The battle between the two 'coast' sides has always been intense, with the two coaches sharing a healthy rivallry that has sparked some of the ASRL's most memorable matches. This season the Falcons have enjoyed the points in both of their encounters with the second placed Crusade- although one such victory occured during State of Origin when the Crusade were depleted.

There would be no excuses in today's match- as both sides fielded full strength sides for the game that would decide who would face Central in the 2004 Grand Final.

Gold Coast Crusade Central Coast Falcons
1 Billy Slater 1 Robbie O'Davis
2 Shannon O'Reilly 2 Matt Utai
3 Ryan Girdler 3 Tony Gonzalez
4 Matthew Gidley 4 Nigel Vagana
5 Rupeni Caucaunibuca 5 Hazem El Masri
6 Jonny Wilkinson 6 Braith Anasta
7 Andrew Johns © 7 Brent Sherwin
8 Danny Nutley 8 Luke Davico
9 Danny Buderus 9 Gunter Franz
10 Josh Perry 10 Steven Price ©
11 Tony Puletua 11 Dean Walker
12 Steve Simpson 12 Corin Barry
13 George Smith 13 Travis Norton
++Interchange
14 Karl Pratt 14 Terry O'Connor
15 Daniel Abraham 15 Craig Smith
16 Jason Cayless 16 Johnathan Thurston
17 Tommy O'Reilly 17 Reggie Cressbrook

Gold Coast's start can be described in three words: messy, lazy, and stupid. The first set of defence from the reigning premiers showed a complete lack of commitment, and their first two sets of six ended with poor passes. Worse, Matthew Gidley became the fastest man to be sent off in a final when he was ordered from the field for a blatant offside play in the 2nd minute. Had Gidley not tackled Dean Walker, the Falcons would have gone up 6-0 there and then.

Fittingly, it was Central Coast who got first points on the board, Dean Walker and Nigel Vagana combining to expose the hole left on Matt Gidley's flank. Walker made the initial bust, and Vagana finished it off with his usual speed and flare. El Masri struck the conversion sweetly to see Central Coast as early 6-0 leaders.

The Crusade were always going to struggle to match one of the league's best attacking sides minus a player, and struggle they did. While their offense made good yardage, the Crusade defence was continually spread thin by the absence of their star centre. In the 9th minute Nigel Vagana again cut open the wounded flank, this time offloading to a supporting Hazem El Masri. The conversion was on song, and the Crusade looked down and out at 12-0 down. It could very well have been eighteen when El Masri and Vagana combined to cut up the same wing again- but a good Billy Slater tackle jarred the ball loose from Vagana's arms as he went to ground the ball.

Matthew Gidley returned to the field in the 12th minute, and his arrival had an immediate impact. No longer a man down, the Crusade attacking line was able to better shift the ball around the park. A penalty for offside put the Crusade in Falcons' territory, and Matthew Gidley made ammends for his early absence with a characteristic flick pass to Tommy O'Reilly to score the first Crusade try of the match. Andrew Johns took a while lining up the conversion, but when it went across the black dot, the game was alive again at 12-6.

With their entire side on deck, the Crusade began to control play. The Falcons seemed to lose their way without the easily exposed flank of Gidley, and the Crusade found a second wind courtesy of some big hitups from bench forwards Josh Perry and Daniel Abraham. Josh Perry's impact was particularly profound, the big prop muscling over to score the Crusade's second try and level things up at 12 all.

Both sides solidified their defence and calmed down their offense for the second quarter- neither crossing the opposition line but neither looking like leaking points either. The Falcon backline, particularly Vagana, continued to be its strongest suit- whilst the Crusade were ably lead by Jonny Wilkinson and some excellent forward work.

