With Australia and England clashing to decide who takes out the inaugural tri-series, and the Federation vs. Sports Entertainment Xtreme clash- Round 22 was a feast of footy as sides fought to keep a finals dream alive.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Cougars Crush Central
The Central Phoenix’s hopes of a finals berth slipped almost beyond reach today, as the Phoenix barely showed up for the first half against Wellington to trail 28-6. A second half resurgence saved some face, but little else, Wellington winning 34-18.
Central: Clinton Schifcofske, Tyler Durden, and David Shayne. Schifcofske 3/4
Wellington: Anthony Minichiello, Clinton Toopi, Jerry Seu Seu, Jamie Peacock, and Justin Holbrook 2. Sitizien 5/6
PoM Points: Brad Flemming 3, Anthony Minichiello 2, and Brent Sherwin 1.
PNG Prodigy Looks to Claim Dally M
PNG junior, Graham Luana, is on track to earn Player of the Year in only his second season of top flight football. Another dominant performance from the former Wellington giant has lifted Carnarvon to a much needed 24-6 hammering of the Darwin Cyclones. The loss gives hope to Parramatta, Central, and Surfers Paradise- who need Darwin to slip out of the eight if they’re to make an appearance.
Darwin: Craig Hall. Singh 1/1
Carnarvon: Tonie Carroll, Brenton Bowen, and Graham Luana. Luana 6/6
PoM Points: Graham Luana 3, Tonie Carroll 2, and John Stankevich 1.
Thriller Christens the Slam Pit
The opening of Surfers Paradise’s new home, The Slam Pit, couldn’t have been better- unless the Punks had won the thrilling clash with local rivals- Gold Coast. In a game which was contested until the death, a 78th minute field goal from Tommy O’Reilly on the back of a Moran bust sealed a 19-18 win for the visiting Crusade. Despite the bitter rivalry between the fans- the closeness of the contest was good for Punks’ fans, who can now hope to see their side continue the form into the season’s end.
Surfers Paradise: Jason Hooper and Ichiro Nazuki. Hannay 5/5
Gold Coast: Billy Slater, Scott Sattler, and Craig Gower. Girdler 3/4. O’Reilly 1 fg.
PoM Points: Dennis Moran 3, Matthew Gidley 2, and Craig Gower 1.
Parra Keep Fighting
The Parramatta Vikings are still a very real chance of a finals berth despite a poor year, today hammering last placed South Melbourne 30-16 to keep in touch with the Darwin Cyclones and North Melbourne Maulers- sides propping up the top eight. A Willie Tonga hat-trick, as well as efforts from loaned stars Scott Donald and Andrew Dunemann, were key to the Parramatta side’s big win.
South Melbourne: Karl Pratt, Jamie Burrows, and Dean Bosnich. Elahmad 2/2. Silvain 0/1
Parramatta: Christian Boyd, Willie Tonga 3, Scott Donald, and Marshal Dalton. Fitzgibbon 3/6
PoM Points: Willie Tonga 3, Scott Donald 2, and PJ Marsh 1.
Falcons Swoop on Burkeless Newbloods
The Central Coast Falcons have taken full advantage of the absence of form fullback, Matthew Burke today, swooping in on North Sydney Oval to record a big 26-6 win over their top four rivals. The Newbloods lacked direction, and their backs were continually out-played by the likes of Utai, El Masri, and Commins.
North Sydney: Paul Bowman. Li 1/1
Central Coast: Matt Utai, Brad Commins, Gunter Franz, Sebastian Azema, and Jason Bell. El Masri 3/5
PoM Points: Matt Utai 3, Brad Commins 2, and Dean Walker 1.
Perth Extend Lead
Perth have widened the gap between fourth and fifth to three points today, scoring a comfortable 26-0 win over the Christchurch Carnage despite missing Darren Lockyer and Shane Webcke. The Taipans were never in doubt, playing touch football in a game that could have been much worse for the struggling New Zealanders.
Perth: Deon Bird, Keiran Cunningham, Robert Salvatori, Julian Bailey, and Tony Grimaldi. Salvatori 3/5
Christchurch: None.
PoM Points: Tony Grimaldi 3, Glenn Morrison 2, and Ardent Rivers 1.
Bush Blossoms
Once touted as one of the most overrated halves in the game, Dominik Bush has found a new home, and it’s playing hooker for North Melbourne. Bush has now earned seven Player of the Year points in four matches- including man of the match in today’s 30-4 hammering of Wollongong.
Wollongong: Tim Maddison. Woolford 0/1
North Melbourne: Robbie Kearns 2, Luke Phillips, Dominik Bush, and Nathan Long. Walker 5/6
PoM Points: Dominik Bush 3, Andrew Walker 2, and Anthony Mundine 1.
