WARILLA-Lake South will meet Albion Park-Oak Flats in a battle of the competition heavyweights in next Sunday’s VB South Coast Rugby League first grade grand final at Centenary Field.
The minor premiers will meet the Park in this season’s decider, following their 34-20 win over Jamberoo at Kiama Showground yesterday.
Led by a hat-trick from winger Liam Watson and a double to centre Tyson Brown, the Gorillas lead 16-12 at half-time, before going on to record a convincing victory.
Warilla appeared to be in fine form when fullback Brendan Kelly was on the finishing end of some lovely hands for a 6-nil lead.
Kelly went from hero to villain in a matter of minutes, knocking on from the kick-off and giving the Superoos great field position.
Great lead-up work from Johno Dallas put try-scoring whiz Michal Maslanka over out wide for 6-4.
In warm conditions, Jamberoo were able to match their more fancied opponents in terms of physicality and go-forward and as a result frustrated the Gorillas into a number of uncharacteristic handling errors and piggyback penalties.
Interchange player Josh Elliott was perhaps unlucky to be sin binned for a professional foul, but the 12-man Superoos were the next to score when Liam Morrisey crossed out wide for 10-6 after 23 minutes.
Warilla responded quickly, Watson’s first try levelling the scores.
A Matt Coelho penalty goal made it 12-10 to Jamberoo before Aaron Henry barged over to give his side a four-point buffer at the break.
If the Gorillas were disappointing in the first half, their attack clicked into gear early in the second stanza when classy play from half-back Luke Watts enabled Tyson Brown to score.
The speedy centre made it a double seven minutes later for 24-12.
Jamberoo didn’t give up, but were at times powerless to stop the Gorillas’ momentum and potency at the money end of the field.
Watson was the beneficiary of a pinpoint accurate kick for 30-12 and then streaked away for his third and a commanding 34-12 lead.
With Warilla back rower Mark Walsh in the sin bin, Josh Cuthbert and Maslanka both scored consolation tries in the final 10 minutes to perhaps ensure the final scoreline was a more accurate reflection of the contest.
In a stop-start game featuring a high penalty count, Aaron Henry, Tyson Brown and Andrew Gent were the standouts for Warilla, while Adam McGrath, Michal Maslanka and Chris Pitt were the best for the Superoos.
The result means that the competition’s two most consistent sides will meet in the grand final.
The Eagles won their last encounter 26-10 in the major semi-final.
Warilla coach Peter Hooper was pleased with his side’s improvement in terms of attitude but said they still needed to be more disciplined.
“We still lacked some discipline, but they defended well enough to get themselves out of those holes,” he said.
“To beat the Park we’ll need to control the game for 80 minutes, not just in two 25-minute patches in each half.”
Hooper said it was still uncertain if lock Linken Hutchinson would be able to recover from a quadriceps injury in time for this Sunday’s game.
VB South Coast Rugby League results of finals held at Kiama Showground yesterday.
First Grade
Warilla-Lake South Gorillas 34 (L. Watson 3, T, Brown 2, B. Kelly, A. Henry tries, C. Henry 3 goals) d Jamberoo Superoos 20 (M. Maslanka 2, L. Morrisey, J. Cuthbert tries, M. Coelho 2 goals).
Reserve Grade
Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies 50 (D. Gannon 2, J. O’Keefe, M. Struber, P. Morrow, J. McNamara, M. Meier, J. Hewitt, D. Siddons tries, J.McNamara 6 goals) d Batemans Bay Tigers 26 (G. Rootsey 2, M. Potts, C. Nye, B. Rootsey tries, C. Nye 3 goals).
Under 18s
Culburra Dolphins 32 (A. Quinlan 2, L. Dickson, J. Power-Farrell, A. Duncan, S. Deaves tries, A. Quinlan 4 goals) d Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs 22 (C. Howcroft, K. Gatt, Trent Ryan tries, J. Matthews 3 goals).
Regan Cup
Greenwell Point Pirates 40 (M. Rouen 3, A. Chaffey 2, T. Green tries, J. Carey 6 goals) d Albion Park Outlaws 6 (C. Daniel try, D. Gorrell goal).
Group 7 grand finals
VB South Coast Group 7 Rugby League finals
Centenary Field
Sunday, September 20
First grade: Albion Park-Oak Flats v Warilla-Lake South Gorillas at 2.45pm.
Reserve Grade: Warilla-Lake South Gorillas v Berry-Shoalhaven Heads Magpies s at 1pm.
Under 18s: Kiama Knights v Culburra Dolphins at 11.30am.
Regan Cup: Warilla-Lake South Gorillas v Greenwell Point Pirates at 10am.
Gates open at 9am
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