By Beth Newman
Mayne 2.0, 10.4, 17.8, 22.13 (145)
Burleigh 4.4, 5.6, 8.9, 9.10 (64)
Mayne’s finals hopes are well and truly alive, after a 22.13 (145) – 9.10 (64) win over Burleigh.
The Tigers have won six of their last seven games, to sit in sixth, with only percentage separating them from fifth-placed Western Magpies.
In a fiery encounter, the Tigers withstood an opening charge from the Bombers, with an eight-goal-to-one second term.
Mayne coach, Mitch Ferguson, said it was pleasing to see his side rally, after an early injury to Tom Falconer.
Falconer went off with a facial injury in the first quarter, a major blow for the Tigers who already had four regulars missing from the previous game.
“(That injury) spurred the players on to play well, which they did,” he said.
“Were a bit worried early, just a couple things weren’t going to plan but the boys responded really well after quarter time.
The Tigers took control of the midfield in the second term, led by strong performances from Sam Paterson.
Small forward, Corbin Sellen, was a standout in the Tigers’ forward line, putting incredible pressure on Burleigh’s rebounding efforts.
With an extensive injury list, Ferguson said he was looking forward to the competition bye next week.
“We’re six out of 10 with the bye and we’ll probably lose a couple more today, but we’ll get a lot of guys back too,” he said.
“It’s going to be tough to get a game in the last six weeks.”
Bombers coach, Shane Williams, said the loss was a frustrating one for his side.
“We set ourselves to go man on man and apart from a little bit in the second quarter, we did that,” he said.
“We matched it with them and outplayed them and I felt the game itself was a two-goal game.
“The final scoreboard not an indication of the effort.”
Wade Dickson, only available to the Bombers every second week, was a star in the losing side, getting plenty of touches off half-back.
“He’s a terrific player and we do miss him when he’s not here,” he said.
Despite their winless record to this point, Williams was bullish about his side’s prospects for the final six rounds.
“We’ve got six weeks to go and I think we will win four out of six and hopefully take a big scalp along the way,” he said.
All Allied Pickfords Cup sides have the week off with a bye this weekend.
Western Magpies 3.5, 8.10, 13.12, 18.13 (121)
Maroochydore 3.2, 6.2, 8.5, 11.10 (76)
The Western Magpies picked up a crucial win over Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast yesterday.
After a first quarter arm wrestle, the defending premiers opened up a lead in the second, and never looked back.
The Magpies’ Hayden Thick continued his impressive form, and was his side’s best on the day.
The loss pretty much ends Maroochydore’s slim finals hopes, with the Roos now three games off the pace.
Wilston Grange 4.3, 11.5, 19.5, 22.9 (141)
University of Queensland 3.1, 4.1, 6.2, 11.2 (68)
Grange picked up another handy percentage boost, defeating UQ, on Saturday.
The Gorillas withstood strong first and last quarter efforts from the Red Lions, but 15 goals in the middle terms put the result out of doubt for Grange.
With regular ruckmen, Jim McMahon and Ben Haire, out of the Gorillas’ side, Will Thwaite stood up in the centre, with an impressive performance.
UQ’s Michael Stewart continued his good 2013 form, and was the Red Lions’ best.
The Red Lions will be looking forward to the bye, and should welcome back a a swag of players in their next match against Mayne.
The Gorillas will be looking to maintain their momentum after the bye, after a disappointing loss to Mayne after the Rd 4 split round bye.
What the coaches said:
Matt Trewhella (Wilston Grange):
“All year, when we’ve won games, it’s been because of our pressure around the ball, on the ball carrier and that perceived pressure.”
“We were able to do that really well.”
“We lost after the last bye, so we’re focusing all our efforts on making sure we get up against Maroochydore (in two weeks).”
Springwood 1.0, 4.5, 5.9, 9.10 (64)
Surfers Paradise 1.2, 4.4, 5.4, 8.5 (53)
Springwood survived a bruising encounter, to defeat Surfers Paradise at Lowe Oval on Saturday.
