground was deemed unplayable following heavy rainfall here on the South Coast. Two sides ready for action.

WELCOME – Good evening, and welcome to Battlers For Bush Footy’s live blog of this crucial Group 7 catch-up game between Berry-Shoalhaven Heads and Kiama at the Bomaderry Sporting Complex.

A win for Kiama in this crucial game that both clubs have had in hand since it was rescheduled from the first weekend of May will see the Knights rise to second position, equal on points with the Shellharbour Sharks in the battle for week one hosting rights, and just two points adrift of competition leaders Stingrays.

Meanwhile, a win gets Berry off the bottom of the table, after Nowra-Bomaderry went ahead of them on points differential after beating them on Saturday.

The match was shifted to the neutral venue of Bomaderry this afternoon due to heavy rainfall on the South Coast rendering the Berry Showground unfit to stage the match.

Stay tuned for live updates throughout the evening on our Facebook page and below.