Round 17 was a repeat of the previous weekend with each game moved to the other side's home ground. Arana, welcoming back a number of injured players, including Mitchell for his first league game of the season, opened proceedings hosting Redcliffe, who had beaten them 20-4 the week before. This game was a much different story with a confident Arana team dashing away to an 18-0 halftime lead. However the Dolphins came back a rejuventaed side after the break, scoring 2 tries and having two others disallowed to put the old doubts back in the Panthers mind. However Arana were not to be denied this time, and steadied to score two late tries and record a 28-10 victory. Alex F put in another great peformance and was rewarded with 2 tries, and Phippsy put on some of the biggest hits of the season. Luke suffered a head knock and had to be replaced. Hope he and the Redcliffe player who had to be taken away by ambulance at halftime after falling awkwardly while attempting a tackle both come through ok.
In the other early Friday night match Redlands hosted Logan Brothers and unlike the previous weeks demolition, the Parakeets found the going much tougher this time. The game was tight throughout, but Redlands just managed to keep their noses in front, and run out 26-22 winners to maintain the competition lead. In the late Friday night game a confident Centenary hosted the Slacks Creek Lions thinking that another percentage boosting annihalation was on the cards. The Lions would have nothing of it and in fact did all but upset the Panthers, losing only 22-16. The following is a summary of the game from my "Slacks Creek correspondent" , Trent:
It was tight for the first 15 mins then cent scored a good try which was converted to lead 6-0. The boys didnt drop their heads and we bounced back with a try soon after. one more converted try to cent had it 12-4 at half time. 2nd half was as tight as the first with good solid defense forcing mistakes from both sides. after 10 mins cent went out to 18-4 but to the boys credit once again they didn't drop their heads and bounced back with a 70-metre brilliant intercept try under the posts which was converted bring the score to 18-10. With 7 mins to go we scored again out wide which was converted basically from the sideline and we were a big chance at 18-16. Unfortunately a silly mistake by us handed cent back the ball and eventually leading into a try. A rare moment with it being only 15 metres to the right of the uprights tim mac missed it. we had a chance in the dying minute when cent dropped the ball but unfortunately we couldn't capitalise. for the first time this year the boys held it together for two halfs and actually won the 2nd half 12-10. The effort last night was for two things........we had the best team we could put on the paddock for 3 months and the boys decided they will never be embarrased like they were by cent the week before.
Centenary officials also praised the Slacks Creek effort - perhaps a win is just around the corner (although not this week please!!!!)
In the Sunday game Easts travelled to Brandon Park quietly confident of their ability to cause an upset over the Magpies, following their narrow defeat the week before. Easts started the better, and were probably unlucky to have a try denied from a kick in the third minute. The Tigers dominated territory for the first 20 minutes of the match, but mistakes meant they just could not get the ball over the line, and in fact the only score in that period went to Souths, who scored a converted try in a rare visit to the Easts end. Easts were tiring and 2 quick tries to the Maggies in the shadows saw them leading 16-0 at the break. Easts got back into contention with a try in the opening minute of the second half, but Souths, not wanting a repeat of their second half capitulation to Redcliffe a couple of games back, bounced back quickly and eventually ran away to win 34-10.
The weekend's results see Redlands and Centenary maintain equal first on 28 pts with Arana in 3rd on 27 pts. Logan Bros on 23 and Souths on 21 make up the five. Redcliffe are now 6th on 19 points. Easts on 10 and Slacks Ck on 4 bring up the tail.
Brad T
28/7/2002
