Kiama Stingrays celebrate semi-finals

KIAMA STINGRAYS
LINDA MCCAULEY

KIAMA’S emerging touch footballers have the chance to rub shoulders with the world’s best touch players and coaches at a clinic booked for April.

Kiama Stingrays have tentatively booked a Blackest Cat touch clinics for April 19 and 20 at Kiama, but 60 players are needed for them to go ahead.

The first clinic will only be available to girls aged 8-17 who are registered with Kiama Stingrays.

Cost is $60 but the Stingrays will try to subsidise some of the cost. Participants will receive a training shirt, cap, kit bag and water bottle, worth $47.

Visit www.blackestcat.com.au for more information or phone 4237 5758 to register.

Meanwhile, with the regular season over it was time for the big guns to shine in the semi-finals.

Some sides scored big wins, while other victors had to fight tooth and nail to advance to Monday’s grand finals.

There were a few upsets with some of the more fancied teams getting beaten in their sudden-death playoffs.

In the mixed seniors, Ray White (4) defeated South Coast Financial (3) in a cracker of a game.

Scores were tied 3-all at full time before a length-of-the-field touchdown by Daniel Dajic won the game for Ray White.

Others to score for his team were Shane Delaney with two and Bryn Coleman. Ethan Ford, Kieran Poole and Olivia Meredith scored for the South Coast Financial team.

Kiama Family Chiropractic (6) defeated Rentquip (3) in the second semi-final.

Tommy Atkins was brilliant as he sliced open the Rentquip defence to set up many touchdowns, including two for Jacob Morrison and one each to Dalton Sinclair, Madelaine Stojanovic and Brad Nash.

Rentquip were unlucky, as Luke Wienand busted the line on many occasions from dummy half.

Scorers for Rentquip were Rebekah Whitney (two) and John Constable. This game was the last in junior touch for Beck Tobin, Luke Wienand and John Constable; they have been permanent members of the Stingrays representative sides for many years.

In the 12–13 boys TMN Accountants (3) defeated Subway (2). The table-topping TMN Accountants side was led by Jacob Pickles, Corey Tinney and Nicky Logan, while Matt Emerson and Jacob Hosking crossed for the Subway team.

Kiama Family Chiropractic (6) defeated Kiama Stingrays (4) in the second semi-final.

The Stingrays put up a great fight, their scorers were Danny Wedd with a double, Joe Bakewell and Riley Richardson.

The Kiama Family Chiro had six scorers: Daniel Martin, Fletch Atkins, Matt Morris, Adam Stojanovic, Cameron Poole and Tyson.

In the 11 – 13 girls, Taddeo Builders (2) defeated South Coast Financial Services (1).

The game was only decided in the final minute by an Abbie Taddeo touchdown. Melissa Cupitt also scored a fantastic touchdown for her team’s first score. Although South Coast Financial went close on many occasions, Danielle Dignam was her team only scorer.

ANZ (3) defeated Dentworks (0) in the second semi-final.

This was a major upset, as the top of the table Dentworks lost their only game of the season and will miss the grand final. ANZ’S Alana Glasson had a blinder to secure her team’s win, which was sealed by touchdowns to Jamie Emerson, Kiara Marsh and Alana Glasson.

In the 10–11 boys, Laing & Simmons (6) defeated R & S Cabling (4).

Laing & Simmons conceded a touchdown in the first ten seconds of the match but fought back through touchdowns to Josh Deen (two), Cameron Taylor, Grant Kohlenberg, Josh Oxley and Dante Patrick.

Jai Field scored a double for R & S Cabling, while Luke Maples and Jack Schneider also crossed the line.

Scoops (8) defeated RMB Lawyers (0) in the second semi-final. Scoops’ scorers were Alex Brookes (2), Blake Rickard (2), Jake Taylor, Josh Pettit and Justin Schimdt.

In the 8–10 girls, Kiama Independent (12) def Kiama Medical Centre (1), with Emma Schneider scoring her team’s only touchdown.

Kelsey Wishart led the way for the Independent team, scoring three touchdowns while she was well-supported by Keeleigh McCauley, Grace Stewart, Riley Wishart and Sharna Dobson, who all scored twice. Jessica Davis also scored a touchdown.

Austbrokers City State (3) defeated Take A Hike (0), with the Bugden twins proving the difference for the winners. Briannan (2) and Brooke Bugden (1) scored the only touchdowns.

In the 7–9 boys, Coastal Distributors (1) defeated Bakers Delight (0) in a great game.

Bakers Delight nearly pulled off an upset, but were denied by desperate defence. Coastal Distributors sealed the win thanks to a great attacking raid, in which the ball was passed through many hands, for Jarrod Rickard to score the touchdown.

Dentworks (5) defeated Killmore and Sons (2), with Dylan Morris scoring four touchdowns for the winners. Ryan Timbs also scored for Dentworks, with Bradley Killmore scoring both Killmore and Sons touchdowns.