PREMIER LEAGUE
Attitude Finally Click
After eleven rounds of substandard football, the Adelaide Attitude this week hit the form that has seen them make finals in years gone by. Up 18-0 against the struggling South Melbourne Devils at half-time, the Attitude piled on thirty second half points to record a 48-6 win.
Adelaide: Harry Prince, Chris Walker, Matt Parsons, Sean Long, Craig Smith, Troy Wozniak, Joe Black, and Doug Howlett. Geyer 5/5. Deacon 3/3
South Melbourne: Luke Lewis. O’Neill 1/1
PoM Points: Harry Prince 3, Troy Wozniak 2, and Adrian Vowles 1.
Cyclones Win High Scoring Clash
The Darwin Cyclones have gotten their season back on track, weathering a late charge from the Origin ravaged Perth Taipans, to record a crucial 36-32 win. Tries to Mitch Healy and Rodney Howe in the last five minutes had a grandstand finish on the offing, but a game saving tackle from snubbed New South Welshman, Craig Hall, on Keith Senior sealed an unforgettable home win for the Cyclones.
Darwin: Craig Hall, Amahl Singh, Lee Jackson, Alan Watts, Bill Rhyven, and Jason Cayless. Singh 6/7
Perth: Keith Senior, Mitch Healy 2, Rodney Howe, Glenn Morrison, and Robert Salvatori. Morrison 4/6
PoM Points: Craig Hall 3, Glenn Morrison 2, and Stephen Larkhim 1.
Maulers Escape...Barely
North Melbourne’s recent run of good form almost deserted them today, the Maulers struggling to hold out Christchurch in a messy second half. After leading 16-6 at halftime, North Melbourne seemed to be on their way to another dominant win, but showed no flare in the second half, eventually winning 17-10 in a forgetful encounter.
Christchurch: Stuart Spruce and Corey Pearson. Paul 1/3
North Melbourne: Andrew Walker, Scott Hill, and Robbie Kearns. Walker 2/3. Hill 1 fg.
PoM Points: Marc Barctholomeusz 3, Scott Hill 2, and Andrew Walker 1.
Newbloods Finally Break Manly Hoodoo
After two seasons of dominance by Kermit Krocket’s Manly Cannons, the North Sydney Newbloods have finally scored a victory back, and what a victory it was. The Newbloods, despite missing star fullback, Matthew Burke, racked up an impressive 42-10 win over the hapless Cannons. The Newbloods ran in eight tries to two, humbling Manly’s recent good defence.
Manly: Stanley Tepend and Slick Cupples. Tepend 1/2
North Sydney: Vila Mautatia 2, Michael DeVere, Paul Bowman, Ben Ikin, and Jeff Wilson 2. DeVere 7/8
PoM Points: Jeff Wilson 3, Ashley Harrison 2, and Stanley Tepend 1.
Falcons’ Young Guns Come Through
Looking to avoid three straight losses, Central Coast relied on young stars Ben Harris and Brad Commins in their 28-14 win over the out of form Parramatta Vikings. A double to Harris, and a scintillating backline performance from New England junior, Brad Commins, meant that the Falcons were never in doubt.
Central Coast: Guiseppi Magro, Ben Harris 2, and Gavin Lester. Franz 5/7
Parramatta: Lee Hopkins and Richard Swain. Swain 1/2. Fitzgibbon 2/3
PoM Points: Brad Commins 3, Ben Harris 2, and Craig Emmerton 1.
Carnarvon Match Adelaide Blow for Blow
The Carnarvon Grizzlies continue to follow Adelaide’s lead, scoring their second win in a row against the struggling Wollongong Destructors. The win, Carnarvon’s biggest of the season, was a 30-16 romp by the home side. A parochial crowd spurred the Grizzlies on, with veteran halfback Jason Taylor snaring a double from the bench.
Carnarvon: Michael Vella, Jason Taylor 2, John Stankevich, and Brad Drew. Taylor 4/4. Girdler 1/2
Wollongong: Michael Withers, Darren Senter, and Paul Gallen. Kimmorley 2/3
PoM Points: Brad Drew 3, Danny Williams 2, and Jamie Venables 1.
Daylight Robbery
Some abysmal refereeing decisisions, including two dubious disallowed tries, have virtually robbed the Central Phoenix of a deserved win. Referee Doug Barnes, in only his third first grade game, blew an amazing ten penalties against the home side, and was booed off the field after a dejected Central left the field losers, 22-18.
Central: Jason Smith, Chris Morley, and Scott Donald. Shayne 3/4
Surfers Paradise: Josh Hannay, Damian Driscoll, and Shane Walker. Hannay 5/5
PoM Points: Chris Morley 3, David Shayne 2, and Scott Donald 1.
Cougars Repeat BFC Victory
Battling a Gold Coast side missing six regular first graders, and without influential captain, Trent Barrett, the Wellington Cougars have repeated their last minute Bob Fulton Cup win, this time courtesy of an amazing John Sitizien try. Five metres out, after the siren had gone, the Cougars played desperation football, with Sitizien scoring out wide to lead Wellington to a 28-22 win over the competition leading Crusade.
Gold Coast: John Mayer, Matthew Gidley, and Jonny Wilkinson. Wilkinson 5/5
Wellington: John Sitizien 2, Brent Sherwin, and Caleb Ralph. Luana 6/6
PoM Points: Caleb Ralph 3, George Smith 2, and John Sitizien 1.
DIVISION TWO
Inoke Not Enough
Despite a man of the match performance by Inoke Ratudina, the Hawkesbury Mavericks have slumped to their third consecutive defeat, this time capitulating to an always improving Auckland Marlins side. It was an unusual game, in that Hawkesbury were in control for the second half, but couldn’t convert their possession into points, slumping to a 20-10 loss.
