The Wollongong Brumbies scored a nail-biting 16 – 14 win over top-placed Sutherland Seahawks at Figtree Oval tonight. The Brumbies scored off an interception to go up 8 – 0 and then held out the Seahawks before extending their lead to 16 – 0. The Seahawks connected on a long pass to cut the lead to 16 – 8 in the dying seconds of the first half. The Seahawks scored the only touchdown of the second half but were unable to convert. The Seahawks had their chances to grab a victory but the plucky Wollongong defence refused to yield and the Brumbies posted their second win of the season 16 – 14.

The Wollongong Brumbies laid the offensive woes that had dogged them the first three weeks of the season to rest to record their first win of the 2013 season holding out the North West Predators 16 – 12 in a nail-biter at Craik Park, Austral on Saturday afternoon.

The Predators choice to elected to have first use of the football backfired on them as they fumbled the ball on their second play which was recovered by promising young rookie Nic Thompson giving the Brumbies good field position.

The retooled Brumbies offensive unit immediately found the rhythm that has been missing so far this season, with running backs Tom Roberts and Jack Caputi benefitting from the new blocking schemes to set up a 16 yard touchdown run by Joshua Hayward. Quarterback Daniel Ratajoski passing to an open Jack Cuputi to convert the touchdown to expend the lead to 8 – 0 after 5 minutes of play.

The Predators turned the ball over again on their next possession with Hugh Vaughan-Floyd intercepting a wayward pass to again give the Brumbies field possession deep in Predator territory. However on this occasion, the Brumbies were unable to come up with any points, driving the ball to the 1 yard line before fumbling the ball and handing possession back to their opponents.

The Predators offense turned to its running game and it paid dividends scoring on a 20 yard run which they were unable to convert to cut the lead to 8 – 6 which was score at half time as both teams were unsuccessful on their next possession.

The Brumbies scored again with their possession from the kick-off to the second half with Tom Roberts getting some good downfield blocks to race 55 yards to score and then converted his run to extend Wollongong’s lead to 16 – 6. But the Predators struck straight back returning the kick-off for a touchdown which they were unable to convert to cut the lead back to 16 – 12.

The Brumbies were forced to punt on their next possession and the Predators drove the ball downfield to the Brumbies 1 yard line before being forced back and force to hand possession back to Wollongong. But the Brumbies chance to close out the game was wasted with possession fumbled on their first play and ball was recovered by the Predators to set up a nail-biting finish.

Again the Predators drove down to the Brumbies 1 yard line with desperate cover defence from the Wollongong secondary forcing the Predators wide receiver out of bounds before he could cross the goal line. But it was the Predators who cracked under the pressure with some ill-disciplined play and the Brumbies received the ball back and took a knee to run out the clock and score their first win of the season.

The Wollongong Brumbies quest for a three-peat in the Gridiron NSW Colts competion got off to a faultering start when an under strength unit came up against the Central Coast Sharks in a replay of last years grand-final. Starting the game with four key veterans out with injury or unavailable their task was made even harder when running back Jake Dubos dislocated his finger on the opening play.

After both teams went four and out on their opening possessions, the Sharks were first to score, capitalising on Brumbies turnover to take a 6 – 0 lead. With a limited offense Wollongong was again forced to punt and the Sharks again converted to extend the lead to 12 – 0.

Josh Hayward returned the kick-off for 52 yards but limped off the field injured to further add to the injury woes. The run however gave the Brumbies great field position and quarter Daniel Ratajosk ran in make the score 12 – 6 to close out the half.

In the second half, the Sharks were able to exploit gaps in the Brumbies defense with several Wollongong players filling unfamiliar positions to cover for injuries and Brumbies turnovers – crossing for 3 touchdowns and a safety to run out winners 32 – 6.

Next Saturday the Brumbies will be hoping to turn things around when they host the Bondi Raiders at Saunders Oval, Wollongong TAFE – kick off at 1.00pm.

