Kiama RUFC added two more wins to their season overall on Saturday, 28 June, when the club hosted the Woonona Shamrocks.

This was the first home game in a while, and coach James Patrick said it was nice to be back at the Kiama Showground. 

“A little more fun for the boys. The last couple of weeks have been a bit muddy, rainy and windy. It’s horrible to come out and play those games.”

The round-11 game had all the ingredients for a great afternoon of rugby: sunny skies, a good-looking ground and a vocal, happy crowd. And let’s not forget the canteen, serving up sausage rolls and pies.

Visiting Shamrocks didn’t receive any free points from the first grade, which converted a solid defence and strong passing into a 52-12 win. The second grade took an early lead with Shamrocks coming back in the second half. But Kiama managed to hold on, winning 24-17.

“It’s pleasing as a coach but we still got so much to work on,” said Patrick. “We’re sort of in a place where we’re still in a rebuilding stage. The guys go to get comfortable with how each other plays. But we’re getting there so it was not too bad.”

“I’m happy with the way they played, certain parts of the field were really good. And it’s good to see the smiles on everybody’s faces.”

Moving into the second half of the draw, Kiama RUFC’s next game is away against Campbelltown on Saturday, 6 July. 

In other news, Kiama rugby juniors Rico Ross and Callum Hodgson represented Kiama High School and NSW at the 50th annual Australian Schools Rugby Union (ASRU) Championship in Queensland, 1-5 July. 

Ross received the Best and Fairest award for the Firsts. He was also selected to the NSW Juniors team to compete at the Australian Championships in Queensland.