Auckland: Damien Mostyn, Mark Minichiello, and Matthew Petersen. Detreaux 4/4
Hawkesbury: Joe Roff. Rats 3/3
PoM Points: Inoke Ratudina 3, Wise Kativerata 2, and Damien Mostyn 1.
Power Defence Lifts Port Moresby
Some impressive defence in the final twenty minutes of their game against Newcastle, has allowed Port Moresby to hang on for a nail-biting 14-10 win. The Power weathered repeated raids from Newcastle, but did enough to hold on and stay in first place on the Division Two table.
Port Moresby: Tommy Martyn and Jamie Bloem. Rice 3/4
Newcastle: Leon Pryce and Nathan Fien. Fien 1/2
PoM Points: Mat Toschak 3, Tommy Martyn 2, and Michael Smith 1.
White Pointers Savage Highlanders
There must have been blood in the water at Penrith Stadium (actually, there may have been), because the Cairns White Pointers recorded another impressive win. The win is Cairns’ sixth in a row, and the coaching staff must be impressed after the White Pointers held Penrith scoreless in a 14-0 win.
Penrith: None.
Cairns: Christophe Lamaisson and Quentin Pongia. Smith 3/3
PoM Points: Christophe Lamaisson 3, Justin Smith 2, and Augstine Justine 1.
Redlands Slump to Three
After a promising start to their second season, the Redlands Rhinos have slumped to their third straight loss, this time capitulating to the New England Ferrets, 22-8. The Rhinos started with plenty of spirit, but couldn’t match the skill level of the New England Ferrets. The win came on the back of a star performance by Samoan international, Brian Leauma.
New England: Albert Torrens, Ben Walker, Tangiia Tongia, and Matt Cooper. Farrell 3/4
Redlands: Allianya Takawira and Josh Smith. Crocker 0/2
PoM Points: Brian Leauma 3, Andy Farrell 2, and Ben Walker 1.
Eastwood Stun Suns
The Eastwood Pumas, courtesy of a late Francis Maloney try, have managed to escape with a 24-19 win over the visiting Suva Suns. The win was made more amazing by the fact that the Pumas endured the last ten minutes in the absence of star five eighth, Lance Hohaia, who was sent off for a high tackle on Suva’s Christian Cullen.
Eastwood: Francis Maloney, Lance Hohaia 2, and David Furner. Furner 4/5
Suva: Wes Davies and Tim Clark. O’Gara 5/6. Clark 1 fg.
PoM Points: Tyran Smith 3, Lance Hohaia 2, and David Furner 1.
Oilers Struggle Without Stars
The absence of NSW Origin stars Jason Ryles and Ben Kennedy, as well as Gold Coast young gun Cameron Smith, has torn the heart out of the already struggling Oilers- who couldn’t match it with a largely whole Brisbane Bulls squad. The Bulls played champagne football, eventually winning comfortably, 26-12.
Brisbane: Preston Campbell, Brad Thorne, Jamie Bloom, and Adam Mogg. Sinfield 5/5
Sydney: Bronsen Harrison and Ali Lauititi. Fields 1/1. Montabe 1/1
PoM Points: Brad Thorne 3, Preston Campbell 2, and Kevin Sinfield 1.
Man with the Magic Boot
Another faultless performance from New Zealand five eighth, Andrew Mehrtens, has kept Capetown’s flawless home record intact. Despite being outscored four tries to three by the visiting Fairfield Stallions, Capetown were able to score a narrow 24-20 win on the back of six goals from Andrew Mehrtens, who nailed one conversion from halfway.
Capetown: Sean Carstens, Ross McKinnon, and Alex Chemenskwi. Mehrtens 6/6
Fairfield: Michael Korkidas, Shayne McMenemy, Aaron Raper, and Danny Bampton. Magro 2/4
PoM Points: Andrew Mehrtens 3, Ross McKinnon 2, and Danny Bampton 1.
Wyrms Humble Reds
The Coffs Harbour Wyrms have treated Ipswich fans to what can only be described as a training run, the Wyrms running in five unanswered tries in a one sided clash up north. The Wyrms seemed none the worst for missing NSW contender, Anthony Minichiello, recording a 24-0 away win.
Ipswich: None. MacNamara 0/1
Coffs Harbour: Rodger Randal, Matt Daylight, Howard Opan, Paul Atchison, and Tana Umaga. Opan 2/6
PoM Points: Terry Martin 3, Tana Umaga 2, and Michael Eager 1.
Good Gidley!
Another man of the match performance by rising backline star, Kurt Gidley, has lead Tamworth City to a vital 22-10 win over the up and down Canberra Chargers. Gidley had a hand in all four Titans’ tries, his passing and kicking game nigh on faultless in another solid home win by the Titans.
Tamworth City: Francis Cummins, Brian O’Driscroll, Casey McGuire, and Toutai Kefu. Cummins 1/3. Ryder 2/2
Canberra: Paul Whatuira and Henry Perenara. Logan 1/2
PoM Points: Kurt Gidley 3, Keiran Kerr 2, and Justin Harrison 1.
Townsville Finally Record a Win
Playing the last placed South Queensland Crushers, Townsville were always confident of a win, and though it wasn’t pretty- they did record a 20-0 win over the down and out South Queensland side, who will be wishing the Round 13 trade window would hurry up and save their season.
Townsville: Eric Grothe Jr, Giovanni Piazza, Craig Bowen, and Nqobizitha Ncube. Drummond 2/4
South Queensland: None.
PoM Points: Giovanni Piazza 3, Kris Radlinski 2, and Craig Bowen 1.
