They say that a week is a long time in football, and Redlands would be counting on that old adage to get them through their maiden finals campaign after being humbled 58-14 by Coffs Harbour last week in front of a dismayed home crowd. Understandbly, the Wyrms would go into this match confident, but Redlands have proved this year they're not easybeats twice consecutively.
Coffs Harbour Wyrms Redlands Rhinos
1 Syrian Kor 1 David Seage
2 Stirling Mortlock 2 Jim Ahmat
3 Amahl Singh 3 John Payne
4 Matt Giteau 4 Allianya Takawira
5 Rodger Randal 5 Jason Demetriou
6 Andrew Miller 6 Melvin Hart
7 David Niu 7 Brett Finch ©
8 Terrance Brown 8 Jamain Lowe
9 Mat Toschak 9 Darren Senter
10 Ben Darwin 10 Chris Beattie
11 Kevin Campion © 11 Ben Beckett
12 Tom Bowman 12 Damien Durnford
13 Angel Withers 13 Nick Graham
++Interchange
14 Steve Kefu 14 Kieron Dawson
15 Bill Rhyven 15 Michael Dallas
16 David Raelke 16 Michael Sullivan
17 John Rovoa 17 Damien Quinn
Fans were treated to a quality first few minutes as Redlands made it clear that they wouldn't allow last week to haunt them. While the Redlands forwards were making their message loud and clear- a makeshift halves pairing of Andrew Miller and US captain David Niu meant Coffs were making solid yardage on every set.
Despite Redlands' defensive intensity, it took only eight minutes for the home side to get their first try. A clean break by five eighth cum lock, Angel Withers, put the Wyrms on the offensive and the move was finished marvellously when Rodger Randal leapt above the Redlands' backs to score the opening try. Amahl Singh's kick swung back at the last second to make it a converted try, and the Wyrms held a 6-0 lead.
The bad start for the Rhinos got worse only three minutes later when Withers cut them up from a penalty tap, ran downfield, and offloaded to a supporting Syrian Kor for Coffs' second try. Singh had less trouble with the conversion, and it looked like a repeat performance as the Wyrms went to a 12-0 lead after twelve minutes.
The early lead got to the Wyrms' heads, and what could have turned into a roasting instead devolved into scrappy football. While the breaks continued to come for the home side, the handling suffered as players tried to play fancy football. Had it not been for this, the Wyrms could have been healthy leaders before Redlands even managed to get on the board.
Even when the Rhinos could get a try, it was ugly and lucky. Bringing the ball out from his own line, Kevin Campion lost it in a heavy hit to surrender easy possession. After losing ground in a messy and sometimes downright poor set, the Rhinos got the ball over when Darren Senter dummied on the last and crashed over. Even the goal kicking went awry, with Takawira missing from close range to leave the score at 12-4.
The try failed to lift Redlands' game, with defence continuing to be lazy and attack being uninspiring. Thankfully for the Queensland fans, the Wyrms couldn't get across the line for a potentially lethal try- the halftime score finishing at 12-4 despite the weight of possession being in the home side's favour.
HALFTIME: Coffs Harbour 12 lead Redlands 4
The Rhinos must have copped a real spray from Matt Lyons at halftime, because they came out like a team possessed. In particular the backline showed a lot of intensity, David Seage making a memorable break shortly into the second half. While it didn't provide immediate dividends, it did put Coffs Harbour on the back foot- a situation made worse when goal kicker and star centre Amahl Singh left the field with a shattered knee only six minutes into the half.
The game hung in the balance for the next fifteen minutes- with both sides giving as good as they got. While David Seage remained Redlands' best on show, Ben Darwin and Angel Withers continued to menace as the game reached a new high in intensity. Like a kettle on the boil, the game built towards the next try- a try that could blow the game open for Redlands or put the Wyrms on safer ground. The pendulum swung Coffs Harbour's way- Rodger Randal capitalising on a 2 on 1 overlap to score his second try of the match. With Singh off the field, Mortlock took the shot, but had it waved away to leave Coffs as 16-4 leaders.
If the third Coffs Harbour try had put them clear, then their fourth in the 62nd minute ended any hope of a Redlands' comeback. The Redlands' mistake rate continued to climb, and the extra possession allowed Coffs Harbour all the opportunity they needed- Steve Kefu slicing through some tired defence and racing twenty metres to score the try that should seal it. Mortlock was able to land the easier conversion, and the Wyrms looked safe at 22-4.
The game devolved back into the messy format fans had seen during the first half, and whilst Melvin Hart managed to salvage some honour for his side with a 76th minute try- the missed conversion left the Rhinos down 22-8. Had the conversion landed, a miraculous comeback may have been possible. Fittingly, Coffs Harbour had the final say in a match they deserved to win by more- Matt Giteau being put under the posts when Rodger Randal unselfishly offloaded to the centre of the year. Giteau had a rather wobbly attempt at converting his own try, and the fulltime score finished at 26-8. Not as embarassing for Redlands as last week's result, but far more final.
FULLTIME
Coffs Harbour Wyrms 26
Syrian Kor
Matt Giteau
Rodger Randal 2
Steve Kefu
Mortlock 1/2
Singh 2/2
Giteau 0/1
defeated
Redlands Rhinos 8
Melvin Hart
Darren Senter
Takawira 0/2
PoM Points
Angel Withers..............3
Rodger Randal.............2
Steve Kefu..................1
shit yeh boys, thats the way (finally). Dont like the sounds of my prime goal kickers "shattered knee" though. Its early times but hes already talking about stepping down from the grinds at Coffs next year. What we've done here today though is say "watch out Port, where on the way up!" Start sweating.
