Kiama local Juan Castilla will compete at the 2025 Australian Bodyboarding Titles - but he won’t be lying on his board. He’ll be riding dropknee, a rare and technically demanding style of bodyboarding that’s kept his passion for the sport alive.Castilla qualified as a wildcard and will represent NSW in the dropknee division at the national titles, to be held August 21-22 at URBNSURF in Sydney.“Dropknee is very special because it's a mix between surfing and bodyboarding,” said Castilla, who’s been perfecting the style for the last five years.“Since I started doing it, I’ve enjoyed the ocean a lot more - you don’t need perfect conditions to have fun on it.”Dropknee riding involves kneeling on the back leg while keeping the front foot forward on the board. The stance is notoriously tricky to master and uncommon in modern bodyboarding.“I like it because nobody else does it - at least around here - so you have to figure everything out yourself. It’s super technical. To make it look good takes a lot of effort and time,” he said.Photo: Brian Scott“You have to be prepared to suck for a couple of years. But after 30 or 35 years of bodyboarding, I needed something different - and now I’m enjoying it all over again.”This year’s competition marks a first for the sport: it will take place in a wave pool, rather than in the ocean.“They’re removing the natural element, so it’s a bit strange to get used to,” said Castilla. “For this comp, you get a wave that has your number - you’re allocated a wave. It’s very different from the randomness of the ocean.”However, Castilla may have a unique advantage. Outside of surfing, he works as Principal Hydrological Modeler for the ACT Government, specialising in numerical modelling - that is, building computer simulations of how water moves through the environment.“It’s kind of my dream to get into designing wave pools in the future. I have the skills - I just haven’t had the time,” he said.“So I’ve spent a lot of time in wave pools, and when I go, I try to look at the machines and figure out what’s going on. Maybe that’ll be to my advantage in the competition.”When not studying water systems or travelling to wave pools around the world, Castilla trains at Surf Beach in Kiama, which he says is ideal for honing his dropknee skills.“Point breaks and wedges are best for dropknee. "The wedges here are challenging - the board is small, you don’t have fins, and you need really good balance,” he said.“But it’s been a great training ground.”This will be Castilla’s second appearance at the Australian Bodyboarding Titles. He first competed in 2023, where he placed fifth in the dropknee division.

The Round 15 local derby between the Gerringong Lions and the Kiama Knights is always a crowd-puller, no matter where the teams sit on the ladder.But this particular showdown had a few extra layers of intrigue.First, Kiama and Gerringong entered the match sitting second and third, respectively, on the Group 7 South Coast Rugby League ladder.Second, only three rounds remain in the regular season, so every game from here on out is crucial for finals contention.And third, after being postponed due to weather, the game was shifted from Michael Cronin Oval to Albion Park’s Centenary Field - a last-minute venue change that only heightened anticipation.The only other meeting between these two sides this season was back in Round 6, when Kiama emerged victorious 16-8 in similarly wet and muddy conditions at the Kiama Showground.So, expectations were high - and the game didn’t disappoint.The match remained scoreless for the first 32 minutes, with both sides threatening to cross the line but being denied by desperate last-ditch defence. The deadlock was finally broken after a Gerringong player gave a mouthful to the referee, resulting in a penalty. Brad Killmore slotted the goal to give Kiama a 2-0 lead.However, the lead was short-lived. Gerringong’s restart went dead in-goal, forcing a drop-out. A Gerringong player was then tackled without the ball, earning a penalty in front of the posts. Jake Taylor levelled the score at 2-2.Jake Taylor scored the only points for Gerringong over the weekend. Photo: Brian ScottJust before half-time, Kiama were awarded another penalty, and Killmore again made no mistake, nudging the Knights ahead 4-2 at the break.The second half mirrored the first: end-to-end