By Terry Wilson
QFA Division 2
Bond University v Burleigh
Beenleigh 2.1, 8.5, 9.5, 12.11 (83)
Bond University 5.5, 7.7, 9.9, 9.11 (65)
GOALS, Beenleigh AFC: K. Luck 3, N. Jones 2, J. James 2, S. Goode 1, B. Eddy 1, L. James 1, R. Birnie 1, C. Eddy 1. Bond University AFC: D. Goodburn 2, M. Freeman 2, S. Mahoney 1, J. Fox 1, T. Hanrahan 1.
BEST, Beenleigh AFC: S. Goode, B. Eddy, J. Clarke, J. James, L. James, D. Eddy. Bond University AFC: S. Mahoney, W. Bacon, D. Goodburn, J. Meaney, J. Fox, N. Thomas.
BEENLEIGH came from behind at both quarter and three-quarter time to score a crucial win over hosts Bond University in the QFA Division 2 qualifying final on Saturday.
Recording their second win over the Bullsharks this season, the talent-loaded Buffaloes scored by 12.11 (83) to 9.11 (65) and thereby earned a crack at minor premiers Park Ridge in next weekend’s second semi-final at the Park Ridge State High School oval.
The Buffaloes had to run against a decent north-easterly in the first quarter and trailed by 5.5 to 2.1 at quarter-time before they used the wind well with a term of 6.4 to 2.2 that gave them a four-point lead at the main break.
It was during the third term that the breeze dropped somewhat and at the final break Bond were back in front, but by only four points.
But they managed only two points coming home while the Buffaloes stampeded to victory with a term of 3.6.
Football manager Greg Krieger said it was a fine effort by a team that contained at least half a dozen 17-year-olds, including twins Jack and Lachlan James.
There was a third James sibling, Josh, also in the team that is coached by their father Cameron James.
According to football manager Greg Krieger, the standout was another 17-year-old, Sean Goode, who excelled in his role on a half-back flank.
Brayden Eddy, changing between the centre and half-forward was another shining light and the club liked the work of one of the James twins Lachlan on top Bond spearhead Ben Merrett.
For Bond Steve Mahoney, Wyatt Bacon and Dan Goodburn were the better performers.
Bond now come up against Coolangatta in the knockout first semi-final at Bond next Saturday.
Coomera v Coolangatta
Coolangatta Tweed AFC 4.1, 11.3, 15.5, 19.10 (124)
Coomera AFC 1.4, 3.6, 6.8, 6.8 (44)
GOALS, Coolangatta Tweed AFC: J. Wilson 8, I. Franks 5, D. King 2, M. Hagan 1, J. Ryan 1, M. Walder 1, J. Westerberg 1. Coomera AFC: H. Correa 4, C. Cook 2.
BEST, Coolangatta Tweed AFC: M. Ryan, J. Wilson, M. Carey, M. Hagan, J. Westerberg, J. Allan. Coomera AFC: N. Harrison, J. Whittenbury, D. Brauer, J. Brierley, C. Rumbles, H. Correa.
Up the M1 at the Coomera Sports Park, Coolangatta knocked the Carrara Magpies out of the title race with a convincing win.
The Blues scored by 19.10 (124) to 6.8 (44) with a strong four-quarter effort.
The Blues led by 15 points at quarter-time, by 45 at half-time and by 54 at the final break.
Leading the charge up front was Justin Wilson with eight big ones while Matt Ryan, Mitchell Carey and Michael Hagan as main contenders for BOG honours.
Hayden Correa kicked four of Coomera’s six goals while best were Nick Harrison, Jake Whittenbury and Daniel Brauer.
Earlier in the day Coomera also exited the reserve grade title race after losing the elimination final against Moreton Bay Lions by 10.14 (74) to 7.6 (48).
In the qualifying final at Bond University, the Kenmore Bears downed Alexandra Hills by 12.5 (77) to 7.10 (52).
QFA Division 3
Carrara v Kedron
Carrara 4.5, 6.7, 8.13, 13.16 (94)
Kedron AFC 2.3, 7.7, 8.9, 10.11 (71)
GOALS, Carrara: A. Templar 7, J. Byrne 1, J. Grainger 1. Kedron AFC: N. Guys 3, R. Vagne 2, J. Olman 1, D. Nelson 1, D. Duffield 1, B. Langham 1, J. Horton 1.
BEST, Carrara: J. Grainger, B. Spittle, J. Byrne, L. Davis, M. Vasterink, A. Templar. Kedron AFC: D. Duffield, J. Whicker, D. Charles, J. Olman, J. Horton, D. Nelson.
CARRARA have drawn on some painful memories from the week before as the inspiration that led to them earning another crack at Ipswich in the QFA Division 3 grand final next weekend.
The Saints had to dig deep just a week after being overrun by Ipswich in the fourth quarter in the second semi-final before overcoming spirited Kedron by 13.16 (94) to 10.11 (71) in the preliminary final at Nielsens Road on Saturday.
In what was a good game, the Saints were ahead by only four points at three-quarter time when coach Nick Pearson called on his troops to lift.
That they did, piling on 5.3 to the 2.2 by Kedron and in some way redeeming events of the previous weekend when Ipswich did the same to them in the fourth quarter.
“It was pretty close throughout,” Pearson said of Saturday’s clash.
“It was just that we opened them up in the last quarter, pretty similar the opposite of the previous week when Ipswich produced more than we did, and they outworked us.
“We grew on that and remembering what happened the boys weren’t going to get outworked again.”
Pearson said he knew his Saints would produce late because that has been a trend in Carrara’s home matches this season.
Forward Ash Templar took his season tally to 94 with seven of the Saints’ 13 goals but it was midfielder Jordie Grainger who was the standout.
Pearson said Grainger took nine marks, all of them contested, in the last seven minutes of the game in a performance that featured 40-plus possessions.
Jordie Grainger outstanding, took 9 marks in last seven minutes of the game
“And we had our captain Rhys Nossiter back after a month out and that was a plus because he kicked three goals for us.”
In the Kedron camp playing coach Daniel Duffield was superb as he tried valiantly to get the Lions over the line.
Jackson Whicker, Darcy Charles and Jeremy Oldman were others who never threw in the towel for Kedron.
In the reserve grade preliminary final minor premiers Redcliffe, who were unbeaten until shocked by Kedron in the second semi-final, bounced back to thrash Ipswich by 11.13 (79) to 2.8 (20) to book a place in the grand final against Kedron.
Next Saturday’s grand final program at Bendigo Bank Oval (Hickey Park) is:
Seniors: Ipswich v Carrara at 2pm.
Reserve grade: Kedron v Redcliffe at 11.15am.