Wayne Peoples features in an article by Ivy Fleming about Gridiron published in the 12th February edition of the Wollongong Mercury.

To read the full article click here

The Wollongong Brumbies Colts team (age 15-19 years) has commenced pre-season training at Wollongong TAFE College, North Wollongong.
Training is on Monday & Wednesday nights from 6-8pm and Saturday mornings 10 – 12. New players welcome. Check Facebook page for further details if any changes.
Any questions – see the Enquiries and Registration page.

The Wollongong Mustangs’ 2012 campaign came to an end at the hands of the Sydney University Lions in the Gridiron NSW Semi Final on Saturday night.

A clinical first half exhibition by the Lions saw them rack up a commanding 49 – 8 lead at the end of the second quarter. The task of over coming the Lions made that much more difficult with regular starting quarterback Dennis Sentelle out injured.

In a game of two halves, the Mustangs rallied behind back-up quarterbacks Wayne Peoples and Mitchell Hunt to give the scoreline more respectability, holding the Lions scoreless in the third quarter and then winning the final quarter 20 – 13 to bring down the curtain on their 2012 season 34 – 62. Brad Golledge and Rhys Kilian turning it on in the second half but the ground to make up was too great and the Lions advance to a Waratah Bowl showdown against UTS.

Thanks to all players, coaches, team personnel, our major sponsors – Quattro Innovation, Kel Campbell Pty Ltd and the Builders Club and all our supporters for helping make this 20th Anniversary season such a successful one.

The Wollongong Mustangs completed their first winning regular season in many years to advance through to the Gridiron NSW Play-offs with a 50 – 14 win over the Sutherland Seahawks on a hot and balmy evening at Neptune Park, Revesby.

The Mustangs scored on their opening drive with Pete Traynor’s one yard run finishing the lead up from a 43 yd Rhys Kilian run and a 17 yard reception by Wayne Peoples for a 8 – 0 lead. The Wollongong defense was up to the task stopping the Seahawks’ opening possession on fourth and 9 at the Mustangs 32 yard line. With the change of possession, the Mustangs offense continued to set the tone and Brad Golledge raced away for a 58 yard touchdown to increase the lead to 14 near the close of the first quarter.

The Mustangs recovered a Sutherland fumble to regain possession and then converted with a 19 yard pass to Wayne Peoples to go up 20 – 0. The Seahawks were unable to get their offense moving and went four and out and were forced to punt. Wollongong’s next drive failed to produce any points, with a pass intercepted on fourth down at the Seahawks 5 yard line but yet again Sutherland fumbled away possession and time ran out with the Mustangs on the attack again deep in Seahawks territory.

The Seahawks came out fired up after the half time break with their offense finally clicking to post a touchdown with their opening drive of the quarter. But the Mustangs only needed one play to hit back with Rhys Kilian running 61 yards to put the Mustangs ahead 28 – 8. The Seahawks scored on their next possession but Sutherland revival ended there with Kilian again crossed for the Mustangs to increase the lead to 36 – 14. The Seahawks were forced to punt on their next possession to give Wollongong the football at the change of ends for the final quarter.

From then on it was all Wollongong with the elusive Kilian posting his third touchdown from a 24 yard run for the Stangs to go up 44 – 14 with 6 minutes still left to play of the regular season. The Wollongong defense made sure that the Seahawks remained scoreless in the quarter, while the ever youthful Scott Kirkwood picked his way through the Seahawks defense for a 13 yard to seal a 50 – 14 victory and a date with the Sydney University Lions next Saturday night at 5Sports at Caringbah – kick-off 7.00pm.

The play-off birth caps off a great 20th Anniversary season for the club with took out the NSW Colts Championship earlier in the year and the Senior squad will be hoping that they can have a shot at claiming the Waratah Bowl for the first time.

In the earlier game played in oppressive heat, the Sharks forfeited the game to the Pirates in the first quarter due to player safety.

