Redcliffe defeat Tigers in preliminary
final

REDCLIFFE 30 d EASTS 16

QUEENSLAND?S biggest local league club versus the next crop of Brisbane Broncos. That?s how the 2006 grand final of the QLD Wizard Cup shapes up after Redcliffe qualified to face Toowoomba with a tense 30-16 win over Easts in the preliminary final.

Reaching their eighth Cup final in the last 11 years, the Dolphins survived a rugged battle on home turf, which they led just 14-12 at halftime.

Uninterrupted second half tries to Nick Emmett, Ryan Cullen and Michael Roberts extended the margin to 30-12, setting them for a fourth grand final showdown against the Clydesdales.

The Dolphins met the Clydesdales in the QLD Wizard Cup?s first grand final in 1996 and later in 2000 and 2001. All matches were won by less than 10 points and hung in the balance until the final minutes.

When Toowoomba and Redcliffe met just a week ago in the major semi the result was a shock 56-22 thrashing to the Clydesdales.

However, the Dolphins clearly grew in confidence as they blew away defiant Easts; a side which had lifted admirably to win three sudden-death matches in a row.

Redcliffe?s forwards were like a dog to a bone in the second stanza, while their backline cohesion suffered only marginally when half Marty Turner (calf) was forced from the field early in the game.

Asked at fulltime whether Redcliffe had the team to combat Toowoomba?s five-star rookies, including Joel Moon, David Taylor and Jamie Simpson, Dolphins hooker Roberts refused to be overwhelmed.

?Toowoomba?s a tough side?but we?ll have a go at them anyway,? the full-time school teacher said.

Of the three finals that Redcliffe and Toowoomba have contested so far, the 2000 season seems to be the most comparable.

That year Toowoomba?s side contained Justin Hodges, Brent Tate, Chris Walker, Corey Parker and Carl Webb, none of them long out of school.

There seems little doubt that some in the present Clydesdales? ranks will go on to achieve similar things in the game.

At the same time however, they will be wary of being overawed in the final at Suncorp Stadium.

Season 2000 also saw Redcliffe lose by 34 points in the major semi, but then bounce back to down a nervous and inexperienced Toowoomba in the decider.

Some of the Redcliffe players remain from that day ? Troy Lindsay, Danny Burke, Grant Flugge and Adam Starr.

Indeed, veteran prop Starr, 33, has announced he will retire after next weekend?s match, win, lose or draw. A Redcliffe and Brothers Holy Spirit junior, he has played more than 100 Wizard Cup games since returning from stints in the ARL and France.

One man leaving the game without a shot at the premiership is Easts warrior Steele Retchless, who was typically tireless in his last outing for the Tigers.

A premiership winner with Brisbane Wests in the early 90s, Retchless also contested a UK Challenge Cup final with the London Broncos and represented the USA Tomahawks.

He appeared to be injured in his last match, but pressed on regardless.

?Our defence let us down today,? he told ABC TV.

?There?s no fairytale ending. That?s it for me.?

As well as defensive lapses, Easts also suffered through poor ball security. The Tigers completed just 25 of 37 sets in possession and were guilty of far more errors than their opponents.

The cost of forfeiting the ball was displayed clearly in the 48th minute after Redcliffe centre Emmett slid over out wide, following a preceding knock-on by fullback Kev Stephensen.

Stephensen had a Jekyll and Hyde performance, hitting the ignition for a scorching solo try in the 35th minute and sending winger David Tyrrell away with another fleet-footed effort in the 77th minute.

Yet the former Australian Universities representative was left to rue his handling and struggled with a number of high kicks, which floated in the blustery ?Redcliffe Doctor?.

He was not alone in that department however, as Dolphins? winger Rory Bromley and fullback Ryan Cullen suffered similarly at the hands of Mother Nature.

A failed defusion by Bromley gave Easts its first try of the game, with Emmett also failing to clean up as the Tigers made it 6-all.

Bromley gained revenge by finishing a slick backline movement in the 12th minute for a 10-6 lead and when he contested a high ball 17 minutes later, Emmett was on hand to score his first try.

Although made to work hard for the win, the Dolphins were never headed for the rest of the duel.

REDCLIFFE 30 (Nick Emmett 2, Ryan Cullen, Rory Bromley, Michael Roberts, Chris Fox tries; Greg Bourke 3 goals) d EASTS 16 (Shane Neumann, Kevin Stephensen, David Tyrrell tries; Luke Branighan 2 goals) at Dolphin Oval.

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Redcliffe will now meet Toowoomba in the grand final, 2pm
Saturday September 16 at Suncorp Stadium.

The final will also see the unveiling of the QANTAS Player of
the Year, presentations to the 1982 Easts Tigers and 1996
Toowoomba Clydesdales premiership teams, entertainment by
Queensland's own Intercooler and the Brazilian Touch troupe, as well as autograph signings by FOGS legends, prizes throughout the day and a tribute to the competition's retiring warriors.

Six separate clubs will contest the three grades.

Tickets are on sale now through www.ticketek.com.au or by
phoning 132 849.

NEXT WEEK ? GRAND FINAL
SATURDAY 16 SEPTEMBER
TOOWOOMBA V REDCLIFFE SUNCORP STADIUM 2.00PM*
*Live on ABC TV