HALFTIME: Gold Coast 12 drawn with Central Coast 12

Fans got a perfect example of what finals football should be in the opening twenty minutes of the second half. The game had it all: big hits, end to end passing plays, and controversial decisions. Both sides were denied potentially game shifting tries before Ryan Girdler exploited the inexperience of Tony Gonzalez to create an overlap. A pass to Rupeni Caucaunibica had fans roaring, but the defence of Utai looked certain to hold. Caucaunibuca, bound for Adelaide next year, produced a miraculous pass to put Girdler over. Johns converted, and the Crusade lead for the first time at 18-12.

From the kick-off, the Falcons worsened their situation when Craig Smith's tackle crept a little too high on Tony Puletua. Johns made him pay for his indescretion with a long range penalty. The 20-12 lead meant the Falcons would need to score twice if they intended to steal a victory from a Crusade side who had dominated once they got a full side on deck.

Dean Walker, one of the Falcons' best in the first half, made sure that fans would remain on the edges of their seats when he crossed in the 65th. It was sheer willpower and determination from the big second rower- who carried Matthew Gidley and Shannon O'Reilly across the line with him. El Masri converted, and the game was set for a grandstand finish at 20-18.

Referee Tim Mander earned the ire of the Falcons Army when he Sin Binned Matt Utai in the 66th minute for a dangerously high tackle on Shannon O'Reilly. While the Irish international left the field with a suspected concussion- Utai was booed soundly as he headed to the bench. He'd deprived his side of a valuable man in their defensive line- and they'd need to whether a storm before Utai could get back on deck. Johns made it a little harder for the Falcons with a penalty, and the lead was out to four at 22-18.

The game was put almost beyond doubt when Ryan Girdler crossed for his second in the 72nd. The centre, who has announced his intention to retire after one last season of first grade football, finished off a movement started by a powerful Jason Cayless hit up and offload. Johns continued a faultless night with the boot to make it 28-18. The Falcons could still win it, but without Utai for a few more minutes, they'd be hard pressed to do so.

Somehow the Falcons held out the Crusade's raids until Utai returned, and the big winger had an immediate impact when he stepped clean around Tommy O'Reilly and raced downfield. While Billy Slater was able to cut off the run, Utai found Reggie Cressbrook backing up to score a try that lifted the roof. El Masri converted, and the final five would be exciting at 28-24.

The miracle try for the Falcons never came, with the Crusade line holding despite several penalties giving the Falcons good field position. The fulltime siren sounded, and the Crusade would be able to defend their title following a 28-24 victory.

FULLTIME
Gold Coast Crusade 28
Ryan Girdler 2
Tommy O'Reilly
Josh Perry
Johns 6/6
defeated
Central Coast Falcons
Nigel Vagana
Hazem El Masri
Dean Walker
Reggie Cressbrook
El Masri 4/4

PoM Points
Ryan Girdler............3
Nigel Vagana...........2
Hazem El Magic........1

booooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

boring grand final lol, i wanted central coast there, then thered be heaps of fighting going on in the crowd and stuff, go the falcons!

HAHA its the falcons not the bull.......oh wait my mistake :)

Congrats on another premiership to Chris and the Crusade. With as many Bulldogs in the Falcons line up im surprised they lost but hey ill just cause a riot so i can forget about the loss. :afro:

that just a semi, columbo you drunken pig dog

OK
Ill admit im a drunkard but im not a pig dog. biting a pig would like biting you and thats the quickest way i know to become diseased. I cant help it if my coaching deprived brain doesnt know what round or match it is can i?. Anyway dont disturb me im looking for my beer. :drunk:

Whooooot go the Falcons *starts Mexician Wave*

A top game and you really can't be angry when your side plays well against an ASRL Power-Club, I know some day we will join the ranks of Wellington and Gold Coast.

Not a bad effort for our second year in the Premier League, with time we are developing a very strong unit and I think we can make the Grand Final for the next season. Big thanks to my Queenslad Unit- Chris Maunder.

Big props to the boys for getting as far as we did and thanks to the Coaches who wore their Falcons cap to the match.