Kiama Rugby returned to their winning ways over the weekend with a dominant performance against the Woonona Shamrocks, running in 11 tries on their way to a commanding 67-12 victory.After suffering just their second loss of the season last week to Campbelltown, Kiama were determined to bounce back - and with a scoreline like that, their statement was loud and clear.“Coming into this game, there was a lot of tension and a bit of a ‘get back’ feeling,” said forward Dante Patrick. “It took a while for us to get into our systems in the first half, but in the second half we really found it - and that’s when we started putting the points on.”Once they got going, they got going. Kiama were clinical in their execution, with tries coming from Cade-Michael Patrick, Atu Taufa, Nico Cowley, Jeromy Cairns, Jack Hobbs, Junior Amone, Mick Taylor, and Donte Efaraimo and more.Patrick said much of the week’s preparation focused on discipline and cutting out small errors after their second loss of the season.“We hadn’t lost a game since Round 1, so it was easy to get complacent. Campbelltown were just too good on the day,” he admitted.“Our ill-discipline let us down - making poor defensive decisions. We thought we could slip straight back into our patterns without giving them the respect they deserved. That’s what we needed to fix this week and we did a great job.”The match took place at Kiama Showground as part of the Celtic Rugby Festival, which featured performances from the Kiama Pipe Marching Band, dancing by the Blackbird Academy of Irish Dance, and traditional Celtic food.Kiama Pipe Marching Band playing Kiama onto the field for the Celtic Rugby Festival. Photo: Kiama Pipe Band “It was a big turnout. The bagpipes were going, they had the Irish dancing - it was the kind of thing you see on TV,” said Patrick. “To have something like that in our own backyard, and to be walked out and played out like that - it was unreal. We were really humbled and honoured.”This season has also been a milestone one for several Kiama players. Simiki Lufe, Raynold Taufa and Cade Patrick both played their 50th games, while Patrick notched his 100th - a testament to the strength and loyalty within the club.Kiama have had multiple players reach a milestone number of games this season. Photo: Kiama Rugby Club“It was a huge honour for me, especially for this club,” Patrick said. “To come back to where my old man started, and reach that milestone here, was really special. I was very humbled.“There’s a lot of loyalty in our club. Seeing those guys get their flowers is important - you’ve got to celebrate those achievements because, at the end of the day, they aren’t really small. That’s what keeps the morale high. Some of the younger boys will see those milestones and say, ‘I want to do that'."Next week, Kiama will face a major test in a 2024 grand final rematch against Shoalhaven. When the two teams met earlier in the season, Kiama ended Shoalhaven’s 43-game winning streak, and the reigning premiers will no doubt be hunting revenge.The match will be played at Shoalhaven Rugby Park as part of Digger’s Day, which will feature military displays, a Last Post ceremony, and an after-match function. The event also serves as a fundraiser for the Keith Payne VC Veterans Benefit Group, supporting veterans.

