The Fiona Winter Realty Noosa Tigers finished second on the ladder during the regular season games and had to take on Kedron in the Qualifying final at Noosa on the weekend. Noosa made no change from the senior team that defeated Maroochydore last week. This is the first time Noosa had made "No Change" to its senior team for the 2014 season. The Tigers were also celebrating premiership player Nathan Winters 150th senior game.
The forecast for the weekend was rain and that's exactly what we got. The oval was a lake and the rain was falling heavily as the game got underway. From the outset, Noosa set the tone, with Skipper Peter Trompf dominating in the ruck. Noosa controlled the game with the ball spending all of its time in the Noosa half but the Kedron backs were holding them at bay. At the 5 minute mark Brett Duke swooped on a ball that had slipped out the back of the pack and opened the account for Noosa. Noosa continued the pressure and Harry Opie laid the perfect tackle across half forward which resulted in a free kick. Opie went back quickly and drove the ball forward where Duke took a strong mark and goaled from 10 metres out to give Noosa a 12 point lead. Things got scrappy as the rain fell but Noosa's pressure was outstanding and at the 22 minute mark Jake Fulton ran into an open goal created by the Noosa pressure to extend the lead to 18. Then deep into time on in the quarter Shane Davis roved the pack and snapped a brilliant goal to kick Noosa's 4th for the quarter. As the siren sounded Noosa were full of run and took a 23 point lead. Noosa 4-0-24 to Kedron 0-1-1.
The rain failed to ease and Noosa continued the pressure. Goals became hard to find. At the ten minute mark Nathan Winter calmly picked up the ball from the middle of the pack and slotted it home to give Noosa a massive 30 point lead. As the rain kept tumbling down the ball spent most of the time on the deck. Dave Welch was outstanding down back, Jed Mullen was clean in the conditions and Jake Fulton was strong and hard in the packs. Kedron finally got a goal on the board late in the second term but by then Noosa was in full control. At Half time Noosa led by 26 points. Noosa 5-4-34 to Kedron 1-2-8.
The message at half time from James Gellie was simple, "keep doing what you are doing". Tom McKittrick was awesome in the 3rd tern and got the ball rolling for the Tigers. Three minutes in, and Sam Dywer ran hard from the wing and goaled from 30 metres out and the margin went out to 32 points. Jai Fitzpatrick was moved up forward and provided plenty of options as Noosa kept driving the ball forward. At the 18 minute mark Jesse Malthouse got front and centre and goaled again for Noosa and all of a sudden Noosa were 40 points in front. Ryley Buntain was at his usual best down back and Cubby Isles was in every contest. Noosa were in full control and kept Kedron scoreless as the siren sounded and they held a 41 point lead at the final break. Noosa 7-7-49 to Kedron 1-2-8.
Gellie pleaded with the players to keep the foot on the gas in the last quarter and thats exactly what the boys did. Dylan Dempsey was terrific all day and Dan Pertot used his big frame perfectly. It was a real struggle for both teams in the last term as conditions had gone from bad to worse but at the 23 minute mark of the final term Pertot took a strong mark about 40 metres out. He went back and, with the heavy, slippery ball, he slotted it home to really put the game away. Kedron kicked a goal very late in the quarter but the damage had been done. As the final siren sounded, Noosa were ahead by 41 points. Noosa 8-9-57 defeated Kedron 2-4-16. Noosa have now booked a place in the 2nd Semi Final next week.
Noosa Best- Dave Welch, Tom McKittrick, Sam Dwyer, Harry Opie, Peter Trompf , Josh Reichman.
Noosa Goals: Brett Duke 2, Shane Davis 1, Jesse Malthouse 1, Sam Dwyer 1, Nathan Winter 1, Dan Pertot 1.
The Noosa Reserves won a hard fought and tense qualifying final but they had to work very hard for their win. Maroochydore jumped Rob Purves's boys and kicked 3 goals to 1 in the first term and held a 10 point lead at quarter time. They continued to hold a 10 point lead until midway through the 3rd quarter when Kane Grace said enough is enough and banged on 2 quick goals to give them the lead. At three quarter time Noosa held a 3 point lead. Noosa 3-9-27 to Maroochydore 3-6-24. The final term was a heart stopper as Noosa only managed 1 point in the final term but more importantly kept Maroochydore to only 3 points to run out 1 point winners.
That's the second week in a row they have Ben able to beat Maroochydore by 1 point. This win has also booked the boys into next weeks 2nd Semi Final.
Next week The PJ Burns Noosa Tigers have the chance to go straight into the Grand Final as they will travel to Brisbane to take on Mayne in the 2nd Semi Final. Both the Seniors and Reserves play Mayne and the winner will get direct entry to the Grand Final where the loser will have to head to the Preliminary Final. The senior game starts at 2pm and the reserves begin at 11-30am.
Last Modified on 08/12/2014 15:14