The Pumas rebounded from their first loss of the season to Palm Beach, to reinforce their premiership credentials against a top side.
With the Demons’ Jesse Haberfield doing a strong tagging job on Albert Proud, the Pumas looked to players such as Greg Friis and youngster Callum Eddy, in his first game for the side.
The run of the Demons was limited in wet conditions, but they showed a strong defensive effort all day, across the ground.
It wasn’t all good news for the Pumas, with midfielder Jye Hall likely to require shoulder surgery after suffering an injury in the match.
It was a significant win on a number of levels for the Pumas, with captain Mark Thompson playing his 100th game for the club.
What the coaches said:
Tony King (Springwood):
“It was really good. On a bit of a wet track, it was a bit of a slog but it was a pretty important win.”
“I thought we adapted really well to the conditions and the players stood up defensively.“
“Big win. It meant a lot to Thommo, and he means a lot to us.”
“We learnt a bit off last week, it was a big learning curve.”
Beau Zorko (Surfers Paradise):
“It was one of those wet, boggy days and proved to be a great physical contest all day.”
“I think we take great confidence from the fact that we’re right in the competition.”
“I think the top five sides are quite even. Anyone can beat anyone else on their day.”
“It’s certainly the most physical and toughest we’ve played all season. I was really, really happy with that.”
Sandgate 5.1, 9.7, 16.8, 22.13 (145)
Noosa 4.0, 5.1, 6.2, 9.3 (57)
Sandgate remains in the finals hunt, after a 92-point win over Noosa on Saturday.
The Hawks are one game off fifth place Magpies, in seventh with a 5-5 record, but percentage could ultimately be their undoing, with nine per cent between them and sixth-placed Mayne.
Facing off against a side in a similar stage of development, with plenty of youth, the Hawks took the opportunity to make a statement to the rest of the competition.
Nineteen year-old Tom Overington had a sensational game for the Hawks, along with exciting forward Corbin Dickfos.
The Hawks will use the weekend off for a mid-season camp, and will be trying to keep their young charges as fresh as possible in the season’s closing stages.
Noosa midfielder, Stephen Simpson, had an impressive game for the Tigers.
What the coaches said:
Rob Dickfos (Sandgate):
“Against Surfers, I though that was our best game to that point, but it was good to take the next step and be relentless and get good reward for the hard work.”
“Our pressure all around the ground, our attack at the ball and the with the ball and our ability to work a lot harder made the difference.”
“It was an extremely important win. Every side had been on the end of a pizzling from Noosa in recent years, so it was good to play a game and dominate it so well.”
“We knew it was going to be tough and I expected a win but I didn’t expect us to do it so well.”
Palm Beach Currumbin 3.2, 8.5, 16.7, 17.9 (111)
Coolangatta Tweed 2.4, 2.7, 2.11, 7.12 (54)
Palm Beach solidified its top spot, with a 56-point win over Coolangatta.
The Blues have been hard to read this season, but the Lions were prepared for everything thrown at them, breaking the game open after the first term.
As has become their trademark this season, though, the Blues kept coming and stormed home in the final quarter.
It was all too little too late for the home side, though, as the Lions’ premiership favouritism was enhanced once more.
Under-18 player, Thomas Thynne, starred on debut for the Lions, running off half-back.
What the coaches said:
Daryn Cresswell (Palm Beach):
That was a bit of a danger game for us. We’ve had a few injuries and Cooly have recruited really well, so I was pleased to get a win.”
“Full credit to them. They came at us in the last. they never give up, Cooly.”
“We didn’t play our best footy in he last quarter and in the overall context of the game, to get the four points, we played pretty well.”
“Now the boys get a well-earned rest.”
“We’ve got some tough games against Grange and Surfers and Mayne coming up, so it’s going to be a good test to see where we’re at.”
