2007 POWERADE ISOTONIC SEQTL SEMI-FINAL SERIES SIZZLES
The PowerAde Isotonic South East Queensland Touch League (SEQTL) kicked off its highly anticipated Finals series with a raft of closely contested games at the Brisbane Metropolitan Touch Association’s Whites Hill complex on Friday 31 August 2007.
Some of the biggest names in the game and a plethora of up and coming young guns stepped up to the plate in the Men’s and Women’s Open divisions to produce high quality performances that smacked of big game intensity, desperation, and determination.
Teams across all divisions were pulling out all stops to book themselves a spot in the decider or keep their dream alive for another week for “that one day in September”.
In the PowerAde Isotonic SEQTL Men’s Open Division, 2006 Grand Finalists Country Club United (CCU) have advanced first into the Grand Final on Saturday 15 September 2007 with a grafting 2-1 Major Semi-final victory over Colts.
There were sore “guns” all round, as the game developed into an old fashion arm-wrestle that would have had the Christmas Grinch in raptures, so miserly were the teams in gifting each other opportunities.
After slugging it out in the opening exchanges, CCU found the chink in the Colt’s armour with 2007 Australian Mixed Open World Cup star Jarrod Tump busting the line from close range to link with Luke “Pen” Feldman for 1-0 lead.
Colts tried desperately to mount pressure and got the equalizer against the run of play.
The dangerous Brett Hughes snared an intercept and outpaced the CCU defence to lock the game up at 1-1.
The game ebbed and flowed for the rest of the half without the scoreboard attendants needing to get off the lilo and the two combatants went to the break at 1-1.
In the break, both teams had battened down the hatches for a second half slugfest that lasted the majority of the second stanza.
The cool head of Jarrod Tump prevailed for the CCU boys, with the Club legend weighing in when it was most needed.
Tump worked a close to the scoreline play with 2007 Lebanon Men’s Open World Cup player Sebe Rey who got outside his defender to snare the touchdown and a 2-1 lead.
CCU repelled all of Colts desperate attempts to even up the contest in the final minutes of the game and advanced to the 2007 Grand Final off the back of their ability to dig in and play error free structured touch football when it mattered most.
CCU were best served by the experienced Jarrod Tump, young gun Michael Baartz who has had an outstanding season, and the steady Luke “Chucksy” Parker who provided a great platform for the victory.
Colts tried valiantly and although blunted by the bustling CCU blueprint, will be better for the grinding game as they regroup for Friday’s showdown with the Southern Storm in the Preliminary Final.
Brett Hughes who has been in sensational form all season was Colts best player along with 2006 Queensland Mixed Open hero Troy Clark.
In the PowerAde Isotonic SEQTL Men’s Open Minor semi-final at 7.20pm on Field One Southern Storm and defending champions Dodgers produced a typically free-flowing game that was always going to bring the crowds through the turnstiles with a galaxy of stars lining up on either side of the half way line for a game worthy of a Grand Final.
Southern Storm prevailed 7-6 in a thrilling drop-off over a gallant Dodgers team who never gave in.
The expansive nature of both teams saw the entertainers of the competition trade touchdowns from the opening whistle, with Storm going into half time with a slender 3-2 margin.
Storm, led by fleet of foot 2007 Australian Men’s Open World Cup match winner Drummayne Dayberg-Muir, skipped out to lead by two touchdowns at various points in the second stanza.
The Dodgers boys however were not deterred and hung in gamely, pegging back the deficit steadily through the second half, until their own king pin 2007 Australian Men’s Open World Cup champion Nathan Jones put the two sides back on level terms at 5-5 on the stroke of full time with a trademark slide over touchdown that the Ballina boy registered the patent for.
In the drop-off both sides trades set completions without joy, before that man Dayberg Muir produced an audacious money play to seal the Storm boys a berth in next week’s Preliminary Final.
The old “game of inches” adage was no better exemplified then in the crunch play in the drop off.
Dodgers were hot on attack pressing the Storm line and chanced their arm through a Nathan Jones long ball.
Dayberg-Muir, doing a fair impression of his good mate and NRL superstar Benji Mashall by defending on the wing, backed his considerable instincts and plucked the ball out of the air to race the length of the field and wrap up the win for his relieved teammates.
Jones, whole hearted, and his team’s best and most consistent performer in season ’07, was a disconsolate figure post match, but despite marking himself harshly for the intercept, did everything in his power to drag his team over the line and proved why he is in the top echelon of players in the nation.
