The wave of fairy-tale press coverage and media attention that has followed Ipswich, labelled the ASRL's 'worst ever club' during their last stint in the competition, into their maiden finals campaign has perhaps overshadowed the good form of their opposition for today's clash. With both sides 'dying' at season's end, fans of the Reds will be perhaps pleased to know that the club today agreed to a merger with the Redlands Rhinos- which will see the two southern Queensland clubs participate in the ASRL next year as the South Queensland Underdogs.
On the back of a huge 60-12 win last weekend, Ipswich have shown plenty of confidence in resting inspirational skipper, Brad Fittler for this do or die clash against the highly favoured Vipers.
Dunedin Vipers Ipswich Reds
1 Francis Cummins 1 Sebastian Tupont
2 Deiter Fisher 2 Tarin Bradford
3 Gagma 3 Azuze Hiraki
4 Regan King 4 Lee Hookey
5 Girvan Dempsey 5 Derek Tulley
6 Eduardo Carera 6 Adam Hayden
7 Steve Devine 7 Piri Weepu
8 Dallas Hood 8 Havaleme Junasaesa
9 David Frame 9 David Ferriol
10 John Waka 10 Barry Liverpool
11 Brashen Trell © 11 David Wah
12 Terry Hill 12 Dwayne Miles
13 Mat Toschak 13 Martin Wood ©
++Interchange
14 Mike Forshaw 14 James Wilson
15 Eddie Paeia 15 Grant Wooden
16 Martin Masella 16 Faron Anderson
17 Russell Bawden 17 Craig Field
If Ipswich weren't given any chance of winning today's clash, they certainly didn't let on that they'd heard the news as the game began, Azuze Hiraki tearing a hole in the Vipers' defence early in the game, a play that almost lead to a 3rd minute try. The video referee, however, would not be swayed by the emotion that Reds' players showed as they embraced in the in goal. Inexperienced sides often find themselves disheartened after an early let down, but the Reds showed remarkable maturity to continue on in fine form early in the clash. Conversely, the Vipers looked out of their depth in front of their big home crowd, making stupid errors aplenty as they sought to combat the exuberance of the Reds.
With Ipswich playing smart football, and the Vipers looking lacklustre, it was completely against the run of play when journeyman prop, John Waka, rampaged his way across the Reds line following a big bust through some feeble defence. The Vipers didn't look like threatening anything until the big prop hit it up, his run like something from an action movie, as he cast off defenders on his way to a crucial try. Deiter Fisher converted easily from in front to take a perhaps undeserved 6-0 lead. Ipswich almost hit back immediately, when Gagma knocked on close to his line, and Martin Wood swooped on the loose ball to score an apparent equaliser. Once again the video referee ruled against the visitors, claiming that Wood had been offside and had caused Gagma's dropped ball.
The calls going in their favour, Dunedin gradually started to warm to the clash, and with a higher profile roster- began to take control of the affair. In a polar opposite to the game's opening, it was suddenly the Vipers making easy metres as the Reds struggled to complete their sets of six. Whilst Tarin Bradford, Azuze Hiraki, and Faron Anderson continued to try their hearts out for the Reds- it looked destined to be for nought when Fisher extended Dunedin's lead with a penalty goal, the home side up 8-0 and looking comfortable after twenty six minutes of play. The remaining fifteen minutes saw Dunedin in firm control, with Ipswich's attack little more threatening than a sickly kitten batting uselessly at the foot of a giant. Indeed, Dunedin were only prevented from running away with it by the own over-enthusiasm- squandering opportunities with too flashy play. When Mike Forshaw tried a fancy flick pass in Ipswich's half, the Reds made the Vipers pay when Derek Tulley latched onto the loose pass and sprinted away untouched to score a morale boosting try. Tulley missed the easy conversion, but as the halftime siren sounded, the game had an entirely different complexion at 8-4 in favour of Dunedin.
HALFTIME: Dunedin 8 lead Ipswich 4
Ipswich came out for the second half looking inspired and carrying with them renewed enthusiasm, no doubt buoyed by Tulley's try late in the first half. Dunedin invited the visitors back into the game with some poor early handling, and Dwayne Miles made them pay when he was put into a hole by a well timed Adam Hayden short ball. The big AA/TSI representative had little trouble in barging over Girvan Dempsey, but Derek Tulley somehow missed another easy conversion- leaving things locked up at 8 all.
It didn't take Dunedin long to respond, the favourites not letting the second Ipswich try demoralise them. Girvan Dempsey put the embarassment of the Miles try well and truly behind him, weaving through some ineffective Ipswich defence to plant the ball underneath the sticks. Fisher's faultless night of kicking continued, and the Vipers were back in control at 14-8. With Ipswich enthusiastic, but disorganised, the Vipers could very well hold onto their six point lead to set up a date with Fairfield next week.
The Vipers were denied a match winner in the 50th, but then turned it on with twenty minutes of solid defence and threatening attack. To Ipswich's credit, however, their own brand of scrambling defence was nothing short of stellar. No matter how slick the Vipers looked, Ipswich always seemed to be able to grasp them just short of the line. However, with just on ten minutes of play remaining, the visitors would need to do more than just defend if they wanted to set up a semi final berth. A penalty in the 71st gave them the chance they needed, and Tarin Bradford was able to cross out wide following a long ball from Martin Wood. Tulley's poor form with the boot continued to prove costly, with the Vipers still up 14-12 with eight minutes remaining. Dunedin proved their own worst enemies, conceding a penalty from the kick-off that gave Ipswich more field position from which to mount a potentially match winning offensive. Faron Anderson, on the back of a forty five tackle defensive effort, did his own attacking when he cut through some tired defence and offloaded inside to a trailing Piri Weepu. Weepu crossed virtually untouched, and whilst Tulley again missed the conversion- the Reds were suddenly two point leaders in front of a stunned and dismayed New Zealand crowd.
Dunedin, realising their own complacency was to blame for much of their problem, sought to dig themselves out of their predicament- but only worsened it, their adventurous attack and the ever dwindling amount of time remaining manifesting in the form of handling errors and poor last tackle options. When Piri Weepu backed up another Faron Anderson, stepped inside the fullback, and then cheekily kicked a field goal- the fans were booing, whether in disgust at Weepu's lack of sportsmanship, or at their team's woeful defence is unclear.
Derek Tulley gave Dunedin a perfect chance to steal victory from the jaws of defeat when he knocked it on off the kick-off, but some more stellar line defence held the home side out. Fulltime sounded, and in the Ipswich League's Club, there were scenes of mass celebration as their side moved on to a sudden death date with Fairfield.
FULLTIME
Dunedin Vipers 14
Girvan Dempsey
John Waka
Fisher 3/3
lost to
Ipswich Reds 17
Tarin Bradford
Derek Tulley
Piri Weepu
Dwayne Miles
Tulley 0/4
PoM Points
Faron Anderson................3
Tarin Bradford..................2
Girvan Dempsey...............1
Those old boys from Dunedin go out like that.
That was no way for a club ti finish its time in the ASRL.
The core of the side have played their last game in Matt Toshak, Mike Forshaw, Martin Masella and Russell Bawden.
Good Luck to the Reds.
