The weekend opened with Arana attempting to travel to Slacks Ck to play the resurgent Lions, but as with all the Panthers trips to that area this year, this wasn't as easy as it sounded with a crash on the freeway providing a formidable obstacle. With the home team's co-operation (Thank You!!) the start of the game was delayed 10 minutes to allow a full team to take the field. Slacks certainly showed their improved form of the previous week was not an aberration as they opened enthusiastically. Both teams scored in the opening quarter of the game with an Arana conversion seeing the visitors 6-4 in front. A three try burst in 8 minutes saw them extend this lead to 22-4 just before the break. Slacks kept on trying however and a try as the hooter sounded brought them back within 12 at half-time. Slacks Ck opened the second half much the better, and with them capitalising on Arana's errors they scored two quick tries (both unconverted) to only trail by 4, 22-18, 5 minutes into the second half. The next 20 minutes saw Arana put under heaps of pressure , and only desperate defence by the Panthers and some crucial errors by Slacks Ck saw Arana maintain the lead. Two tries in the last 5 minutes sewed up the match fo Arana, with a 30-18 scoreline which belied the closeness of the contest. For Arana it was good to see Mitchell back for a full game, and he made a number of great breaks. Alex T enjoyed his move into the forwards, scoring a couple of tries and topping the forwards tackle count. Nash was solid in defence as usual, and Josh in the centres put on some great hits.
By the minute:
5th min: James try/Alex T conv; Arana 6-0
9th min: Slacks Ck try; Arana 6-4
14th min: Alex T try/conv; Arana 12-4
18th min: Rob try/Alex T conv; Arana 18-4
22nd min: Brendan try; Arana 22-4
30th min: Slacks Ck try/conv; Arana 22-10 (HT)
33rd min: Slacks Ck try; Arana 22-14
36th min: Slacks Ck try; Arana 22-18
55th min: Alex T try: Arana 26-18
58th min; Alex F try; Arana 30-18 (FT)
In the first of the other two Friday night games, Redcliffe accounted for Easts 30-12 in an important win for their final five aspirations. Easts scored early but Redcliffe fought back to lead 14-6 at the break, and went on with the job in the second half. In the other, Logan Brothers signalled they are returning to their best as their playing roster is gradually returning towards full strength, stopping Centenary's winning streak at seven, in convincing fashion, 30-16.
The final game on Sunday saw Redlands travel to a windswept Brandon Park to take on Souths. Souths got away to a great start scoring in the first minute, but this was to be their only joy in the first stanza. Both teams struggled in the conditions with the only other try of the first half coming in the 19th minute from a great individual effort from Redland's Brian Paterson with the conversion being enough to giv the visitors a 6-4 lead at the break. They were somewhat unlucky not to lead by more, as right on the break Brian was denied a seemingly fair second try for an alleged double movement. Redlands started the second half better and score in the second minute to lead 10-4, but Souths struck back quickly to trail only 10-8, with Mase's attempted conversion from wide out hitting the upright. The next 20 minutes saw both sides have plenty of chances to score, but good defence close to the line from both sides kept the scoreboard still. Redlands finally broke the deadlock with 5 minutes remaining when Trent found a gap to score, and the subsequent conversion seemd to have the visitors safe at 16-8. A knock-on from the kick-off gave Souths some hope, and when they scored from the subsequent set they were down 16-12, with a set to play. Redlands managed to hold out and score a win which maintained their competition lead, although both sides must have been left ruing a number of chance they didn't take.
With four games remaining Redlands are now on top alone on 30 points, followed by Arana on 29 and Centenary on 28. Logan Bros on 25 will still not have ruled out a top 3 finish, and Souths and Redcliffe on 21 remain locked in a tight battle for the final semi-final spot. Easts on 10 and Slacks Ck on 4 are out of semi-final contention, but could still spring a surprise or two in the run to the finals.
Brad T
4/8/2002
