South Africans are latest rugby visitors
The Peninsula has played host to the South African provincial rugby union side, Pretoria.
This follows visits earlier this year from international sides Argentina Club Regattas and Club Mariano Moreno.
The boys from South Africa were here to play rugby.
From the moment they stepped off the bus, it was obvious they were a class outfit.
When they took the field dressed in white, with yellow and black hoops, the Central Coast under-19s team had already lost round one in the "Fashion Stakes", with the locals not even having matching shorts and socks.
From the kick-off, the speed of the South African backs was shown.
Every attacking raid was swift and well rehearsed with only some desperate defense stopping any early scoring.
The Coasties never stopped trying but it was obvious the boys were in for a hard day's night of football.
The visitors forward slowly got on top of their opposition.
This gave their backs room to move and move they did.
Their left winger was big, fast, always elusive and came up with two tries.
But it was his speed in running down the Coast's winger - preventing what seemed like a certain try, that made the crowd look on in disbelief.
His turn of speed would have made Matt Shirvington envious.
The visitors eventually ran out easy winners over the gallant Central Coast side, which late in the second stanza showed it could also score tries, but by this time it was a case of too little too late.
The Coast team contained seven players from Woy Woy Rugby Club, most of whom were local juniors.
They were: Abraham Buatava, Marlon Counsol. Aaron Gorrel, Danny May, Mat Metcalf, King Powell and Matt Smith.
The strength of this grade of rugby at Woy Woy was clear as three of the four Man of the Match awards given during the trial went to Woy Woy players: Matt "Talltimber" Smith, Marlon "The Phantom" Counsol and the big fella Aaron "Gozza" Gorrel.
This Central Coast team is soon to contest the country championships.
On the local scene, trials have been held with the senior side travelling to Tamworth to take on the Tamworth Pirates.
Head coach John Stoked is pleased with the abundance of talent at his disposal.
The juniors are up and running with the under-11, under-13, and under-17 players in training. Trial games for these grades will be held soon.
Anyone who would like to have a game of rugby union and "have fun, get fit and make new friends" should ring Ray Gorrel on 4342 5358.
Ray Gorrel, April 4