Central Coast Rays vs Ballymore Tornadoes - Match Preview

Central Coast Rays vs Ballymore Tornadoes - Match Preview

07/09/2007

Venue & time

Bluetongue Stadium, Friday, September 7, 7:30pm (AEST)

Head to head

Debut clash

Team changes

Rays winger Andrew Smith limped off from last week's loss to the Spirit and is replaced by Patrick McCabe for this clash. The other changes are rotational with Ofa Fainga'anuku in for Nick Lah as the starting loosehead-and youngster Jared Waerea-Hargreaves replacing Jason Paseta at number eight in the starting XV.

The Tornadoes prop Ernest Skelton replaces the injured Brett Naylor, while Ben Coutts starts in place of Shon Siemonek at tighthead and Ray Stowers comes in at flanker at the expense of Dan Linde. The Tornadoes have shuffled their backline with Peter Hynes handed the flyhalf duties in place of Tim Sampson while winger Ant Sauer is out. Blair Connor moves into inside centre with Paul Doneley joining the fit again Elia Tuqiri on the wing.

Form

The Rays dampened their impressive maiden win in over the Aces in round three with a loss at home to Perth last start. The Central coast were on the back foot from the get go against the team from the west and will have to work on their set pieces in particular to be more competitive against the Tornadoes.

Ballymore started well against the high-flying Rams last week but they started to make errors in both attack and defence and the Sydneysiders were able to take advantage and rack up a big score. The Queenslanders need o be more disciplined, as they showed in the first 20 minutes last week, to remain in contention in this competition.

Who's hot

Second rowers Cam Treloar and Chris Thomson made an impression in a well-beaten pack last start, while halves Brett Sheehan and Sam Norton-Knight also played well in a gritty defensive effort.

Tornadoes teenage scrumhalf Will Genia continues to play impressive rugby while Clinton Schifcofske is holding the side together at the back. Skipper Tom McVerry and number eight Leroy Houston have been putting in honest performances in an outgunned pack.

Teams

Central Coast Rays

1. Ofa Fainga’anuku,
2. Al Manning,
3. Aaron Tawera,
4. Cameron Treloar (c),
5. Chris Thomson,
6. Beau Robinson,
7. Ross Duncan,
8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves,

9. Brett Sheehan,
10. Sam Norton-Knight,
11. Jordan Macey,
12. Sam Harris,
13. Ben Jacobs,
14. Patrick McCabe,
15. Peter Hewat.

16. Alex Gluth,
17. Nick Lah,
18. Nifo Nifo,
19. Jason Peseta,
20. David Harvey,
21. Viliame Ratu,
22. Clint Eadie.

Ballymore Tornadoes

1. Ernest Skelton,
2. Josh Mann-Rea,
3. Ben Coutts,
4. Ed O’Donoghue,
5. James Horwill,
6. Ray Stowers,
7. Tom McVerry (c),
8. Leroy Houston,

9. Will Genia,
10. Peter Hynes,
11. Paul Doneley,
12. Brett Gillespie,
13. Blair Connor,
14. Elia Tuqiri,
15. Clinton Schifcofske.

16. Geoff Abram,
17. Shon Siemonek,
18. Scott Higginbotham,
19. Charles Wyllie,
20. Brendan McKibbin,
21. Dan Linde,
22. Tim Sampson.

Rays stay alive

7/09/2007 9:38:27 PM
Mark Hughes at Bluetongue Stadium
Sportal

The Central Coast Rays have kept their semi-final hopes alive with a decisive 29-10 bonus-point win over the Ballymore Tornadoes at a saturated Bluetongue Stadium on Friday night.

Cold and wet conditions kept the crowd down and made for a messy game as the ball was slippery as soap from the first play.

However, the Rays dominated proceedings for the bulk of the game before the Tornadoes mounted a spirited second-half fightback.

But the home side was able to regain control to secure a much needed victory that lifts it into fourth spot with three rounds to play.

The Rays started in great fashion with scrumhalf Brett Sheehan slicing through a Tornadoes lineout on the 22 before dishing off to Sam Norton-Knight to dive over for the opening try in just the third minute of play. Peter Hewat converted to make it 7-0.

Tornadoes centre Brett Gillespie threatened to score just a few minutes later after toeing through a loose ball on the Rays 30-metre mark but Central Coast winger Jordan Macey won the race to the ball to save the home side.

The Rays looked likely to cross for their second after a flowing backline play in the 18th minute but Macey spilled the final pass close to the line. However, the Tornadoes were pinged for offside and Hewat slotted an easy penalty to push the score out to 10-0.

The home side continued to control play and had the better of the attacking options but just couldn't keep control of the ball in the slippery conditions. The Queenslanders rarely entered the Rays territory but managed to get on the scoreboard when fullback Clinton Schifcofske kicked a 35-metre penalty just before the half-hour mark.

Tornadoes lock James Horwill was shown a yellow card six minutes before half-time for repeated ruck infringements and the Rays took advantage by working a number of attacking rucks inside the Tornadoes 22 before hooker Josh Mann-Rea crossed adjacent to the posts. Hewat added the extras to make it 17-3 to the home side at half time.

The Rays started the second half in similar fashion to the first with a try in the opening minutes. After getting a short arm penalty five out from the line, the Central Coast spread the ball and flanker Ross Duncan crashed over close to the posts. Hewat converted to make it 24-3.

The Tornadoes didn't give up and were rewarded for their industry in the 54th minute when flanker Ray Stowers barged his way over for a try after the Queenslanders took a quick tap when the Rays were caught for offside just 10 out from their own line.

Schifcofske slotted the conversion to make it 24-10.

However, the Rays wrestled back control of the match and grabbed a much-needed bonus point after the 80-minute mark when Hewat sliced through out wide and sprinted 60 metres to score in the corner.

Central Coast Rays 29
Tries: Sam Norton-Knight, Josh Mann-Rea, Ross Duncan, Peter Hewat
Conversions: Hewat 3/4
Penalty goals: Peter Hewat 1/1

Ballymore Tornadoes 10
Tries: Ray Stowers
Conversions: Clinton Schifcofske 1/1
Penalty goals: Clinton Schifcofske 1/1