Cannons In Cruise Control
Another big win, this time over Adelaide, 38-22, has Manly in a good position to make a late charge for a possible top four berth today. Despite missing Menzies and Rogers, the Cannons fired when it came to the crunch, with Stanley Tepend playing a wow of a game.
Manly: Slick Cupples 2, Brendon Reeves, Logan Swann, Phillip Grahem, and Tasesa Lavea 2. Tepend 5/8
Adelaide: Chris Latham, Harry Prince, Andrew Meads, and Petero Civoniceva. Deacon 3/3. Geyer 0/1
PoM Points: Stanley Tepend 3, David Kidwell 2, and Slick Cupples 1.
DIVISION TWO
No Presto, but Plenty of Magic
Whilst Preston Campbell was down in Sydney plying his trade for Australia, the Brisbane Bulls went about business as usual across the Tasman with a 28-14 hammering of the Auckland Marlins- who cling to eighth position thanks to Sydney’s upset loss against the Ipswich Reds.
Auckland: Matthew Petersen and Mangus Reece. Flatley 1/1. Fields 2/3
Brisbane: Nathan Merrit, Adam Mogg, Scott Prince, and David Westley. Bartrim 6/8
PoM Points: Nathan Merrit 3, Adam Mogg 2, and Paul Green 1.
Mehrtens Wins Canberra Shoot-Out
Andrew Mehrtens’ faultless goal-kicking today has lifted Capetown to a 22-18 win over Canberra in chilly conditions in Australia’s capital. In a game where both sides scored a trio of tries, Mehrtens’ pinpoint accuracy, including a penalty from forty five out, were key to Capetown’s win- which lifts them into third position.
Canberra: Ryan O’Hara 2 and Joel Caine. Towers 3/4
Capetown: Noah Sete, Bronsen Saunders, and Sean Carstens. Mehrtens 5/5
PoM Points: Robert Miles 3, Paul Whatuira 2, and Sean Carstens 1.
Eastwood’s Season on the Rocks
Eastwood’s slim chance of a Division Two finals berth, the first in the side’s short history, are all but gone after the side today capitulated to a 20-6 loss at the hands of the visiting Townsville Dolphins. With places limited following the announcement of next year’s merger with Cairns, all players were lifting in today’s clash.
Eastwood: Kevin McGuinness. Furner 1/2
Townsville: Rowland Rockachelli, Brooke Martin, and Eric Grothe Jr. Drummond 4/5
PoM Points: Greg Wolfgramm 3, Linden Drummond 2, and Rowland Rockachelli 1.
Papua New Guinea Stars Hurt Power
Stellar performances by PNG Kumuls, Inoke Ratudina and Adrian Lam, have today lifted Hawkesbury to an emphatic 38-22 win over Port Moresby- which drops the PNG side into third place, and gives Hawkesbury a big chance of seizing an important top four spot as the finals draw nearer.
Hawkesbury: Brett Hodgson 2, Wise Kativerata, Marc Stcherbina, Matthew Rieck, and Patrick Varune. Hodgson 0/1. Rats 5/5. O’Connor 1/1
Port Moresby: Marcus Bai, Jamie Bloem 2, and Michael Smith. Zian Ali 3/4
PoM Points: Inoke Ratudina 3, Adrian Lam 2, and Maleky O’Connor 1.
Toschak Reminds Selectors
With the Australian Kangaroo lock position held by Steve Menzies, former Gold Coast and North Sydney star Mat Toschak, has again put his hand up today- leading Coffs Harbour to a dominant 24-10 win to get their season back on track. The Wyrms dominated the hapless Penrith Highlanders, who are the big disappointers in Division Two this year.
Penrith: Jason Moodie and Jamie Russo. Riddell 1/2
Coffs Harbour: Steve Prescott, Howard Opan, Rodger Randal, and Stirling Mortlock. Opan 4/5
PoM Points: Mat Toschak 3, Steve Prescott 2, and Jason Moodie 1.
Ipswich Enigma Boggles Oilers
The Ipswich Reds have done the impossible and recorded their second consecutive win of the season- what’s more, they did it against Roger Bossert’s desperate Oilers to give coach Maunder a perfect record against the Sydney giants. The loss sees Sydney’s slim finals chances grow slimmer, Ipswich getting up 20-8.
Ipswich: Paul Reilly, Shane Rigon, and Rob Burrow 2. MacNamara 2/4
Sydney: Ben Harris. Covell 2/2
PoM Points: Anthony Seu Seu 3, Paul Reilly 2, and Colin Best 1.
