Norths Tigers claimed the last spot in the Ipswich Rugby League Whitehead Studios Reserve Grade Cup finals with a 42-10 win over West End Bulldogs on Friday.
After Norths and West End finished on equal competition points in reserve grade a playoff was needed to decide the last team into the finals.
After the Tigers and Bulldogs drew 28-all last week a tight game was expected this week between the same two teams in the wet conditions at Briggs Road.
But Norths launched into the game while West End struggled to keep up.
Norths took only two sets with the ball before they took a 6-nil lead after a try to front rower Jonathon Filiga-Kapsin.
The Tigers forwards were thriving in the wet conditions helping Norths into a comfortable lead.
The Tigers took an 18-nil lead by the 16th minute after tries to Nathan Teaonui and Jake Hooper.
The vocal Briggs Road crowd was brought to its feet soon after when Norths player Wade Seden got the ball on his own try-line, stepped like lightning around multiple Bulldogs defenders before racing the length of the field to score a spectacular try.
Norths ball handling was incredible given the wet conditions and everything seemed to be going right for them.
Things got harder for the Bulldogs when Leolaga Lemalu scored two tries for the Tigers in the final 10-minutes of the first half to give Norths a 36-0 halftime lead.
The second-half got off to a slow start but in the 51st minute the Bulldogs finally scored a try when Hal Oram scored from a West End backline play.
Tries to Norths’ Garry Cobbo and West End’s Benson Manutulila took the final score to 42-10 in favour of Norths.
Norths’ win progresses them to next week’s Ipswich Rugby League Whitehead Studios Reserve Grade Cup semi-final against Swifts at North Ipswich Reserve.
Next week will also see the beginning of the Ipswich Rugby League Mayor Paul Pisasale A-Grade Cup finals which will see Brothers and Norths playoff on Sunday for a spot in the Grand Final and Goodna and Fassifern clash on Saturday in an elimination final.
All finals will be played at North Ipswich Reserve.
