Game 1: Entrance Tigers v North West Kookaburras
The fans have turned out in droves to see the players that could well be there heroes of the future, as the Rising Star Conference finals kicks off. The top of the table Entrance Tigers fielded a strong lineup facing a North West Kookaburras side, that if defeated would tumble out of the RSC finals. Led out by there respective skippers Guiseppi Magro and Henry Burridge, the sides lined up like this:
The Entrance Tigers(1) North West Kookaburras(8)
1 Guiseppi Magro © 1 Ian Hope
2 James Little 2 Aaron Erbs
3 Romeo Magro 3 Sam Key
4 Sébastien Azema 4 Tim Every
5 Matt Riddle 5 Lupina Kaufusi
6 Habib El Muktar 6 Daniel Ferris
7 Gunter Franz 7 Jason Ferris
8 Craig Simmons 8 Gareth Price
9 Mikhail Mitrofanov 9 James Wynne
10 Trevor Thurling 10 Henry Burridge ©
11 Ryan Clayton 11 Darren Taylor
12 Craig Emmerton 12 Darren Burns
13 Graeme Timms 13 Henry Perenara
++Interchange
14 Brad Morrin 14 Martin Kanyon
15 Sam Isemonger 15 Dean Busby
16 Adam Brideson 16 Lee Harland
17 Corey Hughes 17 Jacob Key
As the match started it was clear that it would not be easily won, both teams showing why they were the cream of the RSC crop. The defence was brilliant, and an arm wrestle developed. The entrance tigers displayed great goal line defence, holding out the Kookaburras on numerous occasions.
The first points of the game came after back to back penalties to the Kookaburra’s, with big bustling prop Trevor Thurling locked into raging battle with Kookaburra’s lock Henry Perenara. Perenara erupted, throwing a barrage of punches which were returned in a flurry by Thurling. Perenara looked to instigate the incident, however the ensuing penalty was awarded to the Kookaburras. After a second penalty was awarded to the Kookaburra’s for offside, five eight Daniel Ferris slotted the ball over for two points.
The early lead to the Kookaburra’s really fired up the Entrance squad, and within 5 minutes the Entrance had a 10-2 lead, with four pointers going to Craig Emmerton and Guiseppi Magro. Both sides opened up their style of play before the break, with the Entrance tigers having two tries disallowed, and they Kookaburra’s having one disallowed.
The half-time siren sounded, as Magro led his side into the sheds with a 10-2 lead.
The first twenty minutes of the second half started as they did in the first half, with both squads trying hard to break the opposition’s lines, with no results. It wasn’t until the 63rd minute that the fans had further reason to cheer, with Sebastien Azema crossing again for the Entrance. Try converted, handing the Entrance a 16-2 lead.
From there it looked easy sailing for the Tigers, as the heads of the Kookaburra’s players dropped. Craig Emmerton crossed for his second try of the match, which was also converted. The Kookaburra’s got a late consolation try through Darren Burns, but the result of this match was beyond doubt.
A good victory to the Entrance tigers, starting there finals campaign with a 22-6 win over the North West Kookaburra’s.
The Entrance Tigers
Tries -
Guiseppi Magro
Sébastien Azema
Craig Emmerton x 2
Goals -
Matt Riddle 3 ( 4 )
North West Kookaburras
Tries -
Darren Burns
Goals -
Daniel Ferris 1 ( 2 )
Player of the Match Awards
3 points : Craig Emmerton
2 points : Brad Morrin
1 point : Romeo Magro
Game 2: Sunshine Coast Wizards v Hunter Bantams
A star studded Sunshine Coast Wizards lineup, led out by star full back Brett Stewart was present to face a strong Hunter Bantams. The Wizards squad had seen a lot of movement with players being moved up and down with the top of the table Gold Coast squad, however were still capable to a 2nd place table finish, one point away from the minor premiership.