A Murder of Ferrets
A group of crows may be a murder, but today it was seventeen Stallions murdering New England’s dreams of a finals berth with a 28-0 humbling of the unpredictable Armidale side, who were without inspirational captain Andy Farrell.
New England: None.
Fairfield: Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Darrell Trindall 2, Tony Price, and Phillipe Bernat-Salles. Magro 4/6
PoM Points: Phillipe Bernat-Salles 3, Shayne McMenemy 2, and Tony Price 1.
Beware the Cornered Rhinos
Although neither side stands much chance of a miracle finals berth, the Redlands Rhinos and South Queensland Crushers held nothing back in today’s do or die clash. Redlands, who have been out of form lately, upset the very in form Crushers 22-8 to effectively end all hope of a second half of the year comeback by the Hussey coached side.
Redlands: Tai Lavea, Paul Sterling, Melvin Hart, and Brett Finch. Takawira 3/6
South Queensland: Aaron Gorrell. Gorrell 2/3
PoM Points: Keiran Dawson 3, Brett Finch 2, and Michael Dallas 1.
A Jew, a Kiwi, and an Irishman
Sounds like the start of a bad joke, but today it was this combination of three which saw Suva record a 24-22 upset win over the in form Cairns White Pointers. The win sees Suva join Sydney in equal 9th, and ends weeks of playful arguing between the two coaches.
Suva: Ronan O’Gara 2 and Caleb Ralph 2. O’Gara 5/6
Cairns: Dan Hills, Kyle Warren, Harris Knofke, and Blaine Stanley. Knofke 4/4
PoM Points: Caleb Ralph 3, Ronan O’Gara 2, and Kyle Warren 1.
Finals Race Intensifies
Tamworth City have sent out a warning shot to their top eight rivals today, showing no mercy in a 30-12 bashing of Newcastle- which effectively ends what was a promising season from the Fear. The Titan’s no-nonsense forwards toughed out the win.
Tamworth City: Justin McKay, Kurt Gidley, John Wilson, Casey McGuire, Toutai Kefu, and Shayne Dunley. Cummins 3/7
Newcastle: Brad Watts 2. Narwan 2/3
PoM Points: Shayne Dunley 3, Adam Peek 2, and Toutai Kefu 1.
Premier League
Gold Coast Crusade,17,3,2,592,288, 304 , 36
Wellington Cougars,17,3,2,561,351, 210 , 36
Central Coast Falcons,17,5,0,488,318, 170 , 34
Perth Taipans,13,7,2,422,342, 80 , 28
North Sydney Newbloods,12,9,1,465,340, 125 , 25
Manly Cannons,12,9,1,458,417, 41 , 25
North Melbourne Maulers,12,9,1,402,368, 34 , 25
Carnarvon Grizzlies,11,9,2,433,387, 46 , 24
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Parramatta Vikings,10,10,2,417,407, 10 , 22
Darwin Cyclones,9,10,3,475,537,-62 , 21
Central Phoenix,7,12,3,402,427,-25 , 17
Surfers Paradise Punks,8,14,0,292,449,-157 , 16
Wollongong Destructors,6,14,2,318,539,-221 , 14
Adelaide Attitude,6,15,1,344,493,-149 , 13
Christchurch Carnage,5,16,1,276,512,-236 , 11
South Melbourne Devils,3,17,2,284,598,-314 , 8
Division One
Brisbane Bulls,17,5,1,508,365, 143 , 35
Fairfield Stallions,16,5,1,454,326, 128 , 33
Capetown Ravens,16,6,0,570,300, 270 , 32
Port Moresby Power,15,4,2,466,386, 80 , 32
Hawkesbury Mavericks,14,8,0,478,345, 133 , 28
Coffs Harbour Wyrms,12,9,1,462,342, 120 , 25
Cairns Great Whites,12,10,0,427,390, 37 , 24
Auckland Marlins,11,11,0,401,387, 14 , 22
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Tamworth City Titans,11,11,0,434,423, 11 , 22
Sydney Oilers,10,12,0,470,430, 40 , 20
Suva Suns,10,12,0,434,426, 8 , 20
Canberra Chargers,8,12,2,400,420,-20 , 18
Redlands Rhinos,9,13,0,370,408,-38 , 18
Penrith Highlanders,9,13,0,380,439,-59 , 18
New England Ferrets,8,12,2,336,458,-122 , 18
Newcastle Fear,9,13,0,292,416,-124 , 18
South Queensland Drovers,8,13,1,268,437,-169 , 17
Townsville Dolphins,8,13,0,333,404,-71 , 16
Eastwood Pumas,7,14,1,369,451,-82 , 15
Ipswich Reds,5,17,0,251,530,-279 , 10
