Brisbane turned on a hot spring day for the 14A decider with even the normal "Brandon breeze" not having too much oomph, although it did pick up as the game went on.
The Arana boys started the day with a breakfast at the club, followed by an enjoyable team bus trip to the southside. This set the scene for what was to be a great day for the Panthers.
Arana won the toss and ran towards the clubhouse end of the ground, with a slight assistance from the breeze, although it was substantially across the field. Both teams started the game well, with Arana completing their first five sets, and Redlands completing 5 of theur first 6, with great defence from both sides, with Josh Bruce notable for Arana. Within that time however Redlands had hit the front with Jay Aston fielding a bomb and passing inside to Matty Smith who went in beside the posts. The conversion had the defending premiers up 6-0 after 8 minutes. Arana looked to be in trouble 4 minutes later when they failed to tidy up another bomb, and from the ensuing scrum Dominic Hennessey crossed wide out for Redlands to jump away to a 10-0 lead. A drinks break after 15 minutes seemed to breathe new life into the Panthers, and their attack started to click into gear, finally being rewarded with a try to Rob Southwood. Alex T's conversion just slipped wide but Arana were back in it trailling by only 6 points. The next 7 minutes saw both teams probing for a break in the other's defence, but it was finally a brilliant individual effort by Alex Tallon breaking a number of tackles in a 50 metre run that saw Arana get back within 2 points 5 minutes before the break. Arana could have led at the break after an intercept by Mitchell Carr, but a great covering tackle by Brian Paterson snuffed out the opportunity, and saw the halftime score Redlands 10, Arana 8.
Both teams began the second half with a solid set, but Redlands were once again first to score on the back of only the third penalty of the match (they were 1-1 in the first half) with Dominic Fraser scoring wide out to once again have Redlands in front by 6. Arana were not handling the swirling conditions well, and from another dropped ball, Redlands got possession close to the line again, and this time it was Mosa Afu who crashed over, with Matt Smith's conversion taking Redlands out to a 20-8 lead, nine minutes into the second stanza. Arana just could not get their hands on the ball, and were gifting Redlands the ball deep in the attacking zone, and four minutes later Redlands were in again, with Clinton Stewart scoring in the corner from an offload from Mosa. The conversion went wide, but Arana looked to be in all sorts of trouble trailling 24-8.
Finally, with only 12 minutes remaining, it was a brilliant individual effort from Alex Fresta, who had started the game on the wing, but later moved to the second row, which reignited the Panthers. A solo run from 40 metres out resulted in a try next to the posts, and the conversion saw Arana back within 10 points. This effort saw everyone lift, and with some great charges by Phipps, backed up by Brent, Rohan and Matt, ground was being made with every play. It was only 2 minutes before Arana were in again, with Rob bagging his second of the day, once again converted by Alex T, and it was "game on" with Arana only trailling by 4. A Phippsy charge saw Matt Smith go down injured, and his loss was a big blow for Redlands as he had been a steadying influence in mid-field. Arana continued on their roll, and in the 53rd minute they were in again, following a towering bomb from Alex T which was spilled by the Redlands winger under pressure from the "man mountain" Phippsy, who picked up the ball and scored 10 metres to the left of the posts. Alex T calmly knocked over the conversion, and incredibly Arana had scored 3 converted tries in 6 minutes and led 26-24.
The game was by no means over, as after Rob went perilously close to getting his hat trick, Redlands finally got hold of the ball and turned on a storming finish. An Arana mistake deep in their half saw Redlands on the attack, but frenetic Arana defence held them out for three sets, including one incredible tackle from Alex T and top tackler Nash Rylands (who was superb all day at halfback and topped the tackle count) when Fraser Evans looked certain to score, and a knock-down of a pass by Mitchell Carr with an unmarked Jay Aston waiting to receive it saw Arana clinging to the lead. A Redlands knock on from the scrum base provided some relief, but the kick on the fifth went out on the full, and Redlands had one last throw of the dice. Arana's defence proved up to the task, and the full-time siren sounded with Redlands only 8 metres out, but importantly Arana in front 26-24.
This was a superb game of football from both teams, with the Arana team turning around their dismal showing in the Major Semi-Final in spectacular fashion - a real fairy-tale ending to a season for a team that wore the underdog tag most of the year!!
Stats: Penalties: Redlands 4-3 Completions: Arana 22/30; Redlands 23/30
By the minute:
7th min: Matt Smith try/conv; Redlands 6-0
12th min: Dominic Hennessey try; Redlands 10-0
17th min: Rob Southwood try; Redlands 10-4
25th min: Alex Tallon try; Redlands 10-8 (HT)
34th min: Fraser Evans try; Redlands 14-8
38th min: Mosa Afu try/Matt Smith conv; Redlands 20-8
44th min: Clinton Stewart try; Redlands 24-8
48th min: Alex Fresta try/Alex Tallon conv: Redlands 24-14
50th min: Rob Southwood try/Alex Tallon conv: Redlands 24-20
53rd min: James Phipps try/Alex Tallon conv; Arana 26-24 (FT)
Thanks to everyone for such a great season - see you all next year!!!
Brad T
22/9/2002
