Mark Planamente
NormWeekend Wrap - Then There Were Four
September 17th 2006 13:32
With another weekend of sporting action out of the way, the talk around is on the AFL and NRL finals, and how they are unfolding to be one of the tightest fought contests around.
In the NRL both St. George and Brisbane earned their place in the preliminary finals in spectacular fashion. The Dragons, with star player Mark Gasnier out due to injury, was able to soundly beat the Manly Sea Eagles 28-0. The match looked to be to very low scoring game, with either side unable to score for the first twenty minutes. However the Dragons were able to score a try and penalty in the first half to go into the break 8-0. It was in the second half however where the team really showed their style and flair, as they were able to score four answered tries. Whilst Manly valiantly tried to keep up a defensive structure against the Dragons, they were simply overwhelmed, and as two tries were scored at the 64th and 67th minute respectively to get the game out of touch for the Sea Eagles, all they could do was to watch their time left in the season slowly tick down.
Brisbane also were able to show their strength in the league, not to mention enforcing themselves as still a premiership favourite, absolutely pummelling the Newcastle Knights 50-6. The Knights, who lost both hooker Danny Buderus and back-rower Steve Simpson throughout the week, were simply overwhelmed by the Broncos attack, and even before the break looked to be out of contention, going in at halftime down 24-0. In the second half the Broncos did not stop their fury, and if it wasn’t for a consolation try by Knight’s Kurt Gidley late in the match the Broncos would have gone into their preliminary final recording the highest-ever finals win.
With the Grand Final only two matches away, all rugby eyes will be on next week’s preliminary action. The Broncos, who won their first finals match since 2001, will now go into their match with confidence against the Bulldogs, whilst the Dragons, who will have Gasnier back from injury, will try and find a winning formula against the minor premiers Melbourne Storm.
In the AFL the two Western Australian sides were able to earn another victory to get one step closer to the MCG on September 30. The West Coast Eagles went up against the only Victorian team to beat them at Subiaco this year, the Western Bulldogs, made certain that their premiership hopes stayed alive. Whilst the Bulldogs were able to stay in touch with the minor premiers throughout the first quarter, going into the first break only five points down, from there it was only ever the Eagles show. Kicking twelve goals to two for the remainder of the match, West Coast ensured that any talk that they have lost their touch were quickly dismissed, running away victors by 74 points, scoring 16.17 (113) to 5.9 (39).
In the other elimination final played, the Fremantle Dockers won their first finals match in their 12 year history, winning by 28 points against the Melbourne Demons. The game was tight throughout the majority of the match, with the lead changing constantly throughout all four quarters, but it was a last minute push by the Dockers and goals by their stars Carr, Pavlich, and Headland that was able to give them their historic win, finishing up 14.18 (102) to Melbourne’s 11.8 (74). Next week, the Dockers will travel to Sydney to take on the premiership favourites, the Swans, whilst the Eagles face up against their current foe, the Adelaide Crows, to earn a spot in their second consecutive Grand Final.
In the A-League Melbourne have once again found the top of the table, earning a hard fought out win against Central Coast, inching a second half goal across to win 1-0. Queensland have also come out firing this round, absolutely dominating against the New Zealand Knights in the second half 5-0. In other games, Adelaide comfortably defeated the struggling Perth Glory 3-0, whilst the Newcastle Jets were able to narrowly escape with the draw against Sydney, scoring in the extra time of the first half and in the 62nd minute to tie 2-2.
Until next time, sports minds.
In the NRL both St. George and Brisbane earned their place in the preliminary finals in spectacular fashion. The Dragons, with star player Mark Gasnier out due to injury, was able to soundly beat the Manly Sea Eagles 28-0. The match looked to be to very low scoring game, with either side unable to score for the first twenty minutes. However the Dragons were able to score a try and penalty in the first half to go into the break 8-0. It was in the second half however where the team really showed their style and flair, as they were able to score four answered tries. Whilst Manly valiantly tried to keep up a defensive structure against the Dragons, they were simply overwhelmed, and as two tries were scored at the 64th and 67th minute respectively to get the game out of touch for the Sea Eagles, all they could do was to watch their time left in the season slowly tick down.
With the Grand Final only two matches away, all rugby eyes will be on next week’s preliminary action. The Broncos, who won their first finals match since 2001, will now go into their match with confidence against the Bulldogs, whilst the Dragons, who will have Gasnier back from injury, will try and find a winning formula against the minor premiers Melbourne Storm.
In the AFL the two Western Australian sides were able to earn another victory to get one step closer to the MCG on September 30. The West Coast Eagles went up against the only Victorian team to beat them at Subiaco this year, the Western Bulldogs, made certain that their premiership hopes stayed alive. Whilst the Bulldogs were able to stay in touch with the minor premiers throughout the first quarter, going into the first break only five points down, from there it was only ever the Eagles show. Kicking twelve goals to two for the remainder of the match, West Coast ensured that any talk that they have lost their touch were quickly dismissed, running away victors by 74 points, scoring 16.17 (113) to 5.9 (39).
In the other elimination final played, the Fremantle Dockers won their first finals match in their 12 year history, winning by 28 points against the Melbourne Demons. The game was tight throughout the majority of the match, with the lead changing constantly throughout all four quarters, but it was a last minute push by the Dockers and goals by their stars Carr, Pavlich, and Headland that was able to give them their historic win, finishing up 14.18 (102) to Melbourne’s 11.8 (74). Next week, the Dockers will travel to Sydney to take on the premiership favourites, the Swans, whilst the Eagles face up against their current foe, the Adelaide Crows, to earn a spot in their second consecutive Grand Final.
In the A-League Melbourne have once again found the top of the table, earning a hard fought out win against Central Coast, inching a second half goal across to win 1-0. Queensland have also come out firing this round, absolutely dominating against the New Zealand Knights in the second half 5-0. In other games, Adelaide comfortably defeated the struggling Perth Glory 3-0, whilst the Newcastle Jets were able to narrowly escape with the draw against Sydney, scoring in the extra time of the first half and in the 62nd minute to tie 2-2.
Until next time, sports minds.
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