Just 17 for-and-against points separated the Kiama Knights from clinching the 2025 Group 7 South Coast minor premiership, despite a commanding 44-6 win over the Stingrays of Shellharbour.Heading into the final round of the season, three teams - Shellharbour Sharks, Kiama Knights, and the Stingrays of Shellharbour - were locked at the top of the ladder on 25 points.Kiama trailed the first-placed Sharks by 11 points in the for-and-against tally, but their big win couldn't quite match Shellharbour's even more emphatic 48-4 victory over the Jamberoo Superoos.Playing away on Saturday, the Knights started strongly with a fourth-minute try to forward Matt Nicholson.It was a high-scoring day for the forward pack, with prop Taj Roberts burrowing over for the team’s second try more than 20 minutes later.Second-rower Travis Barrett-Hancock then powered over in the 31st minute to send the Knights into the break with an 18-0 lead.Kiama halfback Cameron Vazzoler shined in their win against the Stingrays. Photo: @SticksPix_For context, the next day, the minor premiership rivals Shellharbour Sharks went into halftime leading 24-0 over Jamberoo.In the second half of Kiama’s clash, second-rower Tom Angel continued the forwards’ dominance, scoring in the 46th minute.The Stingrays responded in the 52nd minute through Zechariah Taufa, who crashed over after a sharp pass from halfback Trey Barlow.But three late tries from Kiama, including a double to centre Max Jennings, sealed the result and sent the Stingrays sliding to fourth on the ladder.Despite the strong scoreline, Shellharbour's 48-4 win over Jamberoo ensured they held onto the minor premiership, finishing with a 15-point advantage in for-and-against over Kiama.Knights fullback Brad Killmore was still pleased with the performance.“We played a complete 80 minutes. We defended well and executed the chances we got, which were good signs. Securing a home semi-final and a second chance was our main aim - and we did that,” Killmore said.Kiama will now host the third-placed Albion Park Oak Flats Eagles in a major semi-final next Sunday. Having lost to the Eagles in their last meeting, Killmore said the focus would be on fixing the finer details that led to that defeat.“Mainly just the little things - they beat us last time. Our completions weren’t great, so completing high and defending well is a good start. If we do that, the points will come,” he said.Meanwhile, the Gerringong Lions delivered a statement win heading into finals, thrashing the Nowra-Bomaderry Jets 46-6 on the road.The Lions ran in eight tries to the Jets’ one, with doubles to fullback Wes Pring and centre Toby Gumley-Quine.Gerringong finished the regular season in fifth place and will now face the fourth-placed Stingrays in an elimination minor semi-final as they begin their quest for a threepeat.Final 2025 Group 7 South Coast Ladder:Shellharbour Sharks (27)Kiama Knights (27)Albion Park Oak Flats Eagles (25)Stingrays of Shellharbour (25)Gerringong Lions (24)Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs (16)Jamberoo Superoos (12)Nowra-Bomaderry Jets (12)Berry Magpies (12)