Kiama Knights and Gerringong Lions claimed victories over the weekend in Round 13 of the Group 7 South Coast Rugby League, with both sides now sitting comfortably inside the top five.Coming off a one-point win against the Shellharbour Sharks, the Lions went one better against the Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs, clinching the match by just two points.Played in Milton, it was the home side that struck first, scoring a try in the second minute. They followed it up with a spectacular effort in the ninth minute, as Jake Walsh plucked a Jayden Millard kick out of the air for a try.It looked as though the score would remain 12-0 at halftime, but seconds before the siren, Lions five-eighth Jake Taylor turned Noah Parker inside to score next to the posts.Gerringong needed to hit back after the break, and in the 55th minute, Toby Gumley-Quine broke through the Milton defence, running 40 metres to score a brilliant solo try and level the scores at 12-all.Gerringong are hitting form at the right time. Photo: @SticksPix_Ten minutes later, a clever short-side play allowed James Kunkler to cross in the corner. However, an unsuccessful conversion from Taylor kept the score at 16-12.With 10 minutes to go, Milton were attacking Gerringong’s line when halfback Jayden Millard put up a bomb, chased it himself, and capitalised on a fumble by the Gerringong fullback to reclaim the lead at 18-16.The game appeared to be over, but in a dramatic finish, Kunkler grubber-kicked near the sideline.The ball ricocheted off a Milton player's leg, and Kunkler kicked it again - twice - before Tyrell Taione grounded the ball millimetres from the dead-ball line, sealing a stunning game-winner for Gerringong.“It’s always a tough road trip down to Milton. We started slow, but I was impressed with how we changed the momentum with our kick chase and defence,” said Lions Captain Nathan Ford.“It was great to get a late win. We’re starting to win some of those close ones, which will put us in a good position for the games coming up at the end of the season.”Coach Scott Stewart reflected on the tight competition:“The competition is so close at the moment. It's crucial that you turn up every week because everyone's been beating everyone. So it's really important.”In a sign of just how unpredictable the competition is, league leaders Shellharbour Sharks suffered an unexpected loss to Albion Park-Oak Flats.Meanwhile, the Knights hosted Berry and even though the Magpies were coming off a strong win against Nowra-Bomaderry, they were no match for an in-form Kiama side.The Knights dominated early, scoring three unanswered tries in the first half through Kye Andrews, Callan Thistlethwaite, and Tom Atkins.Kye Andrews, who has been a standout for Kiama this year, crossing for one of Kiama's six tries. Photo: @SticksPix_Leading 16-0 at halftime, Kiama halfback Cameron Vazzoler sliced through the defence to score right after the break. Ashton Thurgate added another try in the 54th minute to extend the lead to 26-0.Berry did manage a well-worked consolation try off a long cut-out pass, but Kiama had the final say with Atkins crossing again in the 63rd minute - his second of the day.Injured fullback Brad Kilmore praised the team’s defensive effort:“The boys played very well. It was a great defensive effort - only letting in one try - and so good to get back in the winning circle."It’ll hopefully get us some momentum for the back end of the year.”Looking ahead, Kiama will host Milton-Ulladulla next week, while Gerringong will take on Albion Park. Jamberoo, who had the bye this week, will face Berry at home.

St George Illawarra's hopes of squeezing into the NRL finals have taken a huge hit after their controversial loss to Canterbury at Accor Stadium.The Dragons looked like they were about to cause a boilover win over the high-flying Bulldogs but a late try to Jethro Rinakama with less than three minutes on the clock gave the home side a 20-18 triumph.Dragons coach Shane Flanagan was irate over two calls from the match officials which he said cost his team the two valuable competition points."I was really proud of the effort they put in and the way they played, but the game was taken away from us from I believe wrong decisions," he said.He was particularly incensed after Canterbury successfully used a captain's challenge for a call on Jacob Kiraz, who planted the ball illegally as Luciano Leilua was ruled to have interfered in the ruck.Flanagan described that decision as "outrageous"."He's got to get to his feet before he plants the ball. You can't be falling sideways. You can't ball-plant. We lost the game because of it."Flanagan was also angry over Viliame Kikau batting the ball into Tyrell Sloan as he tried a quick pass on the left edge but the call was missed in the lead-up to new halfback Lachlan Galvin throwing the pass to Rinakama a short time later."In the collision that's a knock-on. Ever since 100 years, that's a knock-on and that was at the 78-minute mark," he said.'Some decisions tonight cost us two competition points and could cost us an opportunity to play semi-finals."The Dragons have now lost eight matches this year by 10 points or less.Kiraz scored the first try of the match but Sloan countered in the 16th minute. Galvin and Reed Mahoney crossed to make it 16-8 at half-time but St George Illawarra rallied with centre Moses Suli and winger Sione Finau getting on the scoresheet to put the underdogs up with 25 minutes remaining.They hung on grimly as the Dogs kept hammering their line before finally breaking in the 78th minute for Canterbury to rise into second spot following Melbourne's surprise home loss to Manly.Gerringong Lions forward Hamish Stewart made 27 tackles in just 32 minutes along with 67 metres from eight hit-ups.The Dragons are 11th with a 6-11 record, likely needing to win their final seven matches to get a spot in the playoffs.In the NRLW, the Dragons rose to a 2-1 record for the season after sinking the Dogs 18-14.

