The CQU Norths Chargers booked themselves a place in the local A-Grade Grand Final, after destroying a gallant Brothers outfit 40-14 in their Preliminary Final clash at Browne Park on Saturday night.
Bolstered by the inclusion if key personnel Luke Guinane, Russell Webber and veteran outside back Dallas Williams, the Chargers played like a team possessed in the eight tries to three rout of the defending premiers.
Coach Darren Ferricks was ecstatic with the win, saying it’s a big moment for the club.
""I couldn’t be happier with how the boys have held strong throughout the year. We’ve had to overcome a lot of injuries and for a relatively young team to do this well, I’m stoked.”
“We’ve worked really hard all year to build a culture at this club and to have a team in all three grades in Preliminary finals and now a Grand Final is proof that we’re heading in the right direction.”
The game started at a frantic pace and it was the Chargers who were first to trouble the scores when centre Sam Doherty sliced through to score untouched.
But Brothers were quick to hit back and it was the determination of experienced club campaigner Sam Granville who got his side on the board, when he caught the Norths’ defence napping and crashed over from dummy-half.
Both sides showed strong resilience defending their own line after giving each other easy possession through costly turnovers and a real arm-wrestle developed for majority of the first half, before Russell Webber broke the deadlock in the 30th minute to put Norths ahead.
This appeared to break the oppositions spirit and when back-rower Ty Hetherington capitalised on a Bryan Spence line break to score, before a Dean Allen 40/20 resulted in a Brent Williams try from the quick tap-restart – the writing was on the wall.
Three tries in seven minutes after the break and the floodgates opened as the Chargers ran amok.
Doubles to five-eighth Clint Mooney and Russell Webber and a strong solo effort from back-rower Lloyd Steigler blew the Chargers lead out to 30 points.
Despite a late try to Brothers fullback Jake Ainsworth, Norths showed they're a force to be reckoned with and should prove tough resistance to Minor Premiers Yeppoon in the Grand Final.
“The times we’ve played Yeppoon this year we’ve certainly been able to match them, so hopefully the tough games we’ve played over the last three or four weeks can put us in good stead for next weekend. It should be a great game,” Ferricks said.
Preliminary Final: CQU Norths 40 def Brothers 14.
Grand Final: Yeppoon Seagulls v CQU Norths @ Browne Park on Saturday, September 13.
