IT seems that, whenever Mayne and Coolangatta clash, strange things go on.
By Terry Wilson
Saturday’s clash between the sides at Everton Park on Saturday served up another match with a difference as Coolangatta held on to win a thriller by 15.14 (104) to 14.15 (99).
It was last season that Coolangatta kicked 13 final-quarter goals only to lose a match against Mayne on the Gold Coast.
This time it was Mayne who surged home, kicking 9.5 to 5.2 in the final stanza only to go down narrowly.
That frenetic scoring burst came after a third quarter when both sides failed to kick a goal and managed only four behinds each.
It looked very much like both sides were trying to lose rather than win.
Unfortunately for Mayne, it now leaves them only three matches to break their 2011 season duck.
But they were ever so close against the Blues, player-coach Luke Faulkner proud of his troops after their effort.
“We started slowly and a couple of skill errors hurt us,” said Faulkner who was among Mayne’s best in his on-all role.
“Yet we were still confident at three-quarter time that we could over the line, but we fell just short.”
The Tigers trailed by four goals at the 25-minute mark of the last quarter, which adds lustre to their gritty late surge that almost carried them over the line.
Coolangatta coach Neil Mackay was looking for a good start – and his troops delivered by setting up a quarter-time lead of 7.4 to 1.2.
“We probably should have kicked 10.2 instead of 7.4, then Mayne came back at us.”
For Coolangatta, centre half-back Mark Greeney cut Mayne key forward Andrew Housego out of the game, half-back Brendan White gave plenty of grunt and captain Daniel Hawkins shone in roles on the ball and up forward.
Mayne’s best were Nathan Smyth, Faulkner and wingman Stuart Vimpany.
Smyth played well on a wing for three quarters then ignited, kicking all of his six goals in that pulsating final quarter.