Kiama Rugby hosted a special exhibition match on Tuesday night (15 July), taking on a touring Canadian team in a spirited clash that ended in a 21-21 draw.The match was the brainchild of former Kiama player John Symington, who now lives and plays rugby in Canada. With his team touring Australia as part of the British and Irish Lions series, he saw it as the perfect opportunity to reconnect with his old club.“Their team is called The Black Sheep. They're from all over Canada, but mostly from Vancouver Island,” said Kiama Rugby players’ representative Jack Smith, who also laced up for the match. “They played against a mix of our under 18s, second-grade players, and a few old boys who wanted a run.”Played under the lights at Kiama Showground on a crisp winter evening, the game was filled with good humour and plenty of banter between the clashing Canadian and Aussie accents.“It ended in a 21-all draw, and it was just a great friendly to be part of - something fun to get around,” Smith said. “It’s always good to host an overseas club and connect like that. The Canadian Black Sheep team at Kiama Showground.“We even told the young boys, ‘Technically, this is an international fixture,’ so that gave it a bit of extra fun. "But it was also great to see how teams from other countries do their thing.”After the match, both teams came together in the clubhouse to swap stories, share laughs, and celebrate the spirit of international rugby.In a show of camaraderie, The Black Sheep presented a training jersey to the best player from the opposing team - an idea Kiama were happy to adopt and reciprocate.The game was played in great spirit, featuring competitive rugby, plenty of laughs, and flashes of genuine talent on both sides.The Black Sheep are continuing their tour across Australia and will be attending the third Test of the British and Irish Lions series against the Wallabies at Accor Stadium on 2 August.The Lions series kicks off this Saturday and Kiama Rugby’s under 18s will be hosting a watch party following their match against Shamrocks Rugby Club. The event will help raise funds for the team’s upcoming rugby tour to Japan.The watch party kicks off at 6pm, following the Celtic Rugby Festival, which begins at midday at Kiama Showground. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here: 👉 Eventbrite – British and Irish Lions Party

The lengthy wait was well worth it for Kiama bodyboarder Sophie Leathers after she was victorious at the inaugural women’s final of the Shark Island Challenge.Located off the coast of Cronulla, Shark Island is a rock reef renowned for producing one of Australia’s most dangerous and unpredictable waves - and it served as the dramatic setting for the long-awaited competition which draws competitors from around the world.Originally scheduled to take place between April 28 and June 30, the event window was extended to ensure the contest would run in peak conditions. Sophie was invited on March 4, making it feel almost poetic that the event finally went ahead exactly four months later to the day.“It ended up going ahead four months to the day of when I got invited, so it was literally just months of anxiety - and by the end of it, I was just ready for anything,” said Sophie.Although she only received the official confirmation three days before the event, Sophie had a feeling it was going to run that weekend. Sophie (right) with fellow competitor Rio Clarke. Photo: Sam Venn“I could tell just from the forecast. It was the end of the East Coast Low, which meant it was going to be big,” she said.And it was big. “It was crazy. It was a really good size - probably four to six feet all day - but the conditions were changing heaps. I was watching it, trying to work out where I should sit. I’ve only surfed there a few times, and it’s just such an unpredictable wave,” Sophie said.Eventually, she stopped overthinking. “I got to the point where I was like, I’m just going to surf. There’s no point over-analysing, because you don’t really know what you’re going to get.”The women’s heat was held just before the men’s final and was originally set to be an all-Kiama showdown - until local legend Lily Pollard was forced to withdraw due to injury.“She got injured a month ago with a serious lung injury, and I know how badly she wanted to be there,” said Sophie.“She’s really paved the way for women’s bodyboarding in Australia, especially at Shark Island - she’s been out there against the guys before. She inspired me to do it, and I reckon she’ll be back next year, sending it as hard as ever.”Sophie and Rio in the water together. Photo: Sam VennWestern Australian bodyboarder Rio Clarke stepped in to replace Lily. Sophie said her own performance was full of wipeouts, but her first and last waves secured her the win.“It was pretty much my first wave and last wave that were the highest scores - everything in between was a wipeout,” she laughed.“Honestly, my favourite waves of the whole comp were the wipeouts. Just paddling into a wave and getting taken out - it’s so addictive. There’s so many little things you can tweak to improve it. The feeling, the energy of the wave, it’s pretty surreal.”Now, Sophie is hoping her win will earn her a spot in the 2026 event - and she’s keen to see the women’s field grow.“It’s definitely a risky and high-consequence wave, but at the same time, there’s still that point where you can push yourself. "I’m super keen to hopefully get the invite again next year, and if they can get some of these other girls in too, I think it’ll be a crazy show.”