WERRI BEACH BOARDRIDERSSUPER SURFERS

WERRI BEACH BOARDRIDERS MASTER BLASTERS

WERRI BEACH BOARDRIDERSSHREDDERS

WERRI BEACH BOARDRIDERSYOUNG GUNS

WERRI BEACH BOARDRIDERSPOINT SCORE

ILLAWARRA RUGBY UNION - FIRST GRADEMAJOR SEMI-FINALKIAMA 38 d CAMPBELLTOWN 26

ILLAWARRA RUGBY UNION - 2ND GRADE MAJOR SEMI-FINAL KIAMA 31 d SHOALHAVEN 21

KIAMA JUNIOR NETBALL - INTERMEDIATE A PRELIMINARY FINALGERRINGONG 6 26 d CENTRAL 11 19

KIAMA JUNIOR NETBALL - INTERMEDIATE BPRELIMINARY FINALBEACHETTES 8 22 d CENTRAL 12 12

KIAMA JUNIOR NETBALL - JUNIOR CPRELIMINARY FINALGERRINGONG 10 7 d BEACHETTES 12 6

KIAMA JUNIOR NETBALL - UNDER 10BERRY 7 12 d CENTRAL 17 0

St George Illawarra Dragons' defence went missing in their loss to Manly at Kogarah on Saturday.They went down 40-24 as the Sea Eagles kept their slim finals hopes alive, the second week in a row that the Dragons have conceded 40 points.Lyhkan King-Togia scored in the ninth minute as part of a promising start by the home side but they looked to be heading for an embarrassing defeat after trailing 22-6 at halftime.Manly prop Tof Sipley was sin-binned in the 42nd minute and Jacob Liddle and Christian Tuipulotu touched down to bring the Dragons back into the contest at 22-18.Sea Eagles forward Corey Waddell and Tommy Talau crossed the stripe soon after Sipley returned from the sin bin as the scoreline blew out.The Dragons have dropped to 15th on the ladder after they were top-eight contenders for most of the season."We've got to go out next week playing Penrith, and who knows what team they put out, but go out with some respect," Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said.Their record now sits at 8-15 heading into Saturday's WIN Stadium showdown with the Panthers.Gerringong Lions forward Hamish Stewart missed the match against Manly due to a recent concussion while rookie centre Hayden Buchanan made 88 run metres from 13 hit-ups and 26 tackles out wide.In the NRLW, Kiama junior Maria Paseka continued her recent purple patch with a try in St George Illawarra's 26-18 win over the Warriors.The Dragons have improved to a 3-6 record and moved up to a share of seventh spot with the Warriors heading into the final round.They travel north to face Newcastle next Sunday.

When a young footy player gets the chance to play a higher grade of rugby league, they can have a number of highlights, if they are lucky, in a career. The first-grade debut is certainly one of these. A lot of great players never get the chance to run on the field in ONE premiership match. I certainly did not.Ashton Ward is a young player who sought a chance at South Sydney this year. In the normal course of events, he most likely would have just played in the lower grades and hoped for a chance next year or the one after. This would be the same for many young men and women in all the NRL clubs. But this has not been a normal year for Souths. Almost a whole NRL team has been on the injury list on many occasions. This meant Ashton got a chance to play first grade, and he has made every post a winner.He has played in five premiership games. By coincidence (or is it coincidence?), Souths have won the last three games in a row after a horror run of losses.Last week was the highlight in his brief career when he starred in their 40-0 win over St George Illawarra. Ashton's old teammate from his Gerringong days, Hayden Buchanan, was playing at centre for the Dragons so this game had a special meaning for him.And what a game it was. Ashton played no small part in a great victory. The highlight was the try assist for the first try of the match. Ashton threaded the needle with a little kick behind the line for Jacob Host to pounce. In fact, he was heavily involved in just about all of the significant attacking plays in the match. Ashton’s defence has been notable in all games. He has a beautiful style of “grasscutting”, an old term meaning he tackles around the legs. Everybody did that in the olden days.On top of this, the rookie five-eighth was in sensational goalkicking form with six goals from seven attempts.The commentators were generous in their praise of him although they made jokes at his expense about his size and the fact that he looks very young. Interviewed after the match, Ashton did make a comment about how tough it was when huge bodies headed his way.Mind you he and Jye Gray share the ‘little blokes’ tag in the team and the fullback has also been in sensational form.They only have one more match this season after the bye when they face the Roosters next Friday.Ashton will hopefully get to have extended time playing alongside Cody Walker next season. Cody is a brilliant, highly experienced playmaker and would be a great mentor.South Sydney’s supporters certainly hope so - they have been lavish in their praise on The Warren fan forum with comments like these ones:“This kid is not ready for first grade, but no one told him. He has stood up with one of the smallest frames to play the game in a long time. The kid tackled his heart out and stood in front of anyone.”“We’ve had two wins straight with Ward starting.“Ward is a very legitimate chance to be one of our long-term halves.”“Ward reminds me of a young Keary. If he’s half as good as Keary, he’ll be a fine player.”“Take a bow Ashton Ward, and a ten-year contract.”Will Ashton be able to compare with the other Gerringong legends who made it in the premiership like Eels legend Mick Cronin, Paul Quinn and Rod Wishart? Time will tell but he’s off to a great start.

