Round 4
Redcliffe Dolphins 16 d. Burleigh Bears 14

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

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

Dolphins Get The Chocolates
Sun April 8, 2007
Source: www.qrl.com.au

On a day where it blew a gale, the sun scorched down and then it rained, fans got a little bit of everything for their Easter Sunday as Redcliffe clung on for a 16-14 win against Burleigh at Dolphin Oval.

The top-of-the-table pride fight promised to be an epic and the big crowd rejoiced as they received exactly what they came to see.

Indeed both coaches' boxes left little doubt there was more riding on this game than the usual April fixture, erupting regularly and particularly in the closing moments.

Even after the final hooter, with Nick Parfitt narrowly missing a conversion to tie the game, passionate protests rang loud and clear for the sideline.

Unsurprisingly the Easter thriller began with a tit-for-tat arm wrestle.

Burleigh had two early scoring opportunities through Ben Black and James Griffiths, the first called back for a knock-on in the lead-up and the second stopped inches short of the line.

Similarly Redcliffe experienced several close calls; a Michael Roberts grubber narrowly evading the flying Ryan Cullen, half Matt Seamark losing the ball across the line and Mark Shipway held up in goal after a powerful charge.

Patience and composure were the order of the day and it was Redcliffe which came good in the 18th minute.

When Danny Burke was again pulled down within breathing distance of the tryline, Seamark took control of the next play and stabbed a beautifully weighted kick to winger Alwyn Simpson. Skulking in behind the defence, Simpson collected the ball and dived over in one movement.

After being restricted for so long, the Dolphins shrugged the shackles somewhat, posting the next two tries. When Burleigh kicked out on the full in its own half, Adam Starr lurched across in the 32nd minute. Then moments after halftime Nick Emmett flew high to take a curling Roberts kick and the home side was up 12-0 after three unconverted tries.

Momentum then swung the way of Burleigh, as Redcliffe conceded a glut of penalties. In the 49th minute Bears playmaker Ben Black showed nimble feet to accelerate and step two defenders in the blink of an eye.

The Dolphins underbelly was suddenly exposed at just 12-6 up. However a fortuitous penalty straight in front saw them nudge ahead again in the 62nd minute.

The final seven minutes was edge-of-the-seat stuff. Playing his first game of the season English import Richie Mathers pivoted twice off his right foot in the 73rd minute, skipping around defenders and then crashing through Seamark to make it 14-10.

Redcliffe responded with another penalty at the other end three minutes from fulltime, extending the lead to 16-10 and soaking up valuable time.

With just seconds to produce something special, Burleigh five-eighth Adam Hayden struck a dagger through the Dolphins' hearts, sliding through the defensive line and sending centre Jordan Atkins away. Although Atkins was rounded up 5m short, on the very next play Alex Glenn found space off a Black pass the other side of the field and dived over in jubilation.

In blustery conditions, Burleigh marksman Parfitt took his stance 15m in from touch, staring at the flags fluttering away on the goalposts. Usually reliable, the Bears fullback pushed the ball inches outside the right stick, deceiving many in the crowd.

The close call leaves Burleigh now trailing Redcliffe by two on the Wizard Cup ladder; the Dolphins remaining the only unbeaten side in the competition.

Earlier games also provided heart-stoppers, with Burleigh's Liam Capewell scoring on the last play to secure a 16-14 win in FOGS Cup and Redcliffe's Colts winning 30-24 against the Bears.

Next week Redcliffe takes on Easts in the 2pm Saturday game at Langlands Park, while Burleigh fronts Aspley at Suncorp Stadium at 5.15pm on Friday.

REDCLIFFE 16 (Alwyn Simpson, Nick Emmett, Adam Starr tries; Alwyn Simpson 2 goals) d BURLEIGH 14 (Alex Glenn, Ben Black, Richie Mathers tries; Nick Parfitt goal) at Dolphin Oval.

Report sent by: www.qrl.com.au

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