Cronulla Seagulls swoop for second consecutive Bill Cullinan Cup
Cronulla Seagullls secured back-to-back Bill Cullinan Cup (All Age Men’s) titles with a 3-0 victory over fellow Sutherland Shire side Caringbah Redbacks, Sunday afternoon.
Thomas Nunn was the star with a well taken hat-trick as the Seagulls soared to the trophy.
Two sides very familiar with each other, the opening stages of this game were hard fought with neither side troubling each other’s goals in the opening ten minutes.
That was until a long ball found Thomas Nunn, who swooped in behind the Redbacks defence. The striker took a few touches to compose himself before finding the bottom left corner with his shot to give the Seagulls the advantage.
The momentum was with the Seagulls at this point, with a follow up shot from Jeremy Lopez going just wide of the right facing post from long range before the 20th minute. Zachariah Smith made a crucial intervention with a save eight minutes later to deny the Seagulls their second.
Redbacks then replied with a good spell of their own after the half hour, with Jordan Wang having an effort on goal on the volley which went narrowly over the target. Bailey Fowler was also proving an headache for the Cronulla defence.
Seagulls were to have the first chance of the second half, Tristan Maher shooting from inside the box across the face of goal wide right of the target.
A free-kick at the other end gave Caringbah Redbacks an opportunity in the 54th minute, Anthony Mann striking the ball well but just missing the top corner of the goal.
That miss become costly, with Cronulla doubling their lead just two minutes later. It was none other than Thomas Nunn adding to his account, latching on to a lovely through ball through Kobi Sharp before slotting home.
The Redbacks were shocked into action, and Jordan Wang hit the crossbar with an effort soon after. Chances began adding up for Caringbah, with Mann finding the side netting on the hour.
Seagulls keeper Benjamin Andrews came up big for the Seagulls with another save from a close range shot just after the 70th minute.
The Seagulls were very much content holding onto their lead after their second goal, but managed to add an exclamation mark to the game with eleven minutes left as Nunn completed his hat-trick.
MATCH STATS
Sunday 14 July 2024
Cromer Park
Referee: Matthew Herring
Assistant Referees: Ashton Heald & Matthew Boros
Cronulla Seagulls FC 3 (Nunn 12’ 57’ 79’)
Caringbah Redbacks FC 0
Cronulla Seagulls FC: 1. Benjamin Andrews, 2. Andrew Banning, 3. Benjamin Raatz, 4. Benjamin Harrington, 5. Tristan Maher, 6. Ben Riach, 7. Jack Scott, 9. Kobi Sharp, 10. Thomas Nunn, 11. Joshua Auid, 13. Adam Hristodoulou, 15. Jai Mellor, 22. Thomas Stretton, 23. Fabio Carvalho, 34. Jeremy Lopez, 35. Ryan Hay.
Yellow cards: Mellor 85’
Red cards: Nil
Caringbah Redbacks FC: 1. Zachariah Smith, 2. Lachlan Dick, 4. Owen Fitzpatrick, 5. Anthony Mann, 6. Bailey Fowler, 8. Lachlan Zdebski, 11. Adam Castle, 13. Joshua Anderson, 15. Lachlan Webb, 19. Kosta Vasilikopoulos, 20. Nathan Piggott, 25. Jordan Wang, 26. Matthew Weston, 30. Jacob Alfaro, 36. Benjamin Armstrong.
Yellow Cards: Castle 81’, Armstrong 85’
Red Cards: Nil
