Lakes Consolidate Top-two Berth As Finals Loom Seagulls Win Ends Second Guessing

Newcastle Herald

Monday August 2, 2004

By NEIL GOFFET

LAKES United all but secured second place on the Newcastle Rugby League ladder when they defeated arch rivals Wyong 24-22 at Cahill Oval yesterday.

The result could also relegate Wyong to fourth place on the ladder, meaning they will play either of last year's grand finalists, Cessnock or Raymond Terrace, in the elimination semi-final.

Wyong do not get points for the last-round bye next weekend and the Northern Blues will finish third if they beat seventh-placed Kurri at Kurri Sportsground.

Lakes slipped from equal leaders to a battle for the minor places after two losses and two byes heading into yesterday's match.

The Seagulls need only to beat South Newcastle, who have two wins over last-placed Central Charlestown to their credit all season, to guarantee second place.

"We were very keen to win that one," Lakes captain-coach Ian Bourke said. "We've lost the last couple and had a bye and had no cohesion in the side, so I am very proud of the boys.

"This is the best side we've had because of all the injuries this year, and we've got second place and nearly the club championship."

Lakes started well when halfback Chris Horsfall slipped a great ball for Justin Seddon to score for a 6-0 lead after five minutes.

Lakes second-rower Nathan Porter then knocked on from the kick-off and Wyong fullback Dean Amos scored from the next set to make it 6-6.

The visitors kicked clear to 10-6 when winger Kevin Turkington scored in the 20th minute, but Horsfall, who was a standout for Lakes, dived over in the corner 10 minutes later.

Bourke converted from the sideline, which proved critical to the end result, to lead 12-10 and landed a penalty goal two minutes before the break to make it 14-10.

The Seagulls had their tails up when winger Matthew Lynch scored 40 seconds before the buzzer and they led 18-10 at half-time.

"I don't really have a problem with Gavin West as a referee, but why did they give one of the biggest games of the year to a young bloke like him?" asked injured Wyong captain-coach Troy Pezet, who took his gear to the ground but will wait another fortnight before testing his ankle that required surgery 13 weeks ago. "They give the top referees like Dennis Andrews and John Taylor the lower games and we get the young bloke, who just lost control at stages."

Lakes back-rower Gavin Davies was sent to the sin-bin for fighting in the 50th minute and Wyong drew level at 18-18 in that time through a Matt Ross converted try and a penalty goal to Amos.

Talented five-eighth Jason Cashin then scored a sensational try from a chip-and-chase 15 metres out to lead 22-18.

Horsfall responded to that when he made space for Glenn Agland down the left edge and passed to Lynch, who then found Jason Allen.

He scored between the posts.

Bourke knocked the conversion over from in front to secure a 24-22 lead.

In yesterday's other matches, minor premiers Western Suburbs thumped Macquarie 68-16 at Harker Oval and Kurri defeated Central Charlestown 40-32 at St John Oval.

On Saturday, Cessnock kept their NRL title defence alive with a convincing 36-0 win over South Newcastle at Turner Park.

© 2004 Newcastle Herald

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