Round 20 opened with Slacks Ck up against the in-form Logan Bros combination at Usher Park. The Lions started well, and in fact opened the scoring with a converted try. The first 25 minutes was evenly contested, with Logan Bros managing 2 tries to lead 10-6, but 2 quick tries just before half time saw their lead blow out to 20-6. Despite being unable to trouble the scorers in the second stanza, Slacks Ck continued to compete and only a couple of tries just before full time saw the final score blow out to 40-6 to the visitors. Congratulations to Matthew Seerden, who captained Slacks Ck on the night, who chalked up his 200th game for the club - a great effort!!!
In the second game of the evening Arana travelled to Scott Park to take on the Easts Tigers. Easts started very well against an Arana team fatigued after a tremendous defensive workload against Logan Bros on Wednesday night, and deservedly skipped away to a 12-0 lead in the first 25 minutes. A mistake from the restart then allowed Arana a sniff, and Alex T scored from the scrumbase to get Arana back in the game, trailling only 12-6 at the break. Arana played with much more confidence in the second half, although Easts defence was proving hard to crack, but with the Panthers dominating possession the Tigers started to tire in defense, with Arana racing on 5 tries in 15 minutes to jump away to a 30-12 lead. Easts finally got their first penalty of the match with 2 minutes remaining, and scored the final try of the match to make the final margin 12 points, 30-18. For Arana Matt Handcock played well, scoring a try, and bringing up his 300th tackle and 200th hit-up for the season during the match, as well as topping the tackle count. Rohan topped the hit-ups and also brought up his 200th hit-up of the season.
By the minute:
7th min: Easts try/conv; Easts 6-0
24th min: Easts try/conv; Easts 12-0
26th min: Alex T try/conv; Easts 12-6 (HT)
38th min: Josh try; Easts 12-10
43rd min: Matt try; Alex T conv; Arana 16-12
49th min: Alex F try; Arana 20-12
53rd min: Rob try; Arana 24-12
56th min: Alex T try/conv; Arana 30-12
59th min: Easts try/conv; Arana 30-18 (FT)
In the final Friday night game, a fine first half by Souths saw them lead 26-10 at the break over the home side Centenary, but the Panthers were a different side in the second half, and ran over the Magpies to post a 40-26 victory with Tim Mc contributing 20 points.
The round was completed on Sunday morning with a fired-up Redcliffe side hosting the competition leaders Redlands on the Dolphin Junior field. This turned out to be a thrilling encounter with never more than a converted try between the teams. Redcliffe opened the scoring in the 3rd minute when a mix-up at the back saw the Redcliffe winger bounce on a kick-through. Redlands responded quickly however and with a try from a scrum move and another from a cross-field kick moved away to a 10-4 lead after only 10 minutes. The next 10 minutes was more dour with tough defence, but Redcliffe got back on level terms with a determined effort from Chris Johnson to lock the scores at 10-10. The two side exchanged converted tries before half-time with the match levelled at 16 all at the break. Redcliffe started the second half the better, despite running into the wind, and on the back of 2 consecutive penalties scored a converted try. They held a six point break for the the next 10 minutes, until 3 consecutive penalties to the visitors wore down the Redcliffe defence, ands Redlands scored out wide, to trail 22-20. Another try from a kick through saw Redcliffe again lead by 6 with 12 to go, but critically the close-in conversion attempt went wide leaving the visitors within a converted try. It took right to the end of the match for them to do that, when Nathan Strudwick found a gap after a Redcliffe player was penalised and sent to the sin bin. Matt Smith converted from around 12 metres in from touch to make the final score 26-26.
The weekend's results have seen the semi-final make-ups all but decided, with Redlands on 35 with a huge for-and-against advantage securing the minor premiership and the first week's rest in the semis. Arana on 33 and Logan Bros on 31 seem certain to make up the next two places and play in the Qualifying semi, with Centenary on 30 set to play the winner of next week's clash between Redcliffe (24) and Souths (23) (or Redcliffe if it is a draw) in the elimination semi, unless they can beat Arana on Sunday AND the Tigers can overcome the tough Logan Bros outfit next Friday night. Easts (10) will finish 7th and Slacks Ck (6), 8th.
Brad T
18/8/2002
