Suncorp Stadium was the setting for the 2003 Foundation Shield Final between Redlands and Runaway Bay. A fine warm day and a crowd building for the Broncos/Dragons clash greeted the players as they ran onto the hallowed, if much maligned, Lang Prk turf.
Redlands had much the better of the early going, and it was in fact 7 minutes before Runaway Bay got their hands on the ball, In that time Redland winger Ashley Karklis crossed for a try wide out after the Parakeets ran the ball on the 5th tackle. In the 12th minute Redlands extended their lead when with centre Geoff Davey crossing after a good set move. Vaughan Eriksen's attempted conversion again went wide, but Redlands had jumped away to an 8-0 lead.
A couple of mistakes by the leaders eventually started to let Runaway Bay into the game, and on the back of some good go-forward from their big forward back, five-eight Josh Dwyer, who was named Runaway Bay's Man-of-the-match, scored a fine individual try with Brenton Green's conversion bring the gap back to 2 with 8 minutes remaining before the break. Bay's confidence was building and 3 minutes later they were in again when hooker Nick Currell dived over from dummy half, the conversion extending the coast teams lead to 4 points which they held till half time.
The second half began where the first finished, with the Runaway Bay forwards making inroads up the middle and when centre Sean Barry scored and Green again knocked over the conversion Bay had jumped ahead 18-8 with 24 minutes remaining. They held this lead for nearly 10 minutes, but their forwards were starting to tire and the injection of Trent Iselin into the game turned the match around for Redlands. With fifteen minutes remaining he scored a brilliant solo try beating at least 6 defenders to score next to the posts, then 2 minutes later made another break which resulted in Davey crossing for his second try. Eriksen converted both tries, including one from the sideline, and suddenly Redlands had snatched the lead 20-18 with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Bay peppered the Redlands line for the next 5 minutes but the defence held and Redlands then took a strangehold on the match when winger Karklis scored after a move that went the length of the field. Eriksen put the game beyond doubt with 2 minutes remaining when he crossed to confirm Redlands final 28-18 margin.
Runaway Bay were certainly gallant in defeat, with 5/8 Josh Dwyer the standout, backed up well by centre Sean Barry, hooker Nick Currell and the entire forward pack. Nathan Strudwick deservedly received the Man-of-the-Match award for the winners. Jay Aston and Shay Newdick also stood out in the forwards whilst Karklis, Davey and Eriksen had solid games in the three-quarters with Fraser Evans solid at the back. The attacking brilliance of Trent Iselin was also critical to their win.
Scorers:
REDLANDS 28 (Ashley Karklis 2, Geoff Davey 2, Vaughan Eriksen, Trent Iselin tries; Eriksen 2/6 goals)
def
RUNAWAY BAY 18 (Josh Dwyer, Nick Currell, Sean Barry tries; Brenton Green 3/3 goals)
Stats:
Penalties: Redlands 7-4
Scrums: 4-4 (1 to Redlands against feed)
Completions: Redlands: 23/31 (74%); Runaway Bay: 20/23 (87%)
By the Minute:
4th min: Karklis try; Redlands 4-0
11th min: Davey try; Redlands 8-0
21st min: Dwyer try/Green conv; Redlands 8-6
25th min: Currell try/Green conv; Bay 12-8 (ht)
36th min: Barry try/Green conv; Bay 18-8
44th min: Iselin try/Eriksen conv; Bay 18-14
47th min: Davey try/Ericksen conv; Redlands 20-18
54th min: Karklis try; Redlands 24-18
58th min: Eriksen try; Redlands 28-18 (ft)
Congratulations to Redlands on their win.
Brad T
6/9/2003