A rained-out weekend brought an early end to Kiama Power’s 2025 season, but despite all three grades missing out on finals, the club is calling it a step forward in its ongoing rebuild.Both of Kiama Power’s Premier Division teams - men’s and women’s - finished fifth on the ladder, just one spot shy of finals contention. The reserve grade side wrapped up their season in sixth place.“It was a few rough seasons, with the men's first grade team averaging a 100-point losing margin for two years,” said committee member Anthony Grady. “So it was good to turn that around and be competitive again.”A highlight of the season came in the form of individual accolades, with four players across the premier teams selected in the AFL South Coast Teams of the Year.“We had Hamish Robertson and Josh Simpson named in the men's team, and for the women, Dakota Mason and Teneale Keene were both selected,” said Grady. '“Our women’s coach, Arthur Chilcott, was also named coach of that women’s team of the year, which is a great recognition.”In the league’s medal count, one of Kiama's new recruits, Jack Eastwood, made a big impression - finishing runner-up in the Best and Fairest despite only joining the club in Round 7. “I think if he’d played a full season, he could’ve taken that award out,” Grady said.Off the field, Kiama Power has worked hard to build a stronger club atmosphere and sense of community. Kiama Power's Premier Division mens side finished one spot away from the top four. Photo: Kiama Power“We're really proud of the culture we've built this year,” Grady said. “We had a lot of new players join the club - including some top recruits who were recognised at the league awards night or selected for representative honours.”A major achievement for the club was securing more than 60 player sponsors - a number Grady says is almost unmatched in the league.“We’re very proud of that,” he said. “It’s allowed us to put on more events for members, players, and supporters, which strengthens the connection between everyone at the club.”The club also invested in growing its online presence, recently passing one million views on Instagram. Grady believes that’s been a key tool in attracting new players and sponsors. “We like to think that if a new player is looking around, we’re now front of mind,” he said. “And with that, it brings in new opportunities and partnerships that also benefit local businesses through sponsorship. It also gives people a chance to get to know the players behind the scenes, which really helps connect the community.”Looking ahead to 2026, Kiama Power has its sights set on expanding its women’s program. “Our biggest goal is to field a second women’s team next year - both a Premier Division side and a Reserve Grade team,” Grady said. “Adding a second side will boost depth and performance, but more importantly, help grow the club culture by bringing more women into the fold. That’s a really important step for us heading into next season.”While the on-field action has wrapped, the season isn’t over just yet. Kiama Power’s Presentation Night is set for Friday, 19 September, where players, coaches, and supporters will come together to celebrate a year of progress - both on and off the field.

For the first time in Kiama Rugby Club’s history, the club will host a major semi-final - with the first and reserve grade teams taking the field.The major semi-final, played between the top two teams on the ladder, offers a direct path to the grand final for the winner. The loser gets a second chance the following week in the preliminary final.After finishing second in both grades, Kiama will play for a spot in the grand final this Saturday at Kiama Showground."It's a great milestone for us," said club president Mark Redding. "We've never had a home major semi-final with both grades in it before.“We’ve had minor semis way back in the early 2000s, but never a major semi-final with both teams involved, so it’s a big moment for the club - and very exciting.”Kiama will face Campbelltown in first grade and Shoalhaven in reserve grade. Redding expects both visiting teams to bring strong supporter groups."Campbelltown usually travel well, and Shoalhaven do too," he said. "Plus we’re expecting a big turnout from Kiama, with both teams involved. We’re focused on making sure everyone is looked after and has a great day."This semi-final is the culmination of several years of rebuilding and development, with Kiama first grade making last year’s grand final and reserve grade finishing in the top four.“Both sides did really well last year,” said Redding. “We were hoping to build on that, especially because we didn’t lose many players - and we picked up a few. We were very confident coming into this season."Kiama Rugby are calling on the Kiama community to come out and support both grades as they try and qualify for the grand final. Photo: Brian ScottRedding credited coaches James and Trevor Patrick for their leadership and recruitment, noting the strong culture they've fostered at the club.“James and Trevor deserve a lot of credit. They’ve put together a great squad, they’ve got a strong reputation, and players want to play for them,” he said.“The playing group is a great bunch of blokes - they work hard and enjoy themselves on and off the field. That shows in the way they play. Plus, the club is fully behind them. The support they get really helps.”Kiama Rugby is eyeing an historic double - winning the premiership in both grades, something Redding can’t recall ever happening.“Not in my time,” he said. “The last grand final we won was first grade in 2003. I’m not saying it’s never happened, but I’ve never heard of both grades winning in the same year.”Heading into the weekend, Kiama’s reserve grade holds a 1-1 record against Shoalhaven this season, while first grade has lost both encounters with Campbelltown.Reserve grade will kick off at 1.30pm at Kiama Showground, followed by first grade at 3pm.Redding called on the local community to get behind the teams.“I’d love the community to come down and support both teams,” he said. “To host a home major semi with both sides involved is a big achievement - it doesn’t happen every day.”“We’d love to see that reflected in a big crowd on the sideline, cheering, wearing the black and white. Let’s get both teams into the grand final - that would be fantastic.”