play, tight defence, and few clear chances. But in the 66th minute, Kiama five-eighth Sam Hooper threw a perfect pass to put Kye Andrews through a hole. Andrews sprinted 40 metres and stepped around the fullback to score the first try of the match.With 14 minutes left, Kiama led 10-2. Gerringong launched a wave of attacks, but their efforts were in vain. In the 78th minute, Hooper broke the Lions’ hearts and sealed the win with a brilliant dummy and step, slicing through to score Kiama’s second try.The final score: Kiama 16, Gerringong 2. With the win, the Knights are now just two points behind ladder leaders Stingrays of Shellharbour.Sam Hooper scored the winning try for Kiama on the weekend. Photo: Brian Scott“It was a great win, especially the fact we only leaked two points against Gerringong, who have a lot of attacking threats,” said fullback Brad Killmore.“We’ve really prided ourselves on our defence and staying in the grind - and it paid off this week. It’s a good momentum builder heading into the finals.”Gerringong captain Nathan Ford also praised his team's defence, but said the team failed to execute in vital moments of the match.“Tough conditions again,” said Ford. “I thought we defended really well most of the game only letting in two late tries. Missed some opportunities in attack, which were really close and could have changed the game.”“We have three games left and we now look ahead to this week and start to build into the semi finals. We know what we need to do at the back end of the season - focus on all the little errors in our game.”In the round’s only other match, Shellharbour Sharks defeated the Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs 40-10.This Saturday, Kiama will take on Albion Park, while Jamberoo will play Milton-Ulladulla and Gerringong face Shellharbour Sharks in a grand final rematch at Ron Costello Oval on Sunday.

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Hayden Buchanan made a dream debut for the Dragons as he scored a try in their upset win over traditional rivals Cronulla at Kogarah on Saturday.After getting a late call-up to the team when Mat Feagai was ruled out with a groin injury, the Gerringong Lions junior made a strong start to his first-grade career at left centre.He scored a crucial try late in the first half and also set up co-captain Clint Gutherson's four-pointer early in the second term as St George Illawarra converted a 16-14 half-time lead into a 22-14 triumph.The win keeps the Dragons in the hunt for the playoffs and after other results went their way, they are just four points off eighth heading into the final four rounds.Buchanan matched up against experienced Sharks centre Jesse Ramien but more than held his own as he notched 110 run metres from 18 runs, more hit-ups than any other back in the red and white backline.The 19-year-old Steelers junior also made 18 tackles in an eye-catching first hit-out at the top level."A lot of stuff has happened behind the scenes this week, injuries and so on, and a boy making their debut, so outstanding club effort," Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said.Buchanan followed in the footsteps of Gerringong duo Dylan Egan and Hamish Stewart, who each made their debut earlier this season.Stewart also performed well against Cronulla with 12 hit-ups for 102 run metres on top of a game-high 42 tackles after being promoted to the starting side in the second row. playing the full 80 minutes for the first time in his 18-game career.It has been a bumper season for Gerringong with Ashton Ward recently making his NRL debut for South Sydney - he has been selected to play his third match for the Rabbitohs in Sunday's road game against Gold Coast.Buchanan's graduation to the NRL ranks means there are now eight players from Gerringong, including Tyran Wishart, Jackson Ford, Reuben Garrick, and Kyle McCarthy, who have played first grade in 2025.The Dragons travel to Auckland next Friday looking to continue their giant-killing run.In the NRLW, the Dragons side fell to the Sharks 20-6 on Saturday afternoon.Kiama junior Maria Paseka was called into the side on the wing for her first appearance of the season and just her second at NRLW level, scoring St George Illawarra's only try.They will look to end their five-game losing streak when they tackle the Tigers next Sunday at Allianz Stadium.

