They’ve proved to be an unknown entity all season. It was almost as if they just appeared in the eight without anyone noticing. The young Titans would today face their toughest task- a sudden death semi final against the experienced Port Moresby side at a fairly packed Aussie Stadium.

1 Justin McKay 1 Timothy Rice
2 Justin Ryder © 2 Marcus Bai
3 Brian O'Discroll 3 Chris Kendra
4 Mtombe Msabo 4 Lote Tuqiri
5 Kurt Gidley 5 Jamie Bloem
6 Casey Macguire 6 Tommy Martyn ©
7 Byron Kelleher 7 Matthew Bowen
8 Joel Clinton 8 Tim Jonkers
9 Shayne Dunley 9 John Morris
10 Tony Tatupu 10 Michael Smith
11 Justin Harrison 11 Tiri Toa
12 Adam Peek 12 Wairangi Koopu
13 Toutai Kefu 13 Mohammed Zian Ali
++Interchange
14 Steve Carew 14 Ryan Cross
15 Keiran Kerr 15 Etienne Fynn
16 John Wilson 16 Michael Marum
17 Trent Wright 17 Tavis Zephyr

Tommy Martyn got the game underway, and Tamworth City showed plenty of enthusiasm with their opening set. A soft penalty gave Msabo a chance to put them on the offensive- and a faultless set followed, Kurt Gidley’s chip over the line diffused by Timothy Rice.

The Titans followed up their good offensive start with an equally telling defensive set- some big hits from the young guns again shaking up their more experienced opposition. Their return set was equally dangerous, but Msabo made another rookie mistake, dropping the ball in a heavy tackle from Lote Tuqiri.

Port Moresby showed their experience, a cool-headed set of six continually finding chinks in the Titans’ line. Chris Kendra picked up where he left off last week, stepping Kurt Gidley easily to plant the ball down for the game’s opening try in the 3rd minute. Zian-Ali nailed the tough conversion, and last year’s finalists’ held a 6-0 lead.

Tamworth City got their chance to get on the board in the 5th minute, Ryder taking a long range shot at goal after Port were penalised for being offside. The ball sailed well wide however, and the scoreline stayed as it was.

The inexperience of Tamworth City really showed in the next ten minutes- but Port Moresby continually failed to shut them out. Whilst the likes of Gidley, Peek, and Clinton were putting down easy passes or conceding stupid penalties- the Power continually ignored overlaps and let Tamworth City stay in the game. It hurt them in the 15th, a stunning run from unknown Keiran Kerr setting up the Titans’ first try. The diminutive halfback kicked ahead for himself, collected the bouncing ball, dummied Rice, and scored under the posts! Ryder was able to convert the sterling effort, and things were drawn up at 6 apiece.

Their youthful enthusiasm may have hurt them early on- but it worked to Tamworth’s credit from the kick-off. Lifted by the efforts of Kerr, the Titans played out a dominant set of six- with all runs producing easy metres for the New England side. Another Kerr grubber proved the right option for Tamworth City- this time the ball found the hand of a diving Justin Ryder for the side’s second. Again Ryder converted, and it was Tamworth City up 12-6.

The Titans looked certain to do it again from the kick-off, with Kurt Gidley this time reeking havoc with the ball in hand. The former Newcastle junior dummied and ran like Andrew Johns- but a perfect tackle from Tuqiri forced the ball from Gidley’s hands after the Titans had made sixty metres off only three tackles.

This proved only a brief respite, and it took a lot of effort and tenacity from Port Moresby to keep their line intact in the next few minutes of play. The likes of Cummins, Gidley, and Clinton continued last week’s form whilst Kerr and Tatupu seemed to vie for their coach’s attention. A disallowed try for offside in the 22nd didn’t even dampen the Titans’ spirit- Tatupu crashing over from three out after a penalty had TCT on the attack. Ryder made it three from four, and the game looked dangerously in Tamworth’s control at 18-6 with fifteen to go in the half.

