#CowboyDavid
27-08-2006, 07:14 PM
Sun Aug 27, 7:33pm (QLD) (Archive year: 2006) by QRL Media
Source: QRL (http://www.qrl.com.au/)
REDCLIFFE is one win away from its eighth QLD Wizard Cup grand final in the past 11 years, recording a 22-8 upset of defending premier North Queensland in Sunday’s qualifying final.
Around the state it was the day of the underdog, as Souths Logan ousted Wynnum Manly from the FOGS Cup title race and hot shots Aspley were flogged in the Colts Challenge elimination final.
Redcliffe’s task in overcoming the Young Guns in Townsville was no easy feat, with the trip north bringing little joy to most teams this season.
Indeed the Dolphins had been beaten 30-12 in the tropics just three weeks beforehand and went into the match minus injured strike weapon Nick Emmett.
However they led 6-4 at halftime in front of a parochial North Queensland crowd, answering the challenge to increase their defensive intensity.
In a Man of the Match performance Mount Isa-raised fullback Ryan Cullen scored three tries for the Dolphins, who now meet Toowoomba in next Saturday’s major semi at Clive Berghofer Stadium.
“We’ve guaranteed ourselves two chances of the grand final and that was the aim coming up here,” Redcliffe coach Anthony Griffin said.
“We got through unscathed today with injuries, so we’ll take the chance to freshen up and get ready to play the Clydesdales.”
Dominant for much of the season, North Queensland now faces Easts in a do-or-die minor semi final at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Friday. The match will be held between the national semi-final of the Arrive Alive Cup and the final round NRL match between the Cowboys and Parramatta.
The Young Guns will have to regain confidence and direction in attack after scoring just three tries in their last two matches.
Frustrated, the reigning champs posted one try to Brenton Bowen in the first half against Redcliffe, but waited until three minutes before fulltime before recording their second via Jamie Frizzo.
The Dolphins did their level best to limit all opportunities, completing 18 of 20 sets in the second stanza and shifting defensive specialist Mark Shipway to the centres. Shipway’s performance was described as ‘excellent’ by Griffin, with fellow three-quarter Greg Bourke proving rock-solid as well.
It remains to be seen how the Dolphins will restructure their backline when Emmett returns from his quadriceps tear, with Griffin revealing he was “hoping to get something” from the 24-year-old before the season was out.
Earlier in the day there were big upsets in both FOGS Cup and Colts elimination finals. Most startling was a 62-8 win by Wynnum Manly over Aspley in the Under 19s. After finishing the season red-hot, Brisbane Bronco affiliate Aspley was expected to win the match comfortably.
Wynnum Manly also went within a whisker of winning the FOGS Cup elimination final, but fell 28-24 to battlers Souths Logan; the Magpies staying alive in their quest for the clubs first premiership since 1985.
REDCLIFFE 22 (Ryan Cullen 3, Rory Bromley tries; Greg Bourke 3 goals) d NORTH QUEENSLAND 8 (Brenton Bowen, Jamie Frizzo tries) at Townsville Sports Reserve.
Source: QRL (http://www.qrl.com.au/)
REDCLIFFE is one win away from its eighth QLD Wizard Cup grand final in the past 11 years, recording a 22-8 upset of defending premier North Queensland in Sunday’s qualifying final.
Around the state it was the day of the underdog, as Souths Logan ousted Wynnum Manly from the FOGS Cup title race and hot shots Aspley were flogged in the Colts Challenge elimination final.
Redcliffe’s task in overcoming the Young Guns in Townsville was no easy feat, with the trip north bringing little joy to most teams this season.
Indeed the Dolphins had been beaten 30-12 in the tropics just three weeks beforehand and went into the match minus injured strike weapon Nick Emmett.
However they led 6-4 at halftime in front of a parochial North Queensland crowd, answering the challenge to increase their defensive intensity.
In a Man of the Match performance Mount Isa-raised fullback Ryan Cullen scored three tries for the Dolphins, who now meet Toowoomba in next Saturday’s major semi at Clive Berghofer Stadium.
“We’ve guaranteed ourselves two chances of the grand final and that was the aim coming up here,” Redcliffe coach Anthony Griffin said.
“We got through unscathed today with injuries, so we’ll take the chance to freshen up and get ready to play the Clydesdales.”
Dominant for much of the season, North Queensland now faces Easts in a do-or-die minor semi final at Dairy Farmers Stadium on Friday. The match will be held between the national semi-final of the Arrive Alive Cup and the final round NRL match between the Cowboys and Parramatta.
The Young Guns will have to regain confidence and direction in attack after scoring just three tries in their last two matches.
Frustrated, the reigning champs posted one try to Brenton Bowen in the first half against Redcliffe, but waited until three minutes before fulltime before recording their second via Jamie Frizzo.
The Dolphins did their level best to limit all opportunities, completing 18 of 20 sets in the second stanza and shifting defensive specialist Mark Shipway to the centres. Shipway’s performance was described as ‘excellent’ by Griffin, with fellow three-quarter Greg Bourke proving rock-solid as well.
It remains to be seen how the Dolphins will restructure their backline when Emmett returns from his quadriceps tear, with Griffin revealing he was “hoping to get something” from the 24-year-old before the season was out.
Earlier in the day there were big upsets in both FOGS Cup and Colts elimination finals. Most startling was a 62-8 win by Wynnum Manly over Aspley in the Under 19s. After finishing the season red-hot, Brisbane Bronco affiliate Aspley was expected to win the match comfortably.
Wynnum Manly also went within a whisker of winning the FOGS Cup elimination final, but fell 28-24 to battlers Souths Logan; the Magpies staying alive in their quest for the clubs first premiership since 1985.
REDCLIFFE 22 (Ryan Cullen 3, Rory Bromley tries; Greg Bourke 3 goals) d NORTH QUEENSLAND 8 (Brenton Bowen, Jamie Frizzo tries) at Townsville Sports Reserve.