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Hayden Buchanan is the latest member to roll off the Gerringong Lions production line to make his NRL debut. Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has elevated Buchanan to the starting side for this Saturday's Kogarah clash against Cronulla.Regular centre Mat Feagai has been ruled out of the Sharks stoush due to a groin injury, opening the door for the 19-year-old Steelers junior to follow in the footsteps of Gerringong duo Dylan Egan and Hamish Stewart, who each made their debut earlier this season.Stewart will also run out against Cronulla but Egan's season ended prematurely due to a torn ACL against the Broncos in May.Buchanan had been named among the reserves for the first time in his career last week for the upset win over Canberra in Wollongong after crafting an impressive Knock-On Effect NSW Cup campaign this year.Gerringong's Ashton Ward made his NRL debut recently for South Sydney and has been selected to play his third match for the Rabbitohs in Sunday's road game against Gold Coast.Buchanan's graduation to the NRL ranks means there will be eight players from Gerringong, including Tyran Wishart, Jackson Ford, Reuben Garrick, and Kyle McCarthy, who have played first grade in 2025.The Dragons have also announced the extension of Flanagan’s contract for a further two years through to the end of the 2028 NRL season.“Shane has played a critical role in setting the foundation for where this club is heading,” said Dragons CEO Tim Watsford.“He’s re-instilled belief in our playing group, coaches and supporters together with reiterating the privilege of wearing the Red V.”St George Illawarra have a chance to sneak into the NRL finals if they win their remaining five matches and will be fired up to take down their traditional rivals from Cronulla on Saturday. The Dragons’ NRLW side fell to the Eels 12-10 in their Magic Round clash at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon.They will look to end their four-game losing streak when they tackle the Sharks at 12.45pm on Saturday before the NRL match at 3pm.

Kiama Netball Association had a standout showing at the Junior State Titles in July, with the Under 12s finishing as undefeated champions.Competing in Division Three, the team made up of players across the Kiama LGA won all 16 of their games over three days in Penrith - a remarkable feat for a squad in their first year of representative netball.“We've had a bit of success in the past couple of years,” said KNA president Michelle Gregory. “But to go through undefeated in their first rep season is a pretty amazing achievement.”Gregory credited the association’s long-term focus on early development for the team’s success.“We’ve been investing a lot of time into our players from Under 10s and Under 11s, really focusing on developing skills,” she said. “I think it’s a combination of strong club coaching and the additional representative training that’s put them in a great position for success.”The U14s team who finished in fifth place. Photo: KNAKNA also sent Under 13s and Under 14s teams to the State Championships, with both competing in Division Three and finishing fifth overall.“Our Under 13s were runners-up in Division Four last year, so they moved up a division - and to finish in the top five in their first year at that level is pretty impressive,” said Gregory.“Our Under 14s were Division Four champions in 2024, also moving up to Division Three, and they too finished fifth after three days of tough competition. "For both teams to step up a division and still place in the top five out of around 20 teams is a great result for a small association like Kiama.”The U13's KNA team who also finished fifth. Photo: KNAGregory also acknowledged the impact of former Australian Diamonds player Susan Pettitt, who has been involved in local coaching.“She runs a lot of sessions here in Kiama with the girls,” she said. “So having that kind of high-level coaching and extra resources has really helped build their skills and allowed them to be competitive at the state level.”With the 2025 KNA season now approaching its final rounds, Gregory reflected on a successful year.“We’ve got two weeks of club netball left, then finals,” she said. “It’s been an action-packed season - this weekend is our Indigenous Round - and we’re seeing continued growth each year across different age groups.”“This year we’ve seen growth especially in our cadets and senior teams, and overall, it’s been a really strong and enjoyable competition. The girls are loving their netball, and that’s what it’s all about.”Indigenous Round will be held on 9 August, followed by Kiama hosting the Netball NSW Koori Gala Day on 17 August - two fantastic celebrations of community and culture, so stay tuned for some great days of local netball.

