Round 5
Easts Tigers 22 d. Redcliffe Dolphins 18

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

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

Johnny on the spot ... Again
Mon April 16, 2007
Source: www.qrl.com.au

He's done it again! A sensational effort from the Wizard Cup's leading tryscorer, John Tamanika, has seen Easts upset reigning premier Redcliffe 22-18 at Langlands Park.

Scoring his ninth and arguably most impressive four-pointer so far this year, Tamanika was the difference on the scoreboard as the Dolphins reluctantly relinquished top spot.

Impressive throughout the game, the 22-year-old leapt high in the 57th minute to take a pin-point kick from skipper Trent Young. With the sideline and tryline unsighted, Tamanika then twisted 180 degrees in one motion before instinctively planting the ball inches inside the corner post.

His effort came one ruck after a brilliant tackle by Redcliffe fullback Ryan Cullen on the much larger Marcus Jensen, stopping the rampaging Easts forward half-a-metre from the line.

It was that type of game where the victory and accompanying plaudits could have gone either way.

Redcliffe led 12-4 after early tries by Nick Walker and Matt Seamark. Easts then struck moments before halftime through ex-Dolphin Justin McKay to make it 12-10 at the break.

For all intents and purposes that scoreline flattered the error-riddled Tigers, forced to make 156 tackles to Redcliffe's 100 in the opening stanza.

There was also a clear mismatch in the centres, with Dolphin Nick Emmett brushing away 18-year-old opponent David Tyrrell time and time again.

However halftime seemed to deliver both teams into a vortex, for they returned to the field with roles firmly reversed.

All of a sudden it was Easts able to maintain possession and build pressure. Tyrrell also picked himself up off the ground, posting a try in the 51st minute by flying above Emmett and scoring from an Isaac Kaufmann kick.

The teenager's try put Easts ahead 16-12, but the lingering suspicion was that Redcliffe would somehow find its way out of trouble.

That moment never came however, as Tamanika's freak performance and a conversion by Matt Lockyer from the sideline extended the lead to 22-12.

Although the Dolphins rallied to score through Emmett in the 66th minute, running over Tyrrell once more, they were effectively dead in the water. The premiers had plenty of time up their sleeves, but a surprisingly stagnant attack could not crack the line again.

Perpetuating an intense rivalry, the clubs also played out thrillers in the curtain-raisers, with Redcliffe escaping 26-24 in Colts and the FOGS Cup ending up a 20-all draw.

Next Saturday Easts tackle Aspley at Bishop Park at 3pm. Meanwhile Redcliffe hosts Norths the following day, with the kick-off 3pm at Dolphin Oval on Sunday.

EASTS 22 (Isaac Kaufmann, Justin McKay, David Tyrrell, John Tamanika tries; Matt Lockyer 3 goals) d REDCLIFFE 18 (Nick Walker, Matt Seamark, Nick Emmett tries; Alwyn Simpson 3 goals) at Langlands Park.

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