Photo: Jake Humphreys, Mudgee Guardian
THE Entrance Tigers have taken out an all-Central Coast final to be crowned Mudgee Nines champions after an undefeated run through the weekend.
Tigers captain Matt Kilick lifted the trophy late on Sunday after his team survived to beat hosts Mudgee Dragons 1 8-6 in their pool match on Saturday.
The Entrance won their other round robin matches more easily, 24-0 and 22-0, to cruise into Sunday’s quarter-finals.
Mudgee Dragons had entered two teams in the eight-side tournament at Glen Willow Stadium. Their seconds were The Entrance’s first finals victims, 34-0.
After a long spell before the semis’, the black and golds accounted for Orange Hawks 20-8 before taking out the decider against their neighbours Terrigal 14-6.
The Nines World Circuit now moves to Auckland, where the SportSafe Nines takes place at the home of the Hibiscus Coast Raiders on March 10.
Then the track leads back across the Tasman for the Group 11 Nines at Pioneer Oval Parkes.