North Qld Young Guns v Redcliffe Dolphins

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

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

North Queensland 14 def Redcliffe 12
Sun August 19, 2007
Source: www.qrl.com.au

A barnstorming Scott Bolton try has clinched North Queensland the Wizard Cup minor premiership in a thrilling 14-12 win over Redcliffe at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

Crashing over beneath a mountain of defenders in the 74th minute, Bolton made referee Gavin Morris look long and hard before awarding the decisive four-pointer.

Without the benefit of a video official, the Cup's leading whistleblower was almost down on all fours as he confirmed the ball had touched the turf.

In the wash-up, Redcliffe was left to rue a number of missed opportunities, electing not to take penalties from within kicking range at 12-10 ahead.

Regardless, the Dolphins could still hold their heads high at fulltime, again proving more than the sum of their parts, with a severely depleted squad battling bravely in the loss.

Indeed the reigning premiers were without nine players due to injuries and NRL commitments and looked headed for a pasting as North Queensland dominated territory early in the contest.

Hooker Scott Smith was dynamite for the Young Guns and when he was first to cross in the 10th minute, it was tipped to be the start of an avalanche.

A flummoxed Redcliffe struggled to come off its own line and wasn't helped when rookie Josh Hoffman elected to chip-chase inside his own half just 20 minutes into the contest.

But while North Queensland continued to hold the upper hand, it suffered injuries to both Sam Bowie (right ankle) and Keiron Lander (concussion). The Young Guns were also denied tries several times by the slimmest of margins, ankle taps and desperation tackles leaving them inches short.

For all the weight of possession and territory, the home side could not convert and had every reason to be frustrated when Redcliffe was next to score.

Chris Fox made a 40m break down the right touchline, only to be held up brilliantly by backrower Jimmy Andersen. But on the very next play Townsville junior Matt Seamark grubbered for former Mackay boy Josh Hoffman and it was 6-all.

The theme of locals coming back to haunt North Queensland developed even further when Rory Bromley was the next to score for Redcliffe. A premiership winner with the Young Guns in 2005, Bromley raced 70m after a Lander stab kick was directed straight into his arms.

That gave the Dolphins a 12-6 advantage at halftime, the inside running for top spot and a week off in the first round of finals.

However North Queensland refused to give the visitors breathing room, Daniel Backo proving too strong out wide to peg the score back to 12-10 just three minutes after the break.

For more than half-an-hour that remained the score, both teams slugging it out in a battle of wills. During this period the veterans came to the forefront, Troy Lindsay charging relentlessly for Redcliffe, while Young Guns skipper Shane Muspratt applied pressure with his kicking.

This time around it was the Dolphins who sustained the lion's share of territory, but could not transfer that to points. Fox was held up a second time, shortly after Lindsay hit the posts as with a surging hit-up.

At that point it possibly seemed pointless for Redcliffe to take kicks for penalties when they arrived, rather than continuing to run the ball.

But that tactical oversight was exposed when the Young Guns took the ball to the other end of the paddock six minutes from fulltime.

North Queensland worked a huge overlap to the left, only for fullback Hoffman to cut down Brett Anderson spectacularly in cover. The next play they shifted the ball all the way over to the right, Bolton bouncing off Kaine Manihera and then taking a handful of tacklers over the line.

Back in front by two and with the clock winding down, North Queensland then let the subsequent restart go dead, forcing them to give Redcliffe prime field position as well as possession.

Raising tensions even higher, the Dolphins then camped on the Young Guns line and had several chances to score. Bromley almost became the hero when grounding a Seamark cross-kick in the 78th minute, only for it to be ruled a double knock-on.

North Queensland was forced to drop out twice more before fulltime and when the hooter finally blew it came like music to the players' ears, throwing their hands to the air in triumph.

Only once in the history of the Wizard Cup has the minor premier failed to contest the grand final.

The Young Guns now enjoy a week's break before the major semi, to be played in Townsville.

Redcliffe hosts Tweed Heads in the qualifying final at Dolphin Oval on Saturday at 3pm. This match was originally set down for the Sunday but has been changed at Redcliffe's request

NORTH QUEENSLAND 14 (Scott Smith, Daniel Backo, Scott Bolton tries; Jackson Nicolau goal) d REDCLIFFE 12 (Rory Bromley, Josh Hoffman tries; Alwyn Simpson 2 goals) at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

Report sent by: www.qrl.com.au

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