For the second consecutive year the Central Coast Falcons have proven they're a genuine contender for the title- finishing third behind only Capetown and the reigning premiers. Central have gone about their business quietly, but would head into the match quietly confident after recent good form from its halves pairing.
Central Coast Falcons Central Phoenix
1 Robbie O'Davis 1 Clinton Schifcofske ©
2 Jamaal Lolesi 2 Aaron Barba
3 Tony Gonzalez 3 Keith Senior
4 Nigel Vagana 4 Leigh Bush
5 Hazem El Masri 5 Scott Donald
6 Braith Anasta 6 Danny Orr
7 Brent Sherwin 7 Paul Deacon
8 Luke Davico 8 Alex Synn
9 Gunter Franz 9 Harley Autitia
10 Steven Price © 10 Scott Logan
11 Dean Walker 11 Adrian Morley
12 Corin Barry 12 Hunter Tylerson
13 Travis Norton 13 Scott Sattler
++Interchange
14 Terry O'Connor 14 David Shayne
15 Steven Wild 15 Stuart Fielden
16 Johnathan Thurston 16 Iafeta Palea'aesina
17 Reggie Cressbrook 17 Manny Emonds
The game got underway with the Central Phoenix defence quick to set the tone for what would be a dour struggle between two sides usually noted for their offense. Alex Synn, Adrian Morley, and Scott Logan intimidated the Falcons' pack with several very powerful sets in defence. In their first two sets of six, the Falcons lost three metres and were then held to making no ground. The Phoenix made excellent use of the field position, spreading it wide to let Scott Donald go over out wide. The ref took exception to the try though, calling it back for a forward pass in the leadup.
There was no denying Central four minutes later however, the Phoenix's jarring defence being replaced with free flowing football as the forwards bashed and fended their way up-field on an attacking raid. The movement was finished suitably, Harley Autitia powering his way over despite the attentions of Travis Norton and Gunter Franz. Paul Deacon continued his powerful season with the boot, the conversion making it 6-0 in favour of the Phoenix after seven minutes.
It was never going to be possible for the Phoenix to maintain the same level of defensive intensity as the game wound on, and despite the efforts of Great Britain prop Stuart Fielden, the Falcons soon began to make metres of their own. In particularl it was Dean Walker and US import Tony Gonzalez doing the damage. However, it was a familiar face in Nigel Vagana who set up the Falcons' answering try, the world's best centre grubbering ahead for himself and collecting despite the attention of Clinton Schifcofske to score under the sticks. Hazem El Masri showed why he was this season's top goal-kicker, wasting no time to make it 6 all.
The try lifted the Falcons' spirits, and their defense followed suite. Steven Price and Corin Barry, in particular, made sure that the Phoenix backs wouldn't make any more easy metres. Falcons' fans went insane in the 30th when big Dean Walker lifted and carried Central's Paul Deacon over the sideline to end a particularly dangerous raid. From the resulting set, Hazem El Masri went on an inspiring sideline dart which was only ended by some level headed defence from Keith Senior. Not much could be done to stop the Falcons however, Tony Gonzalez able to latch onto a Braith Anasta bomb to score the Falcons' second. El Masri nailed the more difficult conversion, and just out from halftime it was 12-6 in favour of the hosts.
No more tries would come in the first half, but a 38th minute penalty goal from Paul Deacon for a dangerous tackle on Danny Orr brought things a little closer.
HALFTIME: Central Coast Falcons 12 lead Central Phoenix 8
The Phoenix rushed their forward depth onto the field early in the second half, with Stuart Fielden and Iafeta Pelea'easina returning to the field in a move to overwhelm the Falcons' defence. It looked to have paid immediate dividends when Danny Orr ended a powerful forward movement, but once again the referee disagreed with the fans and commentators, the try disallowed for double movement.
The Phoenix didn't let the disallowed try demoralise them, and their defence lifted a notch as the Falcons sought to put the game to bed with their third try. It didn't get any help from the Phoenix, who played mistake free football and forced errors from the favourites with quick marker defence. A 50/50 penalty in the 55th put Central Coast further ahead, the marker penalised for hanging round in the tackle too long.
A similar penalty ten minutes later, after the Phoenix had again been dominating the game, put the home side eight ahead at 16-8. The Phoenix fans and players were understandably frustrated by the way the game was going- the extra possession and field position being continually thwarted by the referee and some unusual calls.
Fulltime eventually came, with the Phoenix no less dominant than they had been for the sixty of the game's eighty minutes. When fulltime came the Falcons fans and players got up as one, but Falcons' coach Anthony Magro was quick to applaud both sides in the clash. It hadn't been pretty, but had showcased some excellent defence from both sides. It was little surprise to fans, however, that a Phoenix player collected man of the match.
FULLTIME
Central Coast Falcons 16
Nigel Vagana
Tony Gonzalez
El Masri 4/4
defeated
Central Phoenix 8
Harley Autitia
Deacon 2/2
PoM Points
Scott Donald............3
Tony Gonzalez..........2
Harley Autitia...........1
We always expected a gritty battle of defence when drawn against Central and it turned out to be a slobber-knocker. Full credit to Central because they went into this match with finals football in their mind and they did play well above what we expected.
To be honest we played ok, nothing flash or anything to be cheering about, but we still continue to next week to face Manly. To take down another power-club is going to be a mission. But this year our heads are in it and we believe this year could be a Central Coast grand final.