Sunshine Coast Wizards Hunter Bantams
1 Brett Stewart © 1 Brad Watts
2 Ade Gardner 2 David Milne
3 Dustin Cooper 3 Brad Commins
4 Steve Skinnon 4 Scott Naylor
5 Neil Sweeney 5 Andy Smith
6 Steve Witt 6 Chris Bridge
7 Marcus Perenara 7 Mark Lennon
8 Andrew Price 8 Dennis Scott
9 Aaron Payne 9 Robert Mears
10 Ian Donnelly 10 Glenn Hall
11 Louis Anderson 11 Jamie Feeney
12 Epalahame Lauaki 12 Ian Sibbit
13 Todd Lowrie 13 Jamie Langley ©
++Interchange
14 Jesse Royal 14 Jamie McDonald
15 Dean Payne 15 Daniel Russell
16 Reegan Tanner 16 Andy Coley
17 Riley Brown 17 Tyran Smith
The match was played at finals pace, with both sides manning up in defence, running and tackling hard. The Bantams were struggling to keep up with the pace of the match, and this was evidenced by an offside penalty against them. The Wizards opted to kick for touch. The Wizards had the ball in the opposition twenty, and it didn’t take long for them to use it. Wizards halfback Marcus Perenara found a hole in the line, jinking in and away past opposition players. Faced with fullback Brad Watts as a tough proposition at the best of times, the young halfback shelled a beautiful pass out to flying winger Ade Gardner, who would come around to score under the posts. The try was easily converted. 6-0 Wizards.
The Wizards added an extra two after a silly penalty, but the Bantams struck back as they have been renowned for doing this season, Daniel Russell scoring after a Brett Stewart knock on. Not to be outdone, Dustin Cooper of the Wizards replied quickly, running 63 metres to score a great solo effort under the post. Try converted, Sweeney definitely on target. A try to replacement forward Regan Tanner was the final blow of the half for the Bantams,
The Wizards took a 20-6 lead into halftime.
The first ten minutes were played at an extremely fast pace itself, until the 53rd minute when Wizards replacement Andrew Price went over the pin stripe. Try converted by Neil Sweeney. The second half was a tough fought stale mate from this point, with no further points added to the score.
A great win to the Wizards, which was soured by a serious injury to replacement and man of the match Dean Payne in the 63rd minute. The Wizards will look to continue there early finals form as they progress. Its early to say but the Wizards are definitely shaping as potential RSC champions.
Sunshine Coast Wizards
Tries -
Ade Gardner
Andrew Price
Reegan Tanner
Dustin Cooper
Goals -
Neil Sweeney 5 ( 5 )
Hunter Bantams
Tries -
Daniel Russell
Goals -
Brad Watts 1 ( 1 )
Player of the Match Awards
3 points : Dean Payne
2 points : Andrew Price
1 point : Neil Sweeney
Game Three: Gisborne Heat v Wests Panthers
On paper this match looks like it could be a landslide, however the Gisborne heat have shown that big names mean nothing. They have found a tactic, and followed it, to get themselves into 3rd position. The Wests Panthers finished in 6th spot, however that can be attributed to there players being used in the successful Brisbane Bulls side throughout the rep campaign. The side is back to full strength, and is over flowing with potential and talent.
Gisborne Heat Wests Panthers
1 Chris Melling 1 Sam Perret
2 Zane Clarke 2 Nick Parfitt
3 James Evans 3 Jason Kent
4 Martin Aspinwall 4 Aaron Barba
5 Chuck Randall 5 Gary Tupou
6 Feriti Tuilagi 6 Berrick Barnes
7 Danny Brough 7 Chris Sheppard ©
8 Chris Morley 8 Chad Robinson
9 Simeon Rice 9 Michael Ryan
10 Darren Porter 10 Luke Doherty
11 Jake Luana 11 Lloyd Johansson
12 George Carmont 12 Tom Learoyd
13 Braden Oake © 13 Royce Simms
++Interchange
14 Matt Nightingale 14 Steven Southern
15 Demetrius Lichtenstein 15 Cooper Cronk
16 Jarred Lawrence 16 Mark Dalle Cort
17 Adrian Mirhalov 17 Brenton Bowen
The kick off was taken by the West Panthers, to start which could well be the fixture of the first week of RSC finals. The match started at a torrid pace, with the Gisborne heat hammering the West Panthers line. By the 10th minute of the game, the heat had had to tries disallowed. The Panthers began to settle into there game, and were awarded the first 2 points of the match with a dangerously high tackle on Berrick Barnes by his opposite number Tuilaga, straight in front of the posts. From this another try was disallowed to the Gisborne heat.
Scared into action, the Panthers looked sharp. The Panthers forwards took the ball 48 metres upfield, laying the perfect platform for the small men to do the work. The ball went through Sheppard, to Barnes, to.. Doherty. An unexpected big man on the end of some beautiful play by the Panthers. Try converted to give the Panthers a 0-8 lead.
The score remained the same, and the Panthers entered the sheds with an 8-0 halftime lead.
