REDCLIFFE
DOLPHINS 40
Tries: Phil
Graham 2, Rick Hewinson 2, Rod West, Jason Webber,
Michael Roberts
Goals: Michael
Roberts 6 (from 10
attempts)
Team: 14. Barry Denduck, 2. George
Wilson, 3. Jason Webber, 4. Phil Graham, 5.
Ricky Hewinson, 6. Rod West, 7. Michael Roberts, 8.
Troy Lindsay, 9. Craig O'Dwyer (c), 10. Russell
Lahiff, 11. Luke Scott, 12. Danny Burke, 13. Tony
Gould. Interchange: 1. Troy Mitchell, 15. Greg
Cameron, 16. Stuart Cruickshank, 17. Andrew Wynyard.
defeated BURLEIGH BEARS 8
Tries: Greg
Bourke, Jim Lenihan
Goals: Greg
Bourke 0 (from
2 attempts)
Team:
1. Chris Horsfall, 2.
Jim Lenihan, 3. Greg Bourke, 4. Nick Shaw, 5. Aaron
Douglas, 6. Adam Hayden, 7. Grant Adamson (c), 8. Adam Cook, 9.
Jamie O'Connor, 10. Shane O'Flanagan, 11. Hudson
Smith, 12.
Ali Brown, 13.
Tony Gray. Interchange: 14.
Steve Parsons, 15. Bill Dunn, 16. Dean Allen, 17.
Ryan Gundry.
Venue: Pizzey Park
Date: Saturday August 25
Referee: Adam Neale
Half-time: Redcliffe 18-4
Penalties: Redcliffe 8-7
Scrums: Burleigh 7-4
When They Scored: 4 min: Redcliffe 6-0 (West
try, Roberts goal), 8 min: Redcliffe 12-0 (Hewinson
try, Roberts goal), 17 min: Redcliffe 14-0 (Roberts
goal), 21 min: Redcliffe 18-0 (Graham try), 25 min:
Redcliffe 18-4 (Bourke try), 49 min: Redcliffe 20-4
(Roberts goal), 52 min: Redcliffe 24-4 (Graham try),
55 min: Redcliffe 28-4 (Webber try), 65 min: Redcliffe
28-8 (Lenihan try), 70 min: Redcliffe 34-8 (Roberts
try, goal), 73 min: Redcliffe 40-8 (Hewinson try,
Roberts goal).
A
scintillating display by the Redcliffe Dolphins at
Pizzey Park on Saturday has put them one step closer
to a home grand final. The Dolphins smashed the
Burleigh Bears 40-8 and now set up a much-awaited show
down with minor premiers Toowoomba next
Saturday. The defending premiers' backline was
absolutely electric and their superb defence nullified
the much-vaunted Burleigh forward pack. The loss
puts the Bears into an elimination semi-final clash
with East Coast.
Rod West got Redcliffe off to the perfect start when
he somehow found his way right through the middle of
the defensive line and went underneath the
goalposts. West's try was backed up moments
later by a long-range effort by Rick Hewinson, who
backed up George Wilson who had made the break down
the left-hand side of the field.
Michael Roberts extended the lead by adding a penalty
goal and then the Dolphins put on one of the best
tries of the season to make it 18-0, just after 21
minutes of play. Rick Hewinson fielded a kick
and dodged and weaved several attempted tackles before
passing the ball to Barry Denduck. The fullback
(who replaced Adam Mogg at the last minute) sped up
the field, gave the pass to Phil Graham and the centre
sprinted away to score what was a fantastic try.
Burleigh, shell-shocked after Redcliffe's initial
onslaught, finally clicked into gear and Greg Bourke
crossed for the home side's first points of the
game. They dominated possession for the rest of
the half but they could not crack the tough Dolphins'
defensive line. Just when it looked like the
Bears may penetrate the line, their opposition
scrambled well to prevent them from doing well.
This was a fine effort from the Dolphins and they held
on for an 18-4 lead at half time.
Roberts added another penalty goal and the game opened
for the Dolphins with two quick tries off two
fortuitous kicks. Tony Gould put in a nice
perfectly weighted kick and, from out of nowhere, Phil
Graham scooped up the ball to cross for his second
try. Just minutes later, a simple grubber kick
was left alone by the Bears' defence and Redcliffe
re-gathered the ball in which Jason Webber was
eventually able to score the try.
Jim Lenihan caught the Dolphins out wide to score in
the corner but by then the game was pretty much over
for the Bears.
Michael Roberts wrapped up the game when he crossed
over the line in the 70th minute and Rick Hewinson
rubbed further salt into wounds of Burleigh by scoring
a length-of-a field try. Hewinson fielded a
kick, simply stepped through a couple of woeful
attempts at tackles and sprinted away from the cover
defence to cap off a great game by the winger, who
only came out of retirement during the middle of the
season. The visitors eventually running out 40-8
winners.
It was a faultless performance by Redcliffe and gives
them a real good opportunity to win back-to-back
titles. The back line was absolutely superb with
Barry Denduck, Phil Graham, Michael Roberts and Rick
Hewinson all creating havoc for the Burleigh
defence. Equally impressive was the fine defence
by the Dolphins and they didn't allow the Bears to
dominate proceedings with their large forward
pack. With the Clydesdales copping the short
stick of the Broncos' horrendous injury toll,
Redcliffe would back themselves to knock over the
minor premiers at Athletic Oval next Saturday.
Another fine effort like Saturday's will just about
seal a spot in the grand final.
As for the Bears, it was a disappointing way to end
their winning streak. Nothing went right for the
home side all day and they are now pitch forked into a
do-or-die battle with East Coast to stay in the race
for the 2001 Bundy Gold Cup. The Tigers ended
Burleigh's season last year and, with their great win
over Norths, would be confident at repeating that
effort. It would be dangerous to write off the
Bears yet because they still have a very powerful side
but they do need to regroup quickly or face
elimination.
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