Finals Week 2 Details
FINALS WEEK 2 RESULTS: Sept 2/3 2006
Major Semi-Final: Norths Devils 50 (Sika Manu 2, Israel Folau, Will Chambers, Luke Samoa, Michael Bond, Aiden Guerra, Jay Aston, Jarrad Stack tries, Luke Samoa 6, Luke Capewell goals) def Redcliffe Dolphins 16 (Jordan Brown, Tim Yee, Tim Benson tries, Phil Daisy 2 goals) at Piggabeen
IN BRIEF:
After a tight first half Norths went to the break leading 16-12, however in the second half the star-studded Devils really got on a roll, outscoring the Dolphins 34-4 to run out 50-16 winners, ironically the same margin as Redcliffe conceded in their Qld Cup Major Semi loss to Toowoomba yesterday. Norths move straight to the Grand Final on September 16 at Suncorp Stadium, whilst Redcliffe will host a Wynnum-Manly side brimful of confidence in the Preliminary Final on Saturday.
Knockout Semi Final: Wynnum-Manly Seagulls 26 (Luke Menhinnitt, Ryan Brown, Matt Smith, Trent Clark, Shaun Cotter tries, Luke Menhinnitt 3 goals) def Eastern Suburbs Tigers 18 (David Wood 3, Pueki Ofahengaue tries, Dane Phillips goal) at Langlands Park.
IN BRIEF:
Despite a hat-trick to livewire fullback David Wood and home ground advantage, Easts have crashed out of the FInals race with a 26-18 loss to Wynnum-Manly after trailling 16-8 at half-time. Golakicking has proved an achilles heel for Easts over the last few weeks, and their inability to turm 4 points into 6 proved critical this week, as it did last week, as they were unable to get withing striking distance which may have been the lift required. The Seagulls have found form at the right end of the season and will be no pushovers for the loser of tomorrow's major semi between Norths and Redcliffe at Dolphin Oval next Saturday.
MATCH PREVIEWS: Sept 2/3 2006
This week Norths return to the fray to battle Redcliffe for a Grand Final spot, while Easts and Wynnum-Manly battle for survival
Knockout Semi Final: Easts Tigers v Wynnum Manly-Seagulls Sat 1:15pm Langlands Park
Previous Games: Round 5: Easts 44 def Wynnum-Manly 4; Round 15: Wynnum-Manly 32 def Easts 30
Easts will welcome back Pueki Ofahengaue and David Georgiou back from injury to bolster their backline in this do-or-die clash against Wynnum-Manly. The Tigers were in the match right up to the final ten minutes against Redcliffe before fading, and will certainly have to play the full 70 minutes this week to be a chance against a Wynnum side that will be full of confidence after blowing away the more faniced Aspley side last weekend. Wynnum have retained that side which is not a big one, but which has a heap of "goers" and they will again be looking for string perfoemances from their halves, Matt Smith and Ben Cronin and Shaun Cotter off the bench. The teams have shared the spoils in their two matches this year, Easts giving the Seagulls a 40 point hammering in Round 5, before Wynnum snuck home in the clising minutes for what turned out to be a critical 32-30 victory in Round 15. Easts will enjoy the home ground advantage, but agina will miss big forward John Helu, whose go-forward they are struggling to replace. "THE COMPUTER" tips Wynnum Manly by 12.
Elimination Final: Norths Devils v Redcliffe Dolphins Sun 1.15pm Piggabeen
Previous Game: Round 6: Norths 44 def Redcliffe 18; Round 16: Norths 42 def Redcliffe 22
Redcliffe have retained the side, and return to othe same venue, where they accounted for Easts last week, but they themselves would concede they will have to improve on that performance, particularly in the handling department, to get close to the star-studded Norths side. Norths coach Trevor Bailey's biggest quandaru would have been who to leave out, with a full playing roster available as Norths are not in the higher grades in the finals, and he has picked a side that is hard to find a weakness in. Norths easily won the two encounters earlier in the season and only lack of match practice may count against them in this one, having had the previous week off, and some key players the week before that as well, and the bulk of this team has not played together in the one side since before the rep season began. Should be a very entertaining encounter. "THE COMPUTER" tips Norths by 16.
