Falcons face challenge to clinch a finals berth
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In this final round of the Cyril Connell Cup and Mal Meninga competitions – the finals make-up of all but one of the divisions looks decided, with the Sunshine Coast needing a big effort this weekend to reach the Under 18 play-offs.
The Falcons are currently third in Pool B of the Mal Meninga Cup on eight points behind Townsville (12 points) and the Central Queensland Capras (10 points) and will need to win handsomely against the Stingers this weekend to make up the points differential (Capras are +92, while the Falcons are +46) if they are to progress.
While the Under 18 Falcons face an uphill battle to reach the finals, for their Cyril Connell Cup side, a top two finish is assured. It is only the final order to be decided, with the Falcons (second in Pool B with 12 points) to face the Stingers (first in Pool B also with 12 points) this Saturday to see who will finish the regular season as the top-ranked side.
Both teams have gone undefeated so far, so this game is shaping up to be a truly enticing match-up in Townsville.
In Pool A – the two stand-out sides have been Gold Coast White and the Souths Logan Magpies. Both teams are also undefeated and will be making sure they put their best foot forward this weekend against their final round opponents to make sure they take crucial winning momentum into the play-offs.
The Gold Coast side will host the Redcliffe Dolphins who posted their first win last weekend with a 28-10 result over Wynnum Manly, while the Magpies will play a Friday night game at home against the Jets.
In the Mal Meninga Cup, the second-placed Norths Devils have the bye this weekend, with the two points granting them guaranteed entry into this year’s finals – while the ladder-leading Easts Tigers will make the long road trip down to Casey Fields, Cranbourne to play the Victorian Rugby League.
It is a tough end to the season for the southerners, who hosted the Norths Devils last weekend and went down 60-8. Logan Spaander crossed for four tries for the Devils, giving him a total of five so far this season, while Melbourne Taupua’s four-pointer for the home side was his fourth for the season, which sees him topping the try count for the Victorian side.
