Bulls exit from Toyota Trophy

BRENDAN CRABB

The VB South Coast Rugby League representative team was eliminated from the Toyota Centenary Trophy at Michael Cronin Oval on Saturday.

In a hard-fought second round contest, the Bulls went down to a Craig Field skippered Group 9 by 32-16.

The former Manly, South Sydney and Wests Tigers halfback starred, leading the team around the park with great control and having a major hand in his side’s first three tries.

Rampaging former Sea Eagles prop Grant Wooden and pivot Brendon Sing were also impressive for Group 9, the latter bagging two tries.

Field showed his experience and precision early, a well-weighted grubber kick in the 5th minute setting up Sing’s first four-pointer.

However, the home side hit back quickly; their ability to keep the ball alive enabled Gerringong fullback Jason White to put Kiama winger Aaron De Jagar over in the corner to level the scores. The game continued to be a try-for-try affair throughout the first half; off the back of back-to-back penalties Scott Sablowski scored for the Bulls, while a lovely pass from Field put back rower Sam Quinn over.

Two minutes from the break, more Field magic saw Kyle McCarthy storm through a gap for a 16-10 lead.

The home side had suffered a big blow prior to kick-off when classy lock Gary Breakspear withdrew with a virus. This was exaserpated further for the South Coast side when Albion Park backs Sean Jenkins and Trent Geary being forced from the field in the early stages, leaving Group 7 with a two-man bench for the majority of the game.

Regardless, the Bulls showed great determination, Dean Gray burrowing over four minutes into the second stanza to again level the scores.

Group 9 quickly took the lead again however, interchange player Matt Hornby scoring a converted try, then strong defence and some unforced errors from both teams meant the score remained at 22-16 until 10 minutes from full-time, when Group 9 lock Baden Powell booted a long-range penalty goal for an eight-point buffer.

The visitors put it beyond doubt with another penalty goal and converted try to Sing, who streaked away from the scrum in the dying minutes to score his second.

The final scoreline flattered the visitors, whose defense was strong enough to hold out an undermanned yet determined Bulls side that refused to concede defeat.

South Coast coach Ian Jones paid tribute to his side following the game.

Jade Lucas, Dean Gray and Jason White were the standouts for South Coast Group 7.