Celebrating their 20th anniversary the Wollongong Mustangs have much to be thankful for on and off the field and took full advantage of the bye week to get together at the home of coach Dennis Sentelle and his wife Stephanie to celebrate Thanksgiving and all the traditions that go with it as a football family. Two huge turkeys, many side dishes and a feast of deserts were readily consumed as well as playing some Madden Football and watching a college football game on ESPN.

Thanks to Dennis and Stephanie for hosting the team and for Wayne for supplying the other turkey. Hopefully this can become an annual tradition.

To all our friends in the US we would like to wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Meanwhile results of Gridiron NSW this weekend saw:

Sharks 40 Predators 26
Cobras 0 Pirates 36
Seahawks 12 UTS 47
Lions 48 Raiders 6
Mustangs – bye

This sees the Mustangs in fourth place on the standings but need to polish off another bird in the shape of the Seahawks next Saturday to assure that they back up the following weekend against the Lions in the play-offs.

The Wollongong Mustangs moved a step closer to the play-offs with a 48 – 12 victory over the North West Predators. Having lost narrowly to the Predators in their opening game of the season the Mustangs were intent on extracting revenge.

With their opening drive Rhys Kilian posted the Mustangs first points with a 12 yard run and then after forcing the Predators to punt on their first possession added another touchdown through a Brad Mountford run for a 14 – 0 lead.

Wollongong extended their lead in the second with a 76 yard touchdown pass to Mountford before the Predators hit back with their opening score. But the Mustangs countered with two further touchdowns by Kilian and Mountford for a 36 – 6 lead at half time.

The Predators had the better of the third quarter, taking advantage of a couple of Mustang turnovers to post their second touch down. Unfortunately the final quarter dragged on until after 10.30 – punctuated all too often with injuries and unsportsmanlike penalties given away by the Predators which helped enable the Mustangs to run in two more touchdowns to running backs Pete Traynor and Scott Kirkwood for a 48 -12 victory.

Results of other Gridiron NSW this weekend were:
UTS 34 Lions 54
Sharks 14 Cobras 14
Raiders 39 Seahawks 50
Pirates – Bye

Next week the Mustangs have a bye before facing the Sutherland Seahawks in the final round of the regular season in a match that is in effect become a wild card round to decide who will claim fourth spot going into the play-offs and face the Sydney University Lions.

The Wollongong Mustangs went down 19 -26 against the second placed West Sydney Pirates at Berkeley in a heartbreaking loss in a game where the lead changed hands several times.

Having lost 20 – 57 to the Pirates earlier in the season it was a big improvement in defence by the men from Wollongong.

The Pirates scored on their opening possession to take an early 7 – 0 but the Mustangs offence scored with their first use of the football to levelled things up at the end of the first quarter.

The Pirates regained the lead through a field goal but the Mustangs drove down field and took the lead when Pete Traynor crossed for his second touchdown run to go up 13 -10. The struck straight back passing for a converted touchdown leaving less than a minute left in the half. The Mustangs offence was able to quickly move the ball down field but when the clock expired for the half they were First and Goal at the Pirates 9 yard line and headed into the sheds down 13 – 18.

The Mustangs went 4 and out and were forced to punt with their opening drive of the third quarter. However the Pirates saw their drive repelled when Nic Di Genni intercepted a Dave Ward pass in the end zone for a touchback. The Mustangs took back the lead with rookie Dave Matthews intercepting another Dave Ward pass and running 20 yards to take it into the endzone and gift the Mustangs back the lead 19 -18.

The Pirates took back the lead on their opening drive of the fourth quarter to go up 26 – 19. The Mustangs offense responded by driving down to the Pirates 9 yard line where they stripped the ball and then ran down the clock to steal the victory.

Despite the loss the Mustangs remain in the hunt for the play-offs but must win their remaining two games.

In the earlier game the Sydney University Lions mauled the Mustangs next opponents, the North Western Predators 74 – 0
The result of the other Week 11 games were:
Sharks 12 Raiders 15
Cobras 6 UTS 40
Seahawks – bye