Kiama will take part in a special exhibition match on Tuesday night (15 July) against a touring Canadian team that includes a former Kiama player, as part of the British and Irish Lions tour festivities.The friendly fixture kicks off at 6pm at Kiama Showground and is open to all spectators.Kiama Rugby Club president Mark Redding hoped to see a big turnout for the match.“We love to accommodate past players and we can’t wait to see what the talent is like from Canada, and see how our two teams match up to one another," he said. "It should be a great night.”Kiama are coming off just their second loss of the Illawarra rugby season - once again at the hands of Campbelltown, the side that handed them their first defeat back in Round 1.After a strong run of form since that one-point loss, Kiama were hoping to settle the score on home turf. But it quickly became clear that Campbelltown had no plans to roll over.The visitors crossed in the corner within the opening five minutes. Kiama responded not long after, with Zechariah Taufa powering over the line to even the ledger.From there, the game became a tightly contested affair. Dante Efaraimo bagged a double for Kiama to lock the scores at 15-all, but Campbelltown landed a try just before the break to go into halftime with a 22-15 lead.Straight after the restart, Campbelltown struck again off the back of a dominant scrum and went on to score three consecutive tries, extending their lead to 39-15.Kiama managed a final consolation try through Tonga Kaivao-Tongotongo, but it was too little, too late, as the hosts went down 39-20.After the midweek match with the Canadian touring team, Kiama will turn their attention to this Saturday's clash against the Woonona Shamrocks in hopes of returning to the winners’ circle.

Gerringong and Shellharbour have clashed in the past two Group 7 South Coast grand finals, with the Lions coming out on top both times. In 2025, however, Shellharbour have had the stronger start and they sit atop the ladder while Gerringong came into the weekend sitting fifth.Their match-up at Mick Cronin Oval was the Round 7 washout replay, and Shellharbour looked poised to finally get their revenge. Both sides were without key players - Gerringong missing captain Nathan Ford and Shellharbour without co-captain Braxton Wallace. The Sharks got off to a dream start after Gerringong made an error from the kickoff, scoring off the ensuing scrum. They crossed again in the 19th minute to make it 8-0, a lead they held until the 35th minute when Gerringong winger James Kunkler finished off a short-side play to close the gap.Despite the loss, Shellharbour \remain at the top of the Group 7 ladder. Photo: SticksPix_Shellharbour led 8–6 at the break and continued to dominate early in the second half, until Gerringong’s Isaac Russell broke through the middle and scored under the posts in the 56th minute.The Sharks responded just five minutes later, regathering a loose bomb to score through Malakai Tomo. The match was locked at 12–12 with just under 20 minutes to play.Both teams tightened up in defence, and a draw looked likely. But in the 75th minute, Shellharbour were awarded a set on Gerringong’s line and nearly scored through hooker Bailey Wallace, only to be denied by desperate Lions defenders. A late penalty gave Gerringong field position, and five-eighth Jake Taylor nailed a field goal to edge his team ahead 13–12. Shellharbour went short from the kickoff and gained a whole set in Gerringong’s half, but the Lions held firm to secure the win.Gerringong coach Scott Stewart said he was pleased with the side’s composure, calling it one of the first times this year the team has managed to win a game that was truly in the balance. “I think it comes down to our young guys getting a bit more experienced,” Stewart said. “Early in the year we had a lot of blokes that hadn't played much first grade and now those guys have got 12 or so games under their belt and now they've realised how to hang in there in those crucial moments.”Reflecting on Taylor’s match-winning moment, Stewart admitted the field goal came from an unlikely source. “Everyone else in the club likes to kick field goals, Jake's probably the one bloke that doesn't practice it,” he said. “But he kicked one against them two years ago that got us a win up there as well. "So, there's plenty of other blokes in the side that like to think they can do it, but Jake seems to be the only one that steps up to it in a game.”Kiama will be looking to get back into the winners circle next week against Berry. Photo: SticksPix_The Kiama Knights travelled to Albion Park with several players sidelined by injury but got off to a strong start, scoring in the 10th minute through standout centre Max Jennings. Albion Park hit back 10 minutes later through forward Sean Payne, who powered over from close range. Just before halftime, Kiama regained possession after a dropped kick and crossed through winger Cade Hotham. The Knights struck first in the second half, with fullback Tom Atkins sneaking over after a surprise offload near the line, pushing the score to 14–6.But Albion Park fought back with two similar tries down the left through winger Cooper Barnes, locking the score at 14–14 and the deadlock remained until full-time, marking the first draw of the 2025 season.Injured Kiama fullback Brad Killmore praised the team’s effort despite the result: “The lads put in a solid effort, just lacked some polish on the execution. “Having a few players out, we knew it’d be a tough battle. A win would’ve been nice, but we’ll take a point and build into next week.”Jamberoo bounced back with a strong 26-12 win over Milton-Ulladulla away from home. Milton, who had only lost once at home this season, looked sharp early, scoring in the 10th minute.But it was all Jamberoo from there, piling on four tries either side of halftime through Talbott, Asquith, Johnson and Wilkins to take control at 22–6. Milton managed a late try in the 72nd minute, but Jamberoo hit back four minutes later to seal the result.This weekend, Gerringong will look to do the same when they play Milton away. Kiama will be at home against Berry, while Jamberoo has the bye.