Gerringong Lions forward Hamish Stewart admits he had a bit of a mid-year lull in his rookie season but he is now back to his best as St George Illawarra try to qualify for an improbable NRL finals appearance.Stewart turned in his best game for the Dragons in their upset win over competition leaders Canberra in wet and wild conditions in Wollongong last Saturday night.St George Illawarra displayed tenacity in the heavy rain and strong winds to get the better of first-placed Canberra 18-12.Stewart was everywhere in the second half as the home side repelled the Green Machine as he finished with 10 hit-ups for 85 metres and peeled off 20 tackles without missing any in the slippery conditions.The 20-year-old lock has retained his place in an unchanged line-up to face traditional rivals Cronulla at Kogarah on Saturday.“It’s gonna take another performance like that - respect the ball and play our style of footy. The Sharks are going to come flying at us. They’re running hot,” he said on Wednesday. “We need to put in another smart performance, it’s gonna take a good one to beat them.”A dry track is expected this time around and Stewart said even though the Sharks have pace to burn out wide, the Dragons were more than happy to experience better attacking conditions.“They’ve got a very quick side but we like to move the footy as well so it will suit us,” he said.“They’ve got over the top of us in the years prior. We know what’s at stake and we really want to get this one.”After making his debut in Round 1, Stewart has played 17 matches, missing a trip to Canberra recently with a concussion.“At the start of the season there’s not much expectation on you as a rookie but then after more and more games, you’re expected to do a bit. I probably struggled a few weeks ago to play some good footy,” he said.“But I stuck at it and trained hard and the coaches have been working with me and I feel like I’ve strung a few good games together.”The Dragons need to win their final five games to have any hope of sneaking into the top eight and Stewart said co-captains Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook were keeping spirits up as they try to pull off an unlikely late surge.“This group of boys that we’ve got is always high on energy and belief,” Stewart added.“Our two captains - Gutho and Cookie drive that. Hopefully this is a turning point and we can string a few games together at the back end of the year and push for finals.”The Dragons’ NRLW side fell to the Eels 12-10 in their Magic Round clash at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday afternoon.They will look to end their four-game losing streak when they tackle the Sharks at 12.45pm on Saturday before the NRL match at 3pm.

Ashton Ward’s favourite team growing up was the Brisbane Broncos. His favourite player was Darren Lockyer, and he often wondered what it would be like to be coached by the legendary Wayne Bennett.On Saturday, 26 July, the 20-year-old from Gerringong made his NRL debut off the bench for the South Sydney Rabbitohs - and the person who delivered the news was none other than Bennett himself.“It’s a bit of a funny story,” said Ashton’s father, David Ward. “He was supposed to get a phone call on the Sunday before, letting him know he needed to come in early Monday morning to be told in person before the team meeting.”“But when the coaches walked in on Monday, Wayne asked, ‘Where’s Ashton?’ Turns out the assistant coach had forgotten to call him. So Wayne rang Ashton that morning so it wouldn’t be a complete shock when he walked in and saw he was playing first grade.”A crowd of 46 family members, friends, and supporters made the trip to Gosford’s Polytec Stadium to watch Ward debut against the Cronulla Sharks.“It was a really good turnout, especially considering Gerringong had a club game that day,” said David. “A lot of his mates couldn’t come because they were playing, but those who could made the trip. He was really appreciative of the support. We were all extremely proud - it’s a massive achievement.”One of the most meaningful moments came in the lead-up to the match, when Bennett offered Ashton some sage advice.“Wayne told him, ‘Don’t underestimate how hard it is to play just one game of NRL,’” David recalled. “‘I’ve seen hundreds of talented footballers who never got that chance. Don’t take it for granted.’”Ashton began at the Gerringong Lions at five years old and has always dreamed of playing in the NRL, but his road hasn’t always been smooth. He’s long been considered undersized by some coaches - but that didn’t faze Bennett.“I think sometimes players are overlooked because coaches have a set idea of what physical attributes they want,” David said. “Ashton’s always been on the smaller side, but Wayne told him a story earlier this year about being told not to pick a kid for the Broncos because he was too small. That kid was Allan Langer - and we all know how that turned out.”Ward played 23 minutes at five eighth in his debut, a narrow 14-12 loss to the Sharks. Despite limited time, he made his presence felt - finishing with 25 running metres, 14 tackles, and two kicks.The following week, he was named in the starting team against the Brisbane Broncos, the very team he grew up supporting. Although the Rabbitohs were beaten 60–14, Ward earned his first NRL points with a conversion and made 34 tackles, including an impressive try-saving chase-down on Broncos second-rower Jordan Riki.“As soon as he started chasing, you just knew he was going to make the tackle,” said Gerringong Lions first-grade coach Scott Stewart. “We’ve seen him do it so many times before.”Ward is the third Gerringong Lions junior to debut in the NRL in 2025, joining Hamish Stewart and Dylan Egan. That makes seven current NRL players from the club, alongside Tyran Wishart, Jackson Ford, Reuben Garrick, and Kyle McCarthy.David believes Gerringong’s tight-knit culture has played a key role in their success.“The culture is like no other,” he said. “Ashton had a Friday off training recently, so he came home from Sydney and went up to train with Gerringong - just to catch up and help with a few drills. They love still being part of the club.”The South Sydney Rabbitohs take on the Gold Coast Titans on 10 August, and Ashton has been named to retain his spot at five-eighth.

