Shammies smashing union foes

Shamrocks’ Ben Lowe is taken down by a Kiama defender during his side’s commanding 18-nil win in round 18.

ILLAWARRA RUGBY UNION
SCOTT McKELLAR

SHAMROCKS have moved a step closer to taking out the Illawarra Rugby Union premiership with a dominant display over archrivals Kiama at Ocean Park, Woonona.

The match certainly lived up to the pre match discussions around town.

Kiama had attempted to use the mental card in their pre match talk, stating that the ’rocks had everything to play for in remaining undefeated while they had a new game plan ready to roll out.

Shamrocks’ pre match focus was simply on playing consistent, solid rugby across the park for the full 80 minutes, knowing that their opposition would be hard-pressed to match them in this department.

From the outset it was clear Kiama had come to play and take the match away from the ’rocks.

The confrontation between both sides was superb, with stinging defence as the match arm-wrestled its way through the first half.

At the break it was the ’rocks leading 8-nil courtesy of a Chris Bradshaw try and penalty goal to Scott Tarasenko.

The half time discussion within the ’rocks camp was centred around building momentum and continually applying pressure on their opposition.

The second half put this talk into action as Shamrocks lifted their intensity to another level to pressure the Kiama side into mistakes that led to more points.

A superb solo try to full back Dwayne Devries took the little fight that Kiama had left away, and in the end the ’rocks finished convincing winners, 18-nil.

The two sides meet again in a fortnight where they will play the major semi final, with the winner going straight into the grand final.

Earlier in the day, the ’rocks second grade had a hard fought 18-15 win while in third grade the ’rocks cemented a top-three finish with a convincing 35-5 win.

First and second grade sides now have a week off before travelling to Nowra to contest their respective major semi-finals on September 9.

The third grade side are in semi final action this Saturday at Vikings Oval. Kick-off is an uncharacteristic early one at 10:30am.

In first grade qualifying finals, Avondale will meet defending premiers University at Vikings Oval on Sunday at 3pm after a 34-17 win over Tech Waratahs in round 18.

Meanwhile, third-placed Shoalhaven will meet Tech Waratahs at Kiama Showground in Saturday’s qualifying final after beating wooden-spooners Bowral 33-28. Kickoff is at 3pm.