UNDER 15 DIVISION 1KIAMA JFC VS BULLI

UNDER 12 GIRLS - DIVISION 2KIAMA JFC VS HELENSBURGH THISTLE

UNDER 15 MIXED - DIVISION 3KIAMA 2 d SHELLHARBOUR 1

St George Illawarra Dragons' finals hopes are hanging by a thread after a narrow loss to the Roosters loss at Kogarah on Saturday night.They are now four points off eighth spot in 11th place with a 6-10 record and probably have to win seven of their remaining eight matches to have any chance of sneaking into the finals.The Dragons put up a gallant fight against the star-studded Roosters but ended up losing 31-24.Gerringong Lions forward Hamish Stewart made a comeback from a week out with a concussion, playing 21 minutes off the bench and getting through 19 tackles in a typically busy stint from the rookie lock.He injured his knee and could be in doubt to play the Bulldogs at Homebush next Saturday.The Dragons conceded the first try to Daniel Tupou but equalised when Tyrell Sloan crossed the stripe in the seventh minute.After another Roosters try to Tupou, the home side went 18-12 up when young winger Sione Finau touched down twice in the space of four minutes.The Roosters drew level when Maroons centre Robert Toia outleapt Queensland teammate Valentine Holmes for a bomb and they took a 19-18 lead into the break after Sam Walker snapped a field goal just before half-time.Roosters centre Billy Smith extended their advantage to seven early in the second half before second-rower Jaydn Su'A, in his 150th NRL game, set up a thrilling finish when he notched a try with 15 minutes remaining.The visitors sealed the win three minutes from the final siren when lock Victor Radley scored next to the posts.Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said they paid the price for a slow start to the game when they allowed two tries within the first 10 minutes."In the end, that's the game," he said."After that, we got in a bit of an arm wrestle, played some good football but you can't gift any team, let alone the Roosters, 12 points at the start of the game."The Dragons face another tough task next Saturday when they tackle the third-placed Bulldogs at Accor Stadium.