Both teams came out revitalised, with penalties being traded between both sides. The Panthers were on fire, and had an early try disallowed in the second half. It wasn’t until the 65th minute before the half time score was added on, with the Gisborne Heat scoring a good try with Chris Melling coming through the middle ala Billy Slater to cross the white stripe. Conversion missed, 4-8 lead to the Panthers.
The celebrations were short lived for Heat, 3 sets later the Panthers crossing the line after some good work by Chris Sheppard. Brenton Bowen would score the final points of what was a highly entertaining match, won by the Panthers 20-6. The Panthers were just too strong over the entire 80 minutes, running away with the match.
The road continues on for the Panthers, who will look to continue on in the final series. The Panthers dummy half Michael Ryan was awarded the man of the match, after a classy performance feeding to a strong halves combo, who also figured in the mom points.
Gisborne Heat
Tries -
Chris Melling
Goals -
Chris Melling ( 1 )
Wests Panthers
Tries -
Chris Sheppard
Luke Doherty
Brenton Bowen
Goals -
Berrick Barnes 4 ( 4 )
Player of the Match Awards
3 points : Michael Ryan
2 points : Chris Sheppard
1 point : Berrick Barnes
Game Four: Kensington Highrollers v Ryde Eagles
Both squads came out for a close to full strength battle of 4th and 5th positions. Kensignton, occupied by many union converts had the home ground advantage, which they would look to capitalise on.
Kensington Highrollers Ryde Eagles
1 Timothy Rice 1 Michael Ventrue
2 Lenny Beckett 2 Brent Grose
3 John Wilson 3 Nate Smith
4 Jack Isaac 4 Brian Jellick
5 Scott Staniforth 5 Maury Heinlein-Nein
6 Howard Opan 6 Sean Harris
7 Bill Rhyven 7 Alex Moore ©
8 Matt Dunning 8 Anthony Seu Seu
9 Adam Nable 9 Ivan Bennet
10 Dale Newton 10 Chris Motu
11 Bryan Riley © 11 Jan Gvozdev
12 Harry Prince 12 Peter Lewis
13 Kyle Bryant 13 Brett Sergeant
++Interchange
14 Andrew Meads 14 Blake Mueller
15 Pierre Foord 15 Ken Rogers
16 Paul Noone 16 Karl Fitzpatrick
17 Elia Tuqiri 17 Maxim Ramonov
As Ryde captain Alex Moore led his team out on the field, you could feel the intensity drifting off the players. Ryde were ready, and started the game with the kickoff.
First hitup of the game went to powder puff Matt Dunning, who waddled the ball up field before being struck in a very heavy tackle by Chris Motu and Ivan Bennet. From the play the ball Kyle Bryant would knock on, handing the Eagles ball in perfect position. Ryde would fail to capitialise, in the early minutes of the match which was characterised by the great defence of both teams, Kensington holding out the Eagles on numerous occasions.
The first try would go to Ryde Eagles, Anthony Seu Seu making a huge bust up the middle to go under the posts. The score would go to 6-2, after an early penalty goal to Kensington. Ryde would be the next to score, with another 4 pointer going to winger Maury Heinlein-Nein.
The Ryde Eagles took a 12-2 lead into half time.
The second half began in the same fashion as the first, with Sean Harris posting a 49th minute try to five eight Sean Harris. The heads of the Kensington players dropped, and the demeanour of the match changed.
The Ryde Eagles started to dominate up the middle of the ruck, with halves Harris and Moore laying on great balls to both wingers for no result. That was until the 65th minute, when speedster Brent Grose showed skilled comparable to that of Luke Covell, to extend the lead to 22-6.
Grose would take his tally to 2 for the match with a try in the 78th minute. A great thirty metre effort by the young gun put the icing on Ryde’s cake, adding confidence to the squad as they progress into the finals series.
Heinlein-Nein got the man of the match after a brilliant effort on the wing, and was unlucky not to be on the score sheet a couple more times. Ryde will need him at his best to continue on in the final’s series.
Kensington Highrollers
Tries -
Goals -
Timothy Rice 1 ( 1 )
Ryde Eagles
Tries -
Brent Grose x 2
Maury Heinlein-Nein
Sean Harris
Anthony Seu Seu
Goals -
Nate Smith 4 ( 5 )
Player of the Match Awards
3 points : Maury Heinlein-Nein
2 points : Peter Lewis
1 point : Alex Moore
