Eden Tigers RLFC News Article

Corey's scores 3 in retirement.

June 1st 2009

He is 38 years old, his hair is rapidly going through a change of life, but the sheer class of Corey Stewart peppered the Moruya defence and led the Michelin and Son Eden Reserve grade team to an exciting victory on Sunday. Stewart scored three tries, 2 the result of his vast experience and the other as a result of his absolute brilliance.
The game started slowly and was locked at nil all until the 22 minute mark when Moruya finally opened the scoring after moving the ball wide. Stewart had been sitting on the sidelines all this time, just feeling out how the team, (he is the non playing coach after all) was going. After Moruya scored first he decided to put himself on in jumper number 18. From the kick off Eden regained the ball after just 1 tackle. Stewart moved to dummy half, threw a great ball to send Mark Henry away down the blind side and backed up on the inside to score his first try. Tyrone Thomas's conversion leveled the scores at 6 all.

Father to Son. Corey Stewart senior offloads to Corey Stewart junior during the reserve grade tigers thrilling win over Moruya on Sunday.

Moruya scored next at the 28 minute mark and went into the half time break ahead 12-6.
Straight after the break the experience of Stewart comes to the fore again as he combines with Tyrone Thomas down the right hand side and scores his second try out wide. Tyrone misses with the conversion attempt but the Moruya lead is cut to 12-10.

Powrehouse running forward. James Cartwright

At the 47 minute mark Moruya fed a scrum 30m out from their own line, an attempted intercept by Jeff Adams goes wrong and the Moruya five eight runs 70m to score. The conversion is missed and Moruya lead 16-10.
Ben Holding is next to score for Eden after a strong burst up the middle. The try was not converted to leave the score at Moruya 16 Eden 14. Next follows the highlight of the game. Stewart hits the ball at the pace of a 20 year old, steps this way and that, runs around the fullback and scores under the posts. Eden are in front for the first time in the game and Stewart has three tries to his name.
Moruya hit back soon after when a clever kick and chase by their redheaded centre results in a try out wide. The scores are locked at 20 a piece with fewer than 15 minutes to go.

The final minutes were exciting to watch as both teams had chances but solid defence maintained the deadlock. The game was seemingly headed for a draw until Kyran Crane barged over from dummy half. Tyrone converts, the siren sounds and the Eden reserves rejoice thanks to Stewart's 3 try effort. One person in the crowd, new to the football administration game, was feeling pretty pleased with himself for appointing such a quality player as the non playing coach. Special mention should go to James Cartwright whose powerhouse running style made some big dents in the Moruya defence. Other players to shine were Kyran Crane, Corey Stewart Junior and Wayne Wykes.

Deadlock broken. Kyran Crane is congratulated by Ryan Walker after scoring the winning try on Sunday. Both players had strong games in reserves and then backed up on the bench for first grade