CATS POWER FINISH NETS THEM A FLAG
Broadbeach Cats turned around a 24 point half time deficit to run out 20-point winners in the SEQAFL Cup Grand Final curtain raiser at Leyshon Park Yeronga yesterday.
Led by a stellar performance by onballer Josh Pound and some forward brilliance by Nathan Quick, the Cats piled on 7 goals 5 behinds to the Hornets solitary goal in a game changing third quarter onslaught.
Despite some solo goal kicking performances by Aspley’s Mitch Scholard (5-goals) and Matt Nickerson (5-goals), the Hornets couldn’t make up any ground in an even last quarter where both sides kicked 3-goals each.
Earlier in the game Aspley seemed to have all the answers with Nickerson, Shaun Crook, Nick Warren and Scholard all looking very dangerous up forward.
Onballers Josh Wagner and captain Scott Waters provided the impetus for a 6-goal to nil second quarter – with the breeze – to see the Hornets go to the main break 4-goals clear.
Broadbeach seemed to change their game plan after half time and endeavoured to play on and move the ball quickly with Pound, Nick Burton, Ryan Bower and Josh Searl key instigators.
Up forward, Quick and resting ruckman Josh Clarke provided a good target and by half way into the third quarter the Cats had wrestled the lead away from the Hornets.
From that point on the Cats were never headed, holding a 17 point lead at three quarter time and – despite kicking into a 2-3 goal breeze – held on in the final quarter.
Broadbeach Coach Rob Martin paid tribute to the teams never say die attitude and praised his young team’s self belief in the great third quarter comeback whilst Aspley Hornets Coach Daniel Webster – voted NEAFL Emerging Coach of the year – lamented his young teams lack of concentration and composure in the crucial third quarter onslaught from the Cats.
Quarter by Quarter scores SEQAFL Cup Grand Final
Broadbeach 5-2 5-5 12-10 15-14-104 defeated
Aspley 3-3 9-5 10-5 13-6-84
Goals Broadbeach : Ryan Bower (3), Nathan Quick (2), Nick Burton (2), Michael Forsdyke, Michael Cooke, Nick Scott, Shae Killey, Josh Clarke, Nic Ellis, Josh Pound, Kieran Brennan all (1) each
Best Broadbeach : Josh Pound, Nathan Quick, Ryan Bower, Josh Searl, Nick Burton, Josh Clarke
Goals Aspley : Matt Nickerson (5), Mitchell Scholard (5), Shaun Crook (2), Aliir Aliir (1)
Best Aspley : Shaun Crook, Mitch Scholard, Matt Nickerson, Josh Wagner, Fraser Thompson, Scott Waters
Billy Hardy Medallist for best player on ground: #37 from Broadbeach Josh Pound
