Round 4
Norths Devils 24 d. Central Comets 18

2007 Wizard Queensland Cup Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Australia > Queensland > State/Metropolitan Level Competition: Wizard Queensland Cup

Devils Rebound, Comets Staying Positive
Sun April 8, 2007
Source: www.qrl.com.au

Norths came home with a wet sail to defeat Central 24-18 in Gladstone on Saturday night, just as it seemed the Devils may sink into the murky abyss.

Taking a gamble by relocating their home game to the traditional Comets' stronghold, the Devils looked headed for successive upsets when down 12-8 at halftime.

But in front of a buoyant crowd, on hand for the annual Harbour Festival and the coinciding Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race, Kevin Carmichael's men pulled a get-out-of-jail-free card.

Impressive forward Matthew Bartlett finished the game with a double for the Devils, as did resurgent winger Anthony Perkins, showing promising signs after a 2006 season plagued by injury.

While Norths consolidated its position in the top five, Central was left standing alone as the only winless team in the Wizard Cup. Earlier in the day Tweed Heads and Aspley had both posted their first victories of the year.

Comets coach Steve Anderson again took umbrage with the officiating in his match, but preferred to focus on the positives among his young playing group.

"We've backed ourselves on youth and I'm encouraged by the pool of talent we have to work with," Anderson said.

"It's a new team that's very young and the players are developing and gelling week-to-week. That will always take time, but we've got a good team full of good players. In my mind we could have been three wins from our first four matches if some decisions had gone our way."

Clearly frustrated by rule interpretations at the ruck, Anderson's team also suffered through an unsettled week's preparation.

Skipper Wayne Barnett was handed a two-week suspension after unsuccessfully contesting a grade two careless high tackle, while Michael Esdale, Shannon Stitt and Luke Fatnowna were late withdrawals with injuries. Stitt's replacement on the wing, Marty Hatfield, was then injured only minutes into the Devils clash.

On the bright side, the performances of two-try fullback Junior Auru, 17-year-old forward Brent Williams and rookies Ben Farrell and Aiden Te Puke gave reason for Anderson to smile. Playing from the bench, wild man Mark Siniula was again the Comets best and fairest for the second week in a row.

In coming weeks the Comets will welcome back a swag of players from injuries, as well as Barnett, Peter Penaia and Steve Farrelly from suspension. The influx primes Central for next Saturday's showdown against Tweed at Browne Park, Rockhampton, kicking off at 7.30pm.

Norths, meanwhile, is gearing for an intriguing showdown against North Queensland at Bishop Park next Sunday at 3pm.

Both the Devils' and Young Guns' affiliates - the Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys - are currently setting the pace in the NRL.

NORTHS 24 (Matthew Bartlett 2, Anthony Perkins 2, Russell Aitken tries; Luke Samoa 2 goals) d CENTRAL 18 (Junior Auru 2, Nat Bowman tries; Nat Bowman 3 goals) at Marley Brown Oval, Gladstone.

Report sent by: www.qrl.com.au

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