Getting towards the end of the round and three of the games had a bearing on the eventual Chairman's Trophy participants.
Arana hosted competition newcomers Norths on Friday night, minus Alex T, missing his first game in 4 seasons. Arana started well though, with Mitchell scoring a good try in the 7th minutes and when Alex F went over 7 minutes later (surprisingly his first try of the season) it seemed though the Panthers would rack up another big score. Norths struck back however and became the first steam to score against Arana in comp games at Dawson Pde this year, after a drop out, then a penalty gave them repeat sets close to the line. Norths were gaining in confidence after being starved of the ball early in the game, and just before half-time crossed again to see them go to the break 12-10 ahead. The visitors started the second half where they left off on the first and a converted try 4 minutes after the resumption saw them skip away to an 8 point lead, and a huge upset was on the cards. The home side steadied however, getting back within 4 when Rodger crashed over in the corner from a backline move which included an incredible "falcon" off Matt's head. Norths held this lead for a further 12 minutes but Arana were starting to get on top, with Rohan levelling the scores in the 48th minute off a neat pass from Geoff, whose conversion saw the Panthers take the lead. Smart individual tries from Nash and Brendan (who converted his own try with one of the wobbliest kicks of the season) saw Arana take the game 32-18, a score that belied the closeness of the contest.
Stats:
Penalties: Arana 6-3
Completion Rates: Arana 25/35 Norths 20/26
By the minute:
7th min: Mitchell try/Geoff conv; Arana 6-0
15th min: Alex F try; Arana 10-0
19th min: Norths try/conv; Arana 10-6
27th min: Norths try/conv; Norths 12-10 (ht)
34th min: Norths try/conv; Norths 18-10
37th min: Rodger try; Norths 18-14
48th min: Rohan try/Geoff conv; Arana 20-18
53rd min: Nash try/Geoff conv; Arana 26-18
58rd min: Brendan try/conv; Arana 32-18 (ft)
In the other Friday night game Souths travelled to Scott Park to tackle the Tigers. It was a tight first half with both sides scoring a converted try for a 6-all scoreline just before the break. A mistake from Easts let the Magpies in however and they took a 10-6 lead into halftime. A sin-binning early in the second half proved costly for the Tigers with Souths skipping away to a 20-6 lead while Easts were a man short. The home side battled on gamely from there and were rewarded with a consolation try just before full-time for the final score of 20-12, the win keeping Souths Chairman's Trophy hopes alive, with Easts loss seeing them slipping back behind Centenary who had had the bye this weekend.
Logan Brothers, desperate for a win after their surprise loss to Souths last weekend, hosted Redlands, in the early Sunday game, played in fine warm conditions. Logan opened the scoring with a converted try however Redlands replied for a 6-6 scoreline midway through the first half. A break from the Logan five-eighth then led to a try for the home side five minutes before half-time and it seemed they would go to the break ahead. However, on the back of a repeat set close to the Logan line, Redlands scored, with the conversion being the last play of the half with Redlands leading 12-10. Redlands started the second half well and within 8 minutes had scored 2 converted tries to skip away to a 14 point lead. Logan Bros threw everything at Redlands for about a 10 minute period but just could not crack the Parakeet defence which scrambled brilliantly. With eight minutes to go they found a chink to score, but by then it was a case of "too little too late". The two sides traded converted tries in the last 3 minutes to see the final score 30-22, maintaining Redlands unbeaten record, and sending Logan Bros to their second consecutive defeat.
The final Sunday game saw Holy Spirit at home for the second week in succession, this time against Redcliffe. This was a dour struggle, with only the one try in the first half, the visitors taking a 4-0 lead to the break. Holy Spirit tried hard but just couldn't get close enough to the Dolphins to mount a serious challenge. Redcliffe eventually got home by 15-8 to keep in touch with the top 4.
With one game remaining in the first round, Redlands have sealed one position in the Chairman's Trophy and are undefeated on 16 points. They will play either Arana, Logan Brothers or Souths in the Chairman's trophy with these three teams locked on 12 points. Redcliffe are on 10, and even if the three teams above them lose on Tuesday week, they would have to beat Arana by over 90 points to get into the Trophy match. Centenary are in 6th place on 7, with Easts 6, Holy Spirit 3 and Norths 2 bringing up the tail.
Some high quality ganes on the weekend, with Norths getting closer to a win and the other three games being decided by 8 points or less, so the competition is certainly getting hotter. To all of you in the state carnival all the best - hope you all get through injury free and ready for the next round of the competion, in which 3 games will have a bearing in deciding the top 2 at the end of the first round!!
Brad T
11/5/2003