Tamworth tries continued to come in twos, although it took them a little longer this time. The Power defended well from the kick-off, but Tim Jonkers was penalised for lying around in the play the ball and the ensuing penalty had the Titans right back into Port’s danger zone. South African Mtombe Msabo converted the opportunity into points- muscling his way over for his sides’ fourth. Ryder was waved away, but the 22-6 lead looked good enough to see Tamworth City into the grand final qualifier against Brisbane.

Halftime came with a sigh of relief from Port Moresby’s fans and staff- the side had been able to hold their line despite more pressure coming from TCT. To be fair, the Titans looked to have switched off a little, throwing the ball around like it was touch football and showing no real enthusiasm anymore. But when you lead 22-6 in a semi final, complacency is hard to avoid.

HALFTIME: Tamworth City 22 lead Port Moresby 6

Port Moresby returned to the field, Tommy Martyn full of inspirational words, with a mountain in front of them- but not an insurmountable one. Tamworth City are surprise packets for a reason, and the Power came out hoping to show them a surprise of their own. The shift of Zian-Ali to five eighth shocked the Titans, who struggled to contain the big lock in the middle of the field. Meanwhile Martyn reeked havoc out wide.

But when this failed to produce results after ten minutes- the enthusiasm turned into downright aggression. Two penalties for fighting, both against Port Moresby, saw fiery former Stallion Chris Kendra get a rest in the bin. Despite the excellent field position awarded to them, the Titans couldn’t close out Port Moresby, the Power defending grimly despite the absence of a player.

But when John Morris accidentally stepped into touch fielding a long kick- it looked like TCT would finally nail the Power down. They didn’t disappoint. Big Justin Harrison crashed over from ten out, taking advantage of a dummy run from Adam Peek, and finishing it off with a big fend on Jonkers to score a fifth Tamworth try. Ryder was again able to convert, and the game was as good as over at 28-6.

It was at this point that Irish sensation, Brian O’Driscroll chose to really inject himself into Tamworth’s attacking plans. Despite playing centre, the talented Irishman sought out the ball- and seemed to break Port Moresby’s line at will. The crowd soon noticed the trend, a big ‘Ooooo’ going up whenever he laid a hand on the ball. Despite this dominant performance, Tamworth could only cross once, and that effort was denied for a double movement by Francis Cummins.

Port Moresby finally got another on the board in the 70th minute, leaving it too late for anything but some consolation points. Despite winning back their share of possession, the Power seemed to have lost their way, but found it through a block-busting run from Etienne Fynn. The big Frenchman crashed over under the sticks- and Zian-Ali’s conversion added respectability to the scoreline at 28-12. Jamie Bloem crossed for a lazy try of his own three minutes later, the Titans barely giving chase beyond a token effort from Ryder. The conversion was waved away, 28-16 with five to go. The Power suddenly had a real chance, but Tamworth looked determined to fix their defensive lapses and win through.

Tony Tatupu may not have punctuated the sentence, but he came close when he embarked on a sixty metre run. Whilst Rice was able to ground him and force a turnover, it was all over, the siren going as TCT celebrated another upset victory and a possible grand final berth if they could beat the Brisbane Bulls.

FULLTIME
Tamworth City 28
Justin Ryder
Mtombe Msabo
Keiran Kerr
Tony Tatupu
Justin Harrison
Ryder 4/6
def.
Port Moresby 16
Jamie Bloem
Chris Kendra
Etienne Fynn
Zian-Ali 2/3

PoM Points
Brian O’Driscroll 3
Keiran Kerr 2
Justin Ryder 1

Disapointed in the teams performances at the end of the year with key players getting injuries and returning just in time for the finals but just couldnt find the form that they were in when we were leading the comp. I believe this year was just a lesson and Port Moresby are going to be much better for next season. On another not good work by Tamworth they played better then us and deserved it.

Give praises to Jamie Bloem, Tommy Martyn, Mohammad Zian Ali, Michael Smith, Michael Marum, Chris Kendra and John Morris for having great seasons and surely more to come.