Redcliffe Dolphins v Wynnum Manly Seagulls

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

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

Big Win Secures Dolphins Herald Cup
Sun July 29, 2007
Source: www.qrl.com.au

Redcliffe has secured its 20th Herald Cup in succession with a thumping 50-10 win against Wynnum Manly at Dolphin Oval.

However the victory may have come at a significant cost, with halfback Marty Turner playing little part in the final 40 minutes with a suspected fractured jaw.

Turner's loss and the absence of star trio Shane Perry, Nick Emmett and Ryan Cullen only served to add further merit to the final result, with Wynnum kept scoreless in the second half.

Strangely, the big win did barely enough to placate Dolphins coach Anthony Griffin, still fiercely barking orders at his players after they led 16-0 in just 13 minutes of play.

Clearly the goal of the competition leaders was to strive for perfection, with North Queensland hot on the Dolphins' tails and boasting a massive for-and-against total.

Hooker Michael Roberts had just set up three tries and gone close to a fourth when he threw the ball over the sideline well within his own half. Griffin made no bones about his thoughts on the play, letting rip at the three-time QANTAS Player of the Year and continuing to ride him until he had set up two more tries and scored one himself.

Redcliffe's advantage was 28-10 at halftime, featuring a brilliant try right on the hooter to winger Rory Bromley. Roberts was knocked off balance on the 50m mark and just about smothered by the Wynnum defence when he managed to adjust his kick and stab a ball over the top. It sat up and bounced perfectly for the flying Bromley, who broke another tackle before sprinting away for a stunning four-pointer.

Bromley scored another excellent long-range effort 10 minutes into the second stanza, this time running onto a great short ball from Deon Bird and beating Seagulls fullback Chris McQueen all ends up with some fancy footwork.

That try came moments after playmaker Turner had left the field following a head clash with Matt Smith, clutching what looked like his cheekbone. Dolphins officials later confirmed it was the jaw they were most worried about.

Roberts moved to halfback in his absence and Shannon Fish shifted from the bench to hooker, throwing some great bullet passes from dummy-half as the Dolphins kept barging over from short range.

Wynnum, coming of a hearty 28-16 win against heavyweights North Queensland, could hardly have expected such an onslaught. Mercifully, the Dolphins missed five kicks at goal and had two more tries disallowed.

Redcliffe's forwards were merely too powerful up the centre of the field, bending the line constantly as the Dolphins pack worked as one.

Charging hard and working the fringes nicely, Bird played arguably his best game in Dolphins colours since returning to the peninsula. Meanwhile Pat Gardner built on his strong recent form, burrowing through defenders like a giant wombat.

Wynnum had needed to win by more than 14 points to wrestle back the Herald Cup - decided by accumulating both team's scores against each other over the season. Realistically they were never in the hunt after halftime, handing two decades of dominance to the Dolphins.

Redcliffe has another testing battle ahead with a clash against Ipswich at QLD Group Stadium next Saturday at 2pm. Wynnum Manly faces Aspley at Bishop Park at 3pm, also on Saturday.

REDCLIFFE 50 (Rory Bromley 3, Alwyn Simpson, Kaine Manihera, Matt Harris, Chris Fox, Pat Gardner, Mick Roberts, Deon Bird tries; Marty Turner 4, Alwyn Simpson goals) d WYNNUM MANLY 10 (Simon Phillips, Tangi Ropati tries; Denny Lambert goal) at Dolphin Oval.

Report sent by: www.qrl.com.au

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