SOUTH COAST AFL PREMIER DIVISIONKIAMA POWER 73 d SHELLHARBOUR 50

KIIAMA QUARRIERS 2 d FIGTREE 0

KIAMA JFC U14 - DIVISION 3VS SHELLHARBOUR

KIAMA JFC U13 MIXED - DIVISION 3VS SHELLHARBOUR

The Kiama Downs Surf Life Saving Club's Inflatable Rescue Boat team delivered an outstanding performance at the State IRB Championships, bringing home an impressive haul of 16 medals.Held at Cape Hawke from June 27-29, Kiama Downs SLSC fielded just 17 competitors - but still finished third overall in the pointscore, competing against clubs with up to 60 athletes.“We went up there not expecting a lot, with some key competitors injured or away,” said Kiama Downs SLSC vice IRB captain Steve Strong.“So to come away with 16 medals from 30 races and 20 finals - and to finish third overall - is just sensational.”Of those 16 medals, seven were gold, including wins in the Open Male Rescue and Teams, U23 Male Rescue, 35+ Male Mass and Rescue, 35+ Female Teams, and Rookie Rescue divisions.“To top it off, every competitor came home with a medal,” Strong said.Kiama Downs SLSC at the State IRB Championships. Photo: Malcolm Trees.“For some it was their first state medal, for others their first state gold, and for many their biggest haul at a State Championships.”The result is even more impressive considering several top athletes were absent or managing injuries in preparation for the upcoming Australian Championships.“We’ve got a few competitors overseas and others resting with niggling injuries ahead of Aussies at South West Rocks,” Strong said.“One of our female drivers is among the top in the state in both Open and Masters, and one of our male drivers is a standout in his divisions too. So the fact that we performed so well without our full squad gives us a lot of encouragement.”Strong credits the club’s success to a mix of experienced members, quality coaching, and a sharp focus on individual events.“We’ve got long-time racers who are excellent coaches and mentors,” he said.“Our mindset is simple: focus on the race in front of you. We don’t worry about the point score - we’re there to win what we’re in.”The Kiama Downs team now shifts its attention to the Australian IRB Championships, to be held at South West Rocks from July 16-20. The Bugle wishes all local competitors the very best of luck!Kiama Downs medal winners:Gold1st Open Male Rescue1st Open Male Teams1st U23 Male Rescue1st 35+ Male Mass1st 35+ Male Rescue1st 35+ Female Teams1st Rookie RescueSilver2nd 35+ Male Teams2nd 35+ Female Rescue2nd Rookie MassBronze3rd Open Male Tube3rd 35+ Male Tube3rd 35+ Female Mass3rd 35+ Female Tube3rd 45+ Open Mass3rd Open Mixed Relay

Gerringong Lions forward Hamish Stewart has been recalled to the St George Illawarra side for Saturday's crucial clash with the Roosters at Kogarah.Stewart was stood down from last Saturday's 28-24 loss to the Raiders in Canberra after suffering a concussion in the prevoius round when the Dragons knocked off Parramatta at WIN Stadium.The rookie lock has been cleared to make his return and was named on the interchange bench when Shane Flanagan announced his Round 19 team on Tuesday.Former Maroons forward Jaydn Su’A will line up for his 150th NRL game after the Samoan international previously played for Brisbane and South Sydney.He joined the Dragons in 2022 and after winning the Dragons Medal a year ago, he has been one of the team's top performers this season.Queensland winger Valentine Holmes has been named to back up from Wednesday's State of Origin decider at Accor Stadium, which means centre Corey Allan has been dropped to the reserves.Veteran second-rower Luciano Leilua has overcome a quad strain which sidelined him last week to also boost the pack alongside Stewart.Michael Molo has been relegated to the interchange with Loko Pasifiki Tonga and Viliami Fifita now in the reserves.The Dragons have won just six of theeir 15 starts in 2025 but are still in the playoff hunt in 11th spot, just two competition points behind eighth-placed Manly.They could leapfrog the Roosters, who are in ninth, if they can topple them at Kogarah this weekend.The Roosters have five players on representative duty - Connor Watson, Robert Toia, Angus Crichton, Spencer Leniu and Lindsay Collins, while centre Billy Smith (knee), halfback Sam Walker (thumb) and lock Victor Radley (concussion) have also been named to make their return from injury.This Saturday's match will be a double-header with the NRLW side taking on the Roosters at 3.15pm before the NRL match at 5.30pm.The club will be celebrating the 15-year anniversary of the 2010 grand final victory over the Roosters with a strong contingent of former players on hand for the clash.

