Up until a horror run with injuries shattered their minor premiership dream, Wellington were the most dominant side in the Premier League. The bad blood between these two sides goes back to the 2002/2003 Grand Final, in which Wellington accounted for Central 16-14 in a nail biting clash. After last week mauling Manly 30-6, the Cougars would go into this game as favourites.
Central Phoenix Wellington Cougars
1 Clinton Schifcofske © 1 Anthony Minichiello
2 Brad Flemming 2 Lesley Vainikolo
3 Keith Senior 3 John Sitizein
4 Leigh Bush 4 Clinton Toopi
5 Scott Donald 5 Timana Tahu
6 Danny Orr 6 Trent Barrett
7 Paul Deacon 7 Sean Long ©
8 Alex Synn 8 Tomas Larsson
9 Harley Autitia 9 Luke Priddis
10 Scott Logan 10 Paul Rauhihi
11 Adrian Morley 11 Jamie Peacock
12 Hunter Tylerson 12 Richie McCaw
13 Scott Sattler 13 Kevin Sinfield
++Interchange
14 David Shayne 14 Jake Luana
15 Stuart Fielden 15 David Giffin
16 Iafeta Palea'aesina 16 Marshal Dalton
17 Vinnie Anderson 17 Manuel Contemponi
There was no love lost between the two world class forward packs in the early exchanges, every man from 8 to 13 making it his personal mission to wound the opposition. Morley and Logan did the early damage for Central- whilst Peacock and Larsson showed no mercy in their defence either. Fittingly, in a match of such importance, the two sides were fired up- and it manifested itself in the form of two penalties in the first ten minutes- both for fighting. Referee Justin Hoy pinned Wellington for it twice- and the second penalty got Central on the attack and with the first real opportunity of the match. They seized it with both hands, Scott Sattler forcing his way over after receiving a poor pass from Keith Senior. The Gold Coast bound lock celebrated with his team mates whilst Paul Deacon slotted the conversion over for an early 6-0 lead.
Surprise backline inclusion Brad Flemming justified his selection in the next few minutes with some damaging runs, but it was Wellington who were to score the next blow in the combat. With Morley being cautioned for a dangerously high tackle on Anthony Minichiello- the Cougars got a piggy-back downfield and mounted their first real raid of the match. It didn't take them long to score, Priddis capitalising on some lazy marker defence to score a classic hooker's try. Sinfield knocked the conversion over to level things up at 6 all after sixteen minutes.
The match had a real ebb and flow feel to it, with both sides playing enterprising football in a real display. With Wellington and Central two of the Premier League's betetr attacking sides- this meant plenty of exciting passes and desperate tackles. Wellington's forwards slowly began to gain the upper hand over the tiring Phoenix, and it manifested itself in points when Tomas Larsson was put into a gap by Anthony Minichiello and rampaged towards the line. Even a desperate tackle from Clinton Schifcofske couldn't save the try- Larsson slamming it down to put his side ahead. Sinfield was again able to convert, and the Cougars took a 12-6 lead.
The game devolved as a result of the try, Central's scrambling defence forcing the Cougars to throw the ball around far too much. While there were still close to fifty minutes of play to go- both sides acted as if the result of the match hinged on the next five minutes. For Central, it very well could have, when Brad Flemming came up with a miraculous try saving tackle on Kevin Sinfield after the big lock was put into a hole by Sean Long. Sinfield looked a certain try scorer when Flemming raced across field and forced Sinfield into touch with a copy-book tackle. Two minutes later, the Phoenix levelled the scoreboard when Paul Deacon weaved his way over from seven out. He converted his own try and with ten minutes of the first half remaining, the underdogs were level 12 all.
The try seemed to settle both sides down, and the defensive intensity returned to the level it begun the game at. The injection of Leonardo Orelli and Stuart Fielden had a marked effect on both sides' temperment, and it looked as if the halftime scores would be level. Two minutes out from the break a 50/50 penalty gave Deacon an opportunity to put his side ahead, and he duly converted the chance to make it 14-12 at the break.
HALFTIME: Wellington 12 trail Central 14
It took only a minute of play for the scores to be level once more, Kevin Sinfield taking the easy option and knocking over a penalty after the Phoenix were twice grabbed for offside. The fourteen all scoreline would remain for the next twenty odd minutes, with the two sides unable to break the deadlock as the game drew closer and closer to its final ten minutes. It was not for want of trying either, the two sides throwing every set play and ambitious pass at the defense of their opponents. While Wellington's forwards continued to control the ruck, it was the unprecedented form of Clinton Schifcofske and Brad Flemming that continually hampered the Wellington effort. Not only were they offensively dangerous, but Flemming's one on one defence was inspirational.
The two combined to break the deadlock in the 66th minute when Brad Flemming broke out of a feeble Timana Tahu tackle and embarked on a powerful run downfield. He had the foresight to draw Anthony Minichiello before throwing a blind pass in-field. Schifcofske was backing up, and put it down under the posts to make it 18-14. Deacon was obliging with his conversion, and the Phoenix would take a 20-14 lead into the home stretch.
When Scott Donald broke through from the kick-off, it looked grim for Wellington, but Minichiello reminded Australian selectors of his quality with a tackle that jarred the ball loose. Donald took offense, and the fans were treated to an amusing fist fight between the two small men- only the intervention of Luke Priddis prevented it from becoming an all in brawl. The resulting penalty allowed Wellington an ideal opportunity, but Kevin Sinfield took the safe option and shot for goal. Ten out from the fulltime siren, and the Cougars trailed 20-16.
Sinfield's decision not to go for the throat came back to haunt him from the kick-off, Sinfield committing a cardinal sin when he let the kick off bounce. The ball bobbled out of play, and the Phoenix were given a scrum feed only fifteen out from the Cougars' line. Clinton Schifcofske again proved the bane of the Cougars, finding a small hole and running into it before finding an unmarked Danny Orr out wide. The English five eighth crashed over in the corner to score the possible match winner. Deacon was unable to convert, and the Cougars were half a chance at 24-16.
Deacon made Wellington's task a little harder when he knocked over a penalty for holding down the player in the 77th- and the game was put beyond doubt when Danny Orr finished off an impassioned set of six. The talented young five eighth powered over from fifteen out and slammed it down for the match-winner. Deacon converted, but at 32-16 the game was won. Central would move on to take on Capetown for a place in the Grand Final.
FULLTIME
Central Phoenix 32
Clinton Schifcofske
Danny Orr 2
Scott Sattler
Paul Deacon
Deacon 6/7
defeated
Wellington Cougars 16
Luke Priddis
Tomas Larsson
Sinfield 4/4
PoM Points
Clinton Schifcofske............3
Paul Deacon......................2
Brad Flemming..................1
After a cracker start to the season it looked as if it was going to be another good season for the Cougars. While not wishing to make excuses a horror injury toll and the begining of the rep season saw the Cougars fall down the ladder to finish in 4th position, and an exit in the minor semi finals wasn't in the plan at all.
What went wrong?
Tough to say, but no doubt the Cougars will be sitting down over this off season and have a look at out squads and what changes may need to be made. But make no mistake the Cougars will be back in 2004. :)