Only the out and out brilliance of arguably the World’s most influential player, Dayberg Muir killed the Dodgers dream of back-to-back Premierships in 2007.
Storm, after fielding only 8 players in this season defining game, produced an impressive performance that will give them great confidence going into the Preliminary final.
The Southside boys were without New South Wales and Australian Men’s Open star Jason “The Postman” Stanton, Chris “Kiwi” Lukins, and Graeme Clancy who will all be on deck this week for the battle with Colts in the Knock-out final.
In PowerAde Isotonic Women’s Open SEQTL action, Premiers University Rebels bid for the three-peat is on track after they completed a 3-1 victory over Dodgers in the 7.20pm Major Semi-Final on Field seven.
The game was an end-to-end arm wrestle that had periods of bright attack mixed with poor ball control from both teams.
Uni-Rebels grabbed the early ascendancy courtesy of a Teena Mc Ilveen long ball that found the winger for a 1-0 lead.
Dodgers dug in well and had the Rebels defence on the backfoot with concerted driving before Amy Turner crossed to bring the scores back on level terms at 1-1.
The Uni-Rebels team came out in the second stanza determined to mount pressure on the Dodgers driving game through committed kill defence and a desire to pick up their own intensity in attack.
The attitude adjustment paid immediate dividends with Rebels cashing in on a slashing break from acting half from impressive Australian Women’s 20s Youth Squad member Jess Shaw who set up the touchdown to cement a 2-1 advantage.
Rebels game clicked into high gear and they quickly nailed back-to-back touchdowns through a great team passing movement that took them out to a 3-1 lead.
Dodgers tried hard to get back into the game but the resolute Rebels defence controlled the tempo of the game when it mattered most.
Dodgers Kiwi International Anita Kerrigan, 2006 Queensland Mixed Open player Nicola Slade, and Sharon Cassell were best for Dodgers who will now regroup for Friday night’s Preliminary Final with Colts.
Uni-Rebels were led around the park well by the mercurial Teena Mc Ilveen, and the Rebels engine room of Missy and Jess Shaw, and Australian 20 Years Women’s Youth squad member Alyce “Rattis” Hulbert.
In the 7.20 pm PowerAde Isotonic SEQTL Women’s Open Minor Semi-final on Field 1, Southern Storm and Colts produced a fantastic high octane quality contest that ended with a 3-2 verdict to perennial bridesmaids Colts after a tense drop-off.
Colts went to the break 2-1up courtesy of touchdowns to Eli Breinl and big game specialist Lauren Potter.
Storm came out more determined in the second half and settled in to play some quality touch through the inspirational efforts of Emily and Sam Hopkin and young gun Emilee Cherry who was making a comeback after a foot injury had sidelined her for the last month.
Storm steadied and clawed back to 2-2 with 3 minutes left on the clock.
The full time siren sounded with teams deadlocked and the expectant crowd strapped themselves in for a dramatic drop off that went down to 3 on 3 for what seemed like an eternity.
Both teams came close to scoring numerous times in the drop-off with several calls raising a few eyebrows amongst rival supporters who were desperate to obtain some joy from the referee and see the contest go their way.
Eventually Lauren Potter dug deepest and provided the big play, accelerating from acting half before finding Australian 18 Years Girls flyer Savannah Pratten supporting to score the match winner that gave Colts a safe passage through to the Preliminary Final this Friday night.
Emily and Sam Hopkin and Kristy Brennan played their hearts out for Storm; whilst Colts Australian Women’s Open World Cup star Peta Rogerson, and youngster Savannah Pratten were outstanding in a gutsy team effort from the Colts girls.
Friday night’s PowerAde Isotonic SEQTL Preliminary Finals pit Dodgers against Colts at 7.30pm on Field 1 in the Women’s Open division, whilst Colts face up to the Southern Storm in the 8.30pm Men’s Open game on Field 1.
Preliminary Finals will continue in Men’s and Women’s Division 2 and 3 A/B with first games commencing at 6.30pm.
Be sure to book early to secure your preliminary final seats, tickets are going fast for what promises to be a feast of Finals action as the PowerAde Isotonic SEQTL reaches the pointy end of the season.
For draws, results, and information please visit the Brisbane Metropolitan Touch Association web site at: www.bmta.com.au
