Southern Suburbs have one eye on the Bendigo Bank Cairns District Rugby League A Grade minor premiership after a convincing 40-4 win over Tully Tigers at Alley Park on Saturday night.
Suburbs have had a mixed run of form recently, with four narrow losses in their last seven games, but the seven-try victory over the Tigers has suddenly put them back in title contention, now just two points behind leaders Kangaroos.
And with just two rounds remaining and a clash with Roos in the last regular game of the season, Suburbs coach Billy Beard is remaining quietly confident his side can finish top of the ladder.
As Ive said throughout the season, it was our goal at the start of the year to finish number one, and were still in with a shout of doing that, which would be great for all our supporters, Beard said.
The other bonus of winning the minor premiership would be to have that extra week off, which will help us get over a few niggling injuries weve got at the moment.
Having said that, before we think about anything else, weve got to travel to Mossman first this weekend, and well need to turn up with the right attitude.
Suburbs were always too strong for the visiting Tully side, with Cephas Chinfat, Steve Singleton, John Whittle, Ali Henley, Stephen Sailor, Luke Saunders and Eddie Prior crossing for tries.
However, Beard still believes his side can improve as they continue to tune up for the end-of-season finals.
It was a good win, but our ball control could have been better, Beard said.
Were pretty happy with where were at though, and at this stage just want to keep our footy as simple as possible.
Leaders Roos saw their own title credentials take a hit when they suffered their biggest loss of the season, going down 62-18 to a rampant Yarrabah Seahawks side at Jilara Oval.
The Seahawks ran in 11 tries in front of their passionate fans, a win which has surged Yarrabah into fifth spot and a major chance of reaching the finals.
Oswald Fourmile was the star of the show, crossing for five tries, while Bert Harris was deadly with the boot in landing nine conversions.
Innisfail almost certainly killed off Ivanhoes finals hopes with an impressive 30-16 victory at Smithfield, a win which leaves the Leprechauns just one point outside a finals place.
Full-back Hayden Topliss scored two tries and landed a conversion in a fine individual display, while Bodean Tanner, Luke Romano, Ngarima Richardson and Josh Balderson also scored four-pointers.
Innisfail now have the bye this weekend and will hope that Yarrabah stumble against Edmonton Storm so they can leapfrog them on the ladder.
Mareeba player coach Rod Jensen continues to roll back the years, with his brace of tries helping the Gladiators cement fourth spot with a 42-22 Tablelands derby victory over bottom-of-the-table Atherton.
Meanwhile, reigning premiers Brothers remain in third spot and still with an outside chance of the minor premiership themselves after winning on forfeit against lowly Mossman-Port Douglas.
2013 Bendigo Bank A Grade ROUND 20
Saturday 3 August
Southern Suburbs 40 (Chinfat, Singleton, Whittle, Henley, Sailor, Saunders, Prior tries; Babsek 4, Nicolaou 2 goals) def Tully 4 (Costa try) at Alley Park.
Mareeba 42 (Jensen 2, Gutchen, Pedersen, Rose, Shave, Grainer, Neale tries; Lea 5 goals) def Atherton 22 (Joseph, B. Whap, Hussey, Tairua tries; Akiba 3 goals) at Davies Park.
Innisfail 30 (Topliss 2, Tanner, Romano, Richardson, Balderson tries; Biondi-Odo 2, Topliss goals) def Ivanhoes 16 (Kyle 2, Barnard tries; Doolah 2 goals) at Smithfield.
Sunday 4 August
Brothers won on forfeit against Mossman-Port Douglas.
Yarrabah 62 (O. Fourmile 5, Maloney 2, Richards, F. Murgha, C. Mossman, Harris tries; Harris 9 goals) def Kangaroos 18 (Doi, Ambrym, Brown, Allen tries; Amber goal) at Jilara Oval.
Edmonton Storm bye.
Suburbs have had a mixed run of form recently, with four narrow losses in their last seven games, but the seven-try victory over the Tigers has suddenly put them back in title contention, now just two points behind leaders Kangaroos.
And with just two rounds remaining and a clash with Roos in the last regular game of the season, Suburbs coach Billy Beard is remaining quietly confident his side can finish top of the ladder.
As Ive said throughout the season, it was our goal at the start of the year to finish number one, and were still in with a shout of doing that, which would be great for all our supporters, Beard said.
The other bonus of winning the minor premiership would be to have that extra week off, which will help us get over a few niggling injuries weve got at the moment.
Having said that, before we think about anything else, weve got to travel to Mossman first this weekend, and well need to turn up with the right attitude.
Suburbs were always too strong for the visiting Tully side, with Cephas Chinfat, Steve Singleton, John Whittle, Ali Henley, Stephen Sailor, Luke Saunders and Eddie Prior crossing for tries.
However, Beard still believes his side can improve as they continue to tune up for the end-of-season finals.
It was a good win, but our ball control could have been better, Beard said.
Were pretty happy with where were at though, and at this stage just want to keep our footy as simple as possible.
Leaders Roos saw their own title credentials take a hit when they suffered their biggest loss of the season, going down 62-18 to a rampant Yarrabah Seahawks side at Jilara Oval.
The Seahawks ran in 11 tries in front of their passionate fans, a win which has surged Yarrabah into fifth spot and a major chance of reaching the finals.
Oswald Fourmile was the star of the show, crossing for five tries, while Bert Harris was deadly with the boot in landing nine conversions.
Innisfail almost certainly killed off Ivanhoes finals hopes with an impressive 30-16 victory at Smithfield, a win which leaves the Leprechauns just one point outside a finals place.
Full-back Hayden Topliss scored two tries and landed a conversion in a fine individual display, while Bodean Tanner, Luke Romano, Ngarima Richardson and Josh Balderson also scored four-pointers.
Innisfail now have the bye this weekend and will hope that Yarrabah stumble against Edmonton Storm so they can leapfrog them on the ladder.
Mareeba player coach Rod Jensen continues to roll back the years, with his brace of tries helping the Gladiators cement fourth spot with a 42-22 Tablelands derby victory over bottom-of-the-table Atherton.
Meanwhile, reigning premiers Brothers remain in third spot and still with an outside chance of the minor premiership themselves after winning on forfeit against lowly Mossman-Port Douglas.
2013 Bendigo Bank A Grade ROUND 20
Saturday 3 August
Southern Suburbs 40 (Chinfat, Singleton, Whittle, Henley, Sailor, Saunders, Prior tries; Babsek 4, Nicolaou 2 goals) def Tully 4 (Costa try) at Alley Park.
Mareeba 42 (Jensen 2, Gutchen, Pedersen, Rose, Shave, Grainer, Neale tries; Lea 5 goals) def Atherton 22 (Joseph, B. Whap, Hussey, Tairua tries; Akiba 3 goals) at Davies Park.
Innisfail 30 (Topliss 2, Tanner, Romano, Richardson, Balderson tries; Biondi-Odo 2, Topliss goals) def Ivanhoes 16 (Kyle 2, Barnard tries; Doolah 2 goals) at Smithfield.
Sunday 4 August
Brothers won on forfeit against Mossman-Port Douglas.
Yarrabah 62 (O. Fourmile 5, Maloney 2, Richards, F. Murgha, C. Mossman, Harris tries; Harris 9 goals) def Kangaroos 18 (Doi, Ambrym, Brown, Allen tries; Amber goal) at Jilara Oval.
Edmonton Storm bye.
