COOLANGATTA kept alive their finals hopes and at the same time dented those of Gold Coast rivals Surfers Paradise in the local derby at Len Peak Oval on Sunday.
After trailing at quarter-time, the Blues took control of the clash and ran out deserved winners by 14.16 (100) to 10.13 (73).
By Terry Wilson
It was a victory that put Coolangatta on a season win-loss record of 3-3 but more importantly kept them well in the race for a spot in the finals top five.
“It was a huge win,” said successful coach Neil Mackay. “If we had lost today we’d have been 2-4. Now we’re in the middle of the pack on 3-3.”
Surfers are now in that 3-3 pack as well after a disappointing effort after quarter-time.
The Demons led 2.3 to 1.4 at the first break, but coluld not go on to maintain that advantage.
By half-time, the Blues led 6.5 to 4.5 and at three-quarter time it was 11.9to 9.11 to the home side, who held on strongly on the final term to extend their margin.
A key to Coolangatta’s win was that the players at last turned on a four-quarter effort, which particularly pleased Mackay.
“We didn’t have one of those bad quarters,” he said. “There were no peaks and troughs.”
Asked if he was surprised at the result, Mackay replied: “No, we thought we’d do all right.
“We looked at last week and felt we needed a bit of run.”
That bit of run came through local teenagers Sam Fife and Nick Lock who, Mackay said, added some much-needed run on the outside.
Stars for the Blues were Jake Byrush on the ball and down back, first-gamer Fife up forward and Classy Sam Carins, who kicked three goals from a wing.
There were no complaints from Surfers coach Rob Martin. He conceded Surfers lacked the desire for the hard ball that Coolangatta showed.
“We didn’t play well enough to win, simple as that,” said Martin.
“Cooly ‘wanted’ us out of the game, they wanted the footy more, which is extremely disappointing because this game was very winnable.
“They had half a side out, but we didn’t turn up ready to play.
“Every time we looked like getting back into it we just did something stupid.”
Ryan Dienjes and Jake Tooma, who swapped between on-ball and half-back, were best for the Demons, while centre half-back Bronson Durack also went well.
