The U15JA comp moved to Carina for the day for the opening three games of this year's finals on what was a fine warm day.
The first game saw an injury-hit Arana side having to borrow 2 players from the U14's who played the game before to make up 13 players, against a Logan Bros side keen to open the finals on a winning note, after losing both their finals matches last year. The scoreboard attendant was kept busy in the first half with points flowing freely as the sides traded tries. Junior scored Logan's first three, whilst Brendan scored Arana's first two with only goalkicking separating the sides, Logan Bros leading 18-14 after 22 minutes. Two tries to Logan Bros in final five minutes of the half proved critical as they jumped to a 30-14 lead, and when they scored again 2 minutes into the second stanza it looked as though it was going to be a cricket score against the reserve-less Panthers. They dug deep however, fighting back to 34-26 with 12 minutes remaining, and only some desperation defence after a Mitchell Carr break saw Logan retain a comfortable cushion. They the wrapped up the match with a well worked try with five minutes remaining to secure a 40-26 victory. Everyone dug deep for the Panthers and thanks particularly to the U14s who had to back up immediately after their losing semi-final. It was also great to see Brendan back on the field and he had a great match.
By the Minute:
2nd min: LB try/conv; LB 6-0
7th min: Brendan try/Luke conv; 6-6
11th min: LB try/conv; LB 12-6
14th min: Brendan try; LB 12-10
19th min: LB try/conv; LB 18-10
22nd min: Matt try; LB 18-14
25th min: LB try/conv; LB 24-14
28th min: LB try/conv; LB 30-14 (ht)
32nd min: LB try; LB 34-14
34th min: Geoff try/conv; LB 34-20
46th min: Zac try/Geoff conv; LB 34-26
54th min: LB try/conv; LB 40-26 (ft)
For the second game Redcliffe found themselves in a similar position to Arana with several players unavailable due to illness and injury leaving only 11 regular players available for their clash with Souths. Nonetheless they flew out of the blocks jumping away to a 10-0 lead after 15 mins. Two quick tries to the Magpies saw them grab the lead, but Redcliffe fought back with two tries of their own, one a controversial one right on half time after they dummied to kick at goal, to take a surprise 20-12 lead to the break. Souths ran riot early in the second half scoring three tries in 7 minutes, but despite the Dolphins tightening up their defence, the Magpies still put on 2 more tries to lead 40-20 before a consolation try to Redcliffe in the last minute saw the final score 40-24. Unfortunately one of the Redcliffe players suffered an apparently serious injury and had to be taken to hospital - all from the 15As wish him well for a speedy recovery.
By the minute:
11th min: Redcliffe try; Redcliffe 4-0
13th minute: Redcliffe try/conv; Redcliffe 10-0
17th minute: Souths try/conv; Redcliffe 10-6
23rd min: Souths try/conv; Souths 12-10
27th min: Redcliffe try/conv; Redcliffe 16-12
30th min: Redcliffe try; Redcliffe 20-12 (ht)
32nd min: Souths try/conv; Redcliffe 20-18
34th min: Souths try/conv; Souths 24-20
37th min: Souths try; Souths 28-20
44th min: Souths try/conv; Souths 34-20
51st min: Souths try/conv; Souths 40-20
59th min: Redcliffe try; Souths 40-24 (ft)
The final game of the afternoon was, barring a draw, to be the last of the year for one of the two combatants Easts and Norths, and it did turn out to be a real dour struggle. Easts jumped away to an early lead scoring a double in the first 6 minutes, but Norths struck back to trail 8-6 after 12 minutes. The only other score came in the first half came in the 17th minute with Easts extending their lead to 12-6. In fact the game was to go nearly 30 minutes before the next score, that being a penalty goal to the Tigers with 14 minutes remaining when a Devils player was sin-binned for a lifting tackle. Easts took advantage of the extra man to extend their lead to 14 with a converted try, but Norths kept some hope alive with a try of their own to trail by 10 with 8 minutes remaining. Easts defence hedl firm however added by the dismissal of a Norths player for another dangerous tackle with 4 minutes remaining and a field goal just before fulltime made the final score 21-10.
By the minute:
2nd min: Easts try; Easts 4-0
6th min: Easts try; Easts 8-0
11th min: Norths try/conv; Easts 8-6
17th min: Easts try; Easts 12-6 (ht)
46th min: Easts pg; Easts 14-6
49th min: Easts try/conv; Easts 20-6
51st min: Norths try; Easts 20-10
58th min: Easts fg; Easts 21-10 (ft)
Well week 1 of the finals are over - unfortunately it does look as though week 2 is going to be further disrupted by injury and rugby commitments, but hopefully we will all see some further good football played!
Brad T
10/8/2003