Kiama Power’s Premier Division side sent a powerful message to the Illawarra competition with a crushing 138–30 win over the Wollongong Bulldogs.In a historic day for the club, both the Reserve and Premier Division teams defeated their Bulldogs counterparts - something committee member Anthony Grady believes may never have happened before.“It might be the first time we’ve ever beaten both Bulldogs men’s sides on the same day,” Grady said.“We’ve been digging through the records and can’t find another instance - so it could be a club first.”It was only the second time the Power and Bulldogs had met this season, with the previous encounter decided by just four points in Kiama’s favour.To turn that into a 108-point blowout reflects how far the side has come.“That first game was our first win of the season, but we walked away a little disappointed,” Grady said.Kiama Power were coming off three losses before their historic win over the weekend. Photo: Maddi Aitkin.“We felt we dominated most of that match but let them score a few late goals in the last quarter, which made it look closer than it was.”At the halfway point of the season, Grady had called on the team to play with more confidence and maintain intensity through all four quarters. Last weekend, he saw that mindset come to life.“We showed much more confidence and focus. It was great to see the boys overcome that mental barrier,” he said.“We kicked 10 goals to none in the final quarter - we didn’t take the foot off the gas the whole way through.”Seventeen-year-old midfielder Elias Oldfield made his Premier Division debut and was a standout, kicking three goals.“We actually had 5-6 regular starters out, so it was great to see other players step up,” said Grady.Elias Oldfield made his Premier Division debut. Photo: Kiama Power.“Elias has come through our juniors, and he was outstanding on debut.”Despite the dominant performance, Grady stressed the team is staying grounded ahead of a huge match-up this weekend.“The Bulldogs are below us on the ladder, so we’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” he said.“This weekend is a big one - we face Shellharbour, who we haven’t played yet and they’re sitting third. We haven’t beaten a team above us yet, so this is a real test.”Meanwhile, Kiama Power’s women’s side narrowly went down to Bomaderry by just three points. They’ll be looking to bounce back this weekend when they take on the Wollongong Bulldogs.

Gerringong surfer Lucy Darragh has risen to the top of the Oceania/Australia Qualifying Series rankings following her standout victory at the Nias Pro in Indonesia.The 15-year-old surfed her way to a breakthrough win on the international stage, dominating the event held in Nias from June 21 to 26.“The trip was such a cool experience,” Lucy said. “I learnt so much. The waves at Nias were incredible - especially for a competition.”In the final, Darragh faced close friend Charli Hately. She locked in scores of 7 and 6.53 on her opening two waves - enough to secure the win.“It was so good to share a final with such a good friend. We were laughing and having a chat out there - it was such a good atmosphere,” she said.Her father, Larn Darragh, was waiting in the channel during the final. Once the result was confirmed, Lucy paddled over to share the special moment with him.Lucy surfing in Nias.“Both my dad and I were so excited - and a bit shocked too! It took a while for the achievement to sink in, but I’m so happy and can’t wait to compete there again,” said Lucy.The win bumped her to number one on the Oceania/Australia Qualifying Series Rankings - one of her major goals for 2025.“I’m surprised to be on top of the rankings this early, especially with how many incredible surfers are competing,” she said.“I’m hoping to do well in the upcoming QS6000 events later in the season and hopefully finish in the top four to qualify for the Challenger Series.”While in Indonesia, Lucy also competed in the Krui Pro, facing off against a field of more-experienced surfers. She advanced to the Round of 32 before being narrowly eliminated.“Although I got knocked out early, I learnt a lot of new heat strategies and gained experience at the top QS level,” she said.“Krui is such a special place - with so many waves to surf and fun adventures - so I’m really grateful I got to go there.”With her sights now firmly set on the Challenger Series, it seems Gerringong may have another rising star in the making - following in the sandy footsteps of local legend Sally Fitzgibbons.