Josh Douglas, captain of Kiama Downs Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC), has been named Facilitator of the Year at the Surf Life Saving NSW Awards of Excellence, held recently at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney.Kiama Downs had nominees in nine categories on the night, with Douglas taking home one of the top honours.“I don’t really like getting recognition and things like that, but it’s nice,” said Douglas.The Facilitator of the Year award recognises individuals who train and assess surf lifesavers in essential skills across areas such as first aid, resuscitation, and rescue craft operation.“For me, that means a lot of first aid courses, advanced resuscitation, IRB and RWC - which are the jet ski courses,” Douglas explained.“This past season, I also travelled to a lot of branches across NSW to upskill trainers in IRB operations. There’s new work being done in that area. I even went down to Victoria to learn about the updated RWC (jet ski) training, then brought that knowledge back to share with clubs across New South Wales.”Douglas was also recognised closer to home, receiving Club Person of the Year at Kiama Downs SLSC’s own presentation night last Friday. Club President Brett Schweitzer highlighted Douglas’ wide-ranging contribution to the club.“Josh was away for about two weeks this year supporting the Northern Rivers during the floods,” Schweitzer said.“He’s heavily involved in our community events, like Australia Day, and he’s on three patrols - so he does a huge number of patrolling hours. He’s also on call for after-hours rescues, and he never says no to those.”The Kiama Downs SLSC crew at the SLSNSW Awards of Excellence. Photo: Kiama Downs SLSCDouglas has been part of the club for 27 years and recently completed his 20th season as Club Captain. His motivation, he says, is simple.“It’s the people. The members at Kiama Downs are there for the community - they want to help. It’s just a great bunch of people working together, not just to improve the club, but to make the broader community better too,” he said.Schweitzer said the awards serve as a valuable reminder of the efforts made by volunteers.“Volunteers don’t seek recognition, but we should take at least one opportunity each year to acknowledge the incredible work they do,” he said.“None of the people we recognised do it for awards. They do it because they care about the community. These awards are just a moment to reflect on that - and have a bit of fun too.”Kiama Downs SLSC Presentation Night Award WinnersJunior Competitor: Maria Flor Santana De CastroCompetitor: Kirra DaleCadet: Polly Gazzard Junior Member: Darcy NewmanBill Gown Award: Gary TrudgettPatrol Person: Nick MulhollandClub Person: Josh DouglasKiama Downs Nominees at the 2025 SLSNSW Awards of ExcellenceCoach: Nathon FosterAssessor: Trina JensenServices Team: Support Services Team, Kiama DownsYouth Volunteer: Archie WeirSurf Sports Team: Red IRB Racing TeamSurf Lifesaver of the Year: Nicholas MulhollandPatrol Captain: Benjamin McAlisterSupport Operations Manager: Josh Douglas

KIAMA JUNIOR NETBALL - CADETSBEACHETTES 5 26 d BERRY 2 14

KIAMA JUNIOR NETBALL - CADETSBEACHETTES 5 26 d BERRY 2 14