AN improved second half performance helped the Kiama Knights with a much needed 22-14 victory over the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles at Centenary Field on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Knights secured their second victory of the season and managed to shrug off an early scare as the Eagles got off to perfect start.
Centre Matthew Stone muscled over near the eastern touchline to give the home team a 4-nil lead.
Four minutes later, winger Andrew Mendes received a perfect right foot grubber from Marc Laird, as the scores were locked up at 4-all.
For the remainder of first half, both teams would constantly produce incomplete sets and would become short tempered in wet conditions.
Eagles’ hooker Dean Gray was sin binned for giving an extra comment after conceding a penalty.
The Eagles would tough it out in defence with just 12 men to keep the scores level at half-time.
Kiama would dominate in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, through tries to Aaron Ditton, Daniel Martin and Cameron Cornell, receiving a terrific cut out ball from Tom Atkins, who converted all three tries.
The Knights led 22–4.
The Knights seemed to be in control through gaining multiple offside penalties as Eagles’ skipper Chris Rowles became the second player to be sin binned for back chat.
The home team wouldn’t go down without a fight, forcing mistakes in the Knights half.
Winger Jaryd Ramsey posted a second half double as halfback Brad Meuleman slotted one goal.
The home crowd started to find their voice again and were excited for the closing stages of the game.
Kiama’s defence proved to be difficult to get through as the full-time score was 22-14 to the Knights.
For Kiama, Cameron Whittaker, Tom Atkins, Josh Toohey, Marc Laird and Vaughan Thistlethwaite all had solid performances while Josh Sainsbury, Simon Harris, Dean Gray, Aiden Menzies and Jaryd Ramsey fought hard for Albion Park-Oak Flats.
