What a great day of footy at Brandon Park, with 3 of the 4 games being decided in the last minute, to once again emphasise the closeness of this competition!!! Good luck to all the boys who are selected in Possibles/Probables on Tuesday night. A full summary of all four games is below. For photos, click here.
The first game saw competition leaders Norths take on equal 2nd place Springwood. Norths were weakened by the loss of Isaac and Josh, but the whole team lifted in what turned out to be a great contest. Springwood looked the better team early, but could not capitalise on a number of line breaks, and it was eventually the Devils who scored first after a Tiger mistake close to their own line in the 18th minute. This stung Springwood into action and they scored two quick tries to take a 10-6 lead to the break. When they scores again in the 3rd mminute of the second half, it looked as though they were getting right on top, but Norths were not to be denied scoring two tries of their own to equalise at 16 all midway through the half. Springwood again opened a converted try lead after Matt S put Daniel Issacs over but a grubber kick from Jacob set up the equalising try with 7 minutes remaining. Springwood went desperately close to scoring with 2 minutes remaining and from the ensuing set Norths went the length of the field to set up Jacob for a field goal and a 23-22 victory - a sensational match to open the day!
Minute by minute:
18th min: Norths-4 try/6 conv; Norths 6-0
22nd min: Springwood-1 try; Norths 6-4
25th min: Springwood-7 try/1 conv; Springwood 10-6
FIRST HALF STATS: Penalties: Springwood 5-3; Completions: Norths 10/14 (71.4%); Springwood 9/16 (56.3%)
33rd min: Springwood 12-try/1 conv; Springwood 16-6
35th min: Norths-9 try; Springwood 16-10
43rd min: Norths-12 try/7 conv 16-16
48th min: Springwood-4 try/6 conv; Springwiood 22-16
51st min: Norths-15 try/7 conv: 22-22
60th min: Norths-7 field goal; Norths 23-22
SECOND HALF STATS: Penalties: Norths 4-1; Completions: Norths 12/14 (85.7%); Springwood 6/8 (75.0%)
TOTAL STATS: Penalties: Norths 7-6; Completions: Norths 22/28 (78.6%); Springwood 15/24 (62.5%)
The second game saw Easts and Centenary square off in what proved to be another tight encounter. Easts played the much more controlled football, particularly in the first half, whilst Centenary really struggled with their ball control, this being reflected in the half time score of 10-6 to the Tigers. Easts took their lead out to 16-6 midway through the second half and looked set for an upset win, however Centenary clawed back to within 6 with 10 minutes remaining, and despite desperate Easts defence scored under the posts in the final minute to salvage a 16-16 draw.
Minute by minute:
2nd min: Easts-2 try; Easts 4-0
12th min: Centenary-4 try/6 convl; Centenary 6-4
19th min: Easts-7 try/5 conv; Easts 10-6
FIRST HALF STATS: Penalties: Easts 4-3; Completions: Centenary 8/16 (50.0%); Easts 13/17 (76.5%)
44th min: Easts 7-try/5 conv; Easts 16-6
48th min: Centenary-9 try; Easts 16-10
60th min: Centenary-15 try/7 conv 16-16
SECOND HALF STATS: Penalties: Centenary 4-0; Completions: Centenary 10/18 (55.6%); Easts 6/13 (46.2%)
TOTAL STATS: Penalties: Centenary 7-4; Completions: Centenary 18/34 (52.9%); Easts 19/30 (63.3%)
A depleted Logan Bros side ran out to take on second placed Redcliffe in the third game, in what was expected to be another close encounter, however the Dolphins left all their good form back at home and were never in the hunt from the time a dropped ball gifted Logan Bros their first try in the 4th minute. With Matt Sepelini charging around the field like a runaway bull, Trent Iselin mesmerised the Dolphins and orchestrated a 36-0 hammering of the northsiders, to show the assembled onlookers that Logan are certainly a force in the competition despite their mediocrs form early in the season.
Minute by minute:
4th min: L.B.-2 try; L.B. 4-0
13th min: L.B-12 try/7 goal; L.B. 10-0
25th min: L.B-3 try/7 conv; L.B. 16-0
FIRST HALF STATS: Penalties: 1-1; Completions: Redcliffe 7/14 (50.0%); L.B. 12/15 (80.0%)
32nd min: L.B.-2 try; L.B. 20-0
38th min: L.B-11 try; L.B. 24-0
52nd min: L.B-1 try/7 conv; L.B. 30-0
58th min: L.B.-2 try/3 conv; L.B. 36-0
SECOND HALF STATS: Penalties: Logan Bros 3-2; Completions: Redcliffe 5/10 (50.0%); L.B. 13/17 (76.5%)
TOTAL STATS: Penalties: Logan Bros 4-3; Completions: Redcliffe 12/24 (50.0%); L.B. 25/32 (78.1%)
The final game saw home side Souths confront Arana, with both sides having last week set records for consecutive losses by their teams, so a win was an absolute must for both of them. Arana began the best and led 8-0 after part time centre Brent scored in the corner from a neat pass from Matt. The Magpies struck back immediately however in freak circumstances when Mitch batted a penalty kick for touch back in only to see it bounce between three Arana players into the hands of the Souths lock who ran 40 metres to score under the posts. Arana had numerous chances toscore in the remainder of the half, but poor ball control cost them dearly, until the 26th minute when Mitchell finished off a neat backline move to score wide out and take the Panthers to the break leading 8-6. Arana opened brightly in the second half and went quickly to 6 point lead when Geoff scored a great individual try, however from this point Arana's ball control disintegrated, completing only one of the next seven sets, and in the process allowing the Magpies to score 2 converted tries and take a 18-12 lead. Finally Arana settled down and when workaholic Matt scored under the posts and Rodger knocked over the conversion with 3 minutes remaining most would have been happy to salvage a draw. The visitors were not to be deined and some great work down the blind sided by Brendan and Alex F eventually saw Rodger plunge over in the corner for a try to take the score to 22-18 with only seconds remaining. This was certainly a vital win, which has seen the Panthers sneak back into the top 5.
Minute by minute:
8th min: Brent try; Arana 4-0
10th min: Souths-13 try/1 goal; Souths 6-4
26th min: Mitchell try; Arana 8-6
FIRST HALF STATS: Penalties: 4-4; Completions: Arana 11/18 (61.1%); Souths 10/14 (71.4%)
36th min: Geoff try; Arana 12-6
43rd min: Souths-1 try/conv; 12-12
50th min: Souths-3 try/4 conv; Souths 18-12
56th min: Matt try/Rodger conv; 18-18
60th min: Rodger try; Arana 22-18
SECOND HALF STATS: Penalties: 2-2; Completions: Arana 8/15 (53.3%); Souths 6/11 (54.5%)
TOTAL STATS: Penalties: 6-6; Completions: Arana 19/33 (57.6%); Souths 16/25 (64.0%)
What a great day of footy which has left Norths 4 points clear on top of the table, with only 2 points separating 2nd and 6th - Redcliffe and Springwood on 10, Logan Bros on 9 and Arana and Centenary on 8. Easts on 5 and Souths on 0 in 7th and 8th still both showed today they will cause plenty of problems for the top teams for the rest of the year!
Brad T
9/5/2004
