Country Championship Qualifying Results

The 2010 Country Championship Qualifying Matches were played on 20 March 2010, with the favoured zones taking out the matches in the Seniors and Colts.

Newcastle Hunter opened their championship defence with a hard fought 39 – 3 victory over the Far North Coast at Nelson Bay.  The score-line didn’t depict the intensity of the contest, with the Novocastrians having to work overtime late in the match to overcome the Dolphins.  The first half was very even with both teams restricting the other’s scoring opportunities with very strong defence, which saw Newcastle Hunter go to the break with a slim 10-3 lead.  The second half continued on as the first, but the Newcastle Hunter pack slowly took control of the play, which enabled them to post a rush of late points.

Central West had too much power and pace for New England to run out comfortable winners 53 – 13 at Orange.  The Blue Bulls opened the scoring early in the match with a converted try and were never headed as they set up a 32 – 8 lead over the Lions at half time, before scoring another twenty one points in the second half. The Lions toiled all day in the forwards, but they were no match in the backs with forty eight of Central West’s points being scored by their backs.

Central Coast had to work extremely hard to overcome Central North 27 – 7 at Woy Woy.  The first half was a very even affair with both team’s defence cancelling each other out, and it was only in the last ten minutes of the half that the Sea Hawks set up the 7 – 0 half time lead.  The second half saw the Central Coast forwards lift their intensity to take control of the match to run in another four unconverted tries against the Kookaburras.  Central North never gave up and crossed for a consolation converted try right on the fulltime bell.

Illawarra completely outclassed an under strength Western Plains 92 – 5 at Wollongong.  Late withdrawals of several key players left the Plainsmen’s playing stocks short and the Illawarriors took every opportunity to compile a record score.

In the Colts the Central Coast and Illawarra had to overcome half time deficits to defeat Central North and the Lloyd McDermott Foundation, while Newcastle Hunter and Central West had comfortable wins over  Far North Coast and New England.

Next weekend sees the Country Weekend being played at Belmont, with the Semi-Finals and Finals of the Caldwell Cup, Richardson Shield, Colts Championship and Colts Plate being played on 27 and 28 March respectively.

Qualifying Match Results – 20 March 2010

Seniors

Central Coast 27 – Central North 7
Central West 53 – New England 8
Illawarra 92 – Western Plains 5
Newcastle Hunter 39 – Far North Coast 3

Colts

Central Coast 30 – Central North 13
Central West 20 – New England 5
Illawarra 29 – Lloyd McDermott Foundation 14
Newcastle Hunter 43 – Far North Coast 12

Semi-Final Draw – 27 March 2010

Caldwell Cup

Newcastle Hunter v Central West – 4.00pm
Illawarra v Central Coast – 2.20pm

Richardson Shield

Far North Coast v New England – 12.40pm
Western Plains v Central North – 11.00am

Colts Championship

Newcastle Hunter v Central West – 3.30pm
Illawarra v Central Coast – 2.00pm

Colts Plate

Far North Coast v New England – 12.30pm
Lloyd McDermott v Central North – 11.00am

ENDS