Only two Group 7 South Coast Rugby League first-grade games went ahead over the weekend, with the Jamberoo Superoos falling to the Stingrays of Shellharbour to end their playoff hopes.Originally scheduled for Flinders Fields, the match was moved at the last minute to Cec Glenholmes Oval, where soggy conditions turned the game into a battle of grit.Players slipped and slopped through the middle of the field all afternoon, with most finishing the game looking like they’d taken a dip in a pool of mud as heavy rain persisted throughout.The Stingrays struck early in the third minute when debutant winger Landyn Lopez crossed for the opening try. Jamberoo quickly responded, with forward Rhys Kennedy crashing over near the line just a few minutes later.Shellharbour then scored three consecutive tries: a close-range effort from hooker Colby Smith, a slick show-and-go from five-eighth Jake Horton, and a 50-metre line break from second-rower Will Latu.Jamberoo clawed one back just before half-time through Dean Watling. With the conditions proving tough for goal-kickers, the score remained tight at 20-12 going into the break.Early in the second half, both sides added a try, taking the score to 24-16. But from the 67th minute onward, the Stingrays took control. Halfback Trey Barlow set up lock Liam Henry for his second try of the day, before the Stingrays piled on three more tries to seal a 42-16 victory.Jamberoo are now out of finals contention. Photo: @SticksPix_Despite the scoreline, injured Stingrays fullback Jimmy Scott said the final result didn’t tell the story of the contest.“The scoreline didn’t really reflect the outcome of the game. It was very physical, and the wind and rain definitely made it tough through the middle,” Scott said.He also praised the team’s resilience after going a man down.“Jack Walsh McKeirnan got sent off with 20 minutes to go, but the boys dug deep and ended up running away with it. Will Latu and Colby Smith were the best on ground,” he added.In the other game of the round, the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles edged out the Nowra-Bomaderry Jets 18-12.The postponed matches - including Shellharbour Sharks vs Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs and the local derby between Gerringong Lions and Kiama Knights - will be played this weekend.

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Gerringong Lions forward Hamish Stewart starred as the Dragons upset the Raiders in wet and wild conditions in Wollongong on Saturday night.St George Illawarra displayed tenacity in the heavy rain and strong winds to get the better of first-placed Canberra 18-12 in one of their best performances of the season.Stewart played a crucial role in getting the Dragons home - he was everywhere in the second half as the home side repelled the Green Machine's attacking raids.He finished with 10 hit-ups for 85 metres and peeled off 20 tackles without missing any in the slippery conditions.The match finished at two tries all but Kyle Flanagan kicked five goals, including three penalty attempts, to delight the hardy souls who braved the weather at WIN Stadium.Ground officials closed the hill area due to the torrential rain with all spectators huddled into the three grandstands.The Dragons have kept their slender playoff hopes alive but they still need to win their remaining five matches and hope other results go their way to pull off an unlikely qualification.They opened the scoring when centre Mat Feagai crossed out wide after clever lead-up work from rookie five-eighth Lyhkan King-Tongia.The Raiders responded via centre Matt Timoko touching down but the hosts went up 10-4 from a couple of penalty goals.Timoko added a second to draw level at 10-10 heading into the break and with the wind at their backs in the second half, the Raiders looked like they would kick clear.But despite running into a gale-force wind, the Dragons rolled up their sleeves to get the win with winger Corey Allan's try in the 55th minute proving decisive."Some of them could have been looking over their shoulder thinking we have been here before, and some nightmares might have come back," coach Shane Flanagan said about Canberra's late comeback which threatened to bring the Dragons' hard work undone."But to play like that in the last 20 minutes against the competition leaders was really pleasing. The attitude is there."Some sides don't have what I've got. I definitely know I have attitude and commitment. We could do with a bit more class here and there, but we have attitude and commitment, and I know a lot of other coaches wouldn't be able to say that."