Defending BRL premiers the Ipswich Jets kept their finals dream alive with a 16-12 win over the minor premiers the Wynnum Manly Redland City Seagulls this weekend.
With a storm delay and muddy conditions, it was going to be a tough day for both sides and while it was not the ideal field for finals footy; the conditions suited the Jets.
“We still played to our style of footy and said to the boys that when you are about to be tackled just hold the ball tighter,” Jets coach Mark Bishop said.
The first half was dominated by the Seagulls who got out to a 12-4 lead.
With 40 minutes of footy still remaining, it was anybody’s game in the second half.
“We could not get any ball, they just got set after set. We would either drop the ball or give away a penalty,” Bishop said.
“But the boys stuck it out and we had an idea they would charge through the middle and the boys just dug in and took their opportunities when they came.”
Down by eight points, it was the Jets who needed a good start to the second half and that’s exactly what they got; with Lachlan Roe going over to close the gap.
“This has been just his third game since the rep game (XXXX Queensland Rangers) and he had been really good for us.” Bishop said.
“He has been finding form and match fitness, he is a big unit but finals footy agrees with him.”
The Jets scored once more to take the lead for the first time in this game and with a late penalty, they were just a try ahead and they needed to defend well to hold off the Seagulls.
With Bishop always focusing on his side playing for the full 80 minutes and defending well, they were able to hold the Seagulls out for the whole second half and take victory.
“They did play the full 80 minutes,” Bishop said.
"They did have little lapses where the Seagulls would score off a kick, but they stuck it out.
“You have to play the whole time and when the opportunity comes you have to take it whether it is in the second minute or the 79th minute.
“We have to play how we play and get what we are after.”
The Seagulls took out the minor premiership and had a great season, and they were unfortunate and had two losses to very good sides.
The Jets will take on the Redcliffe Dolphins in the grand final on Saturday at Bishop Park.
Kick-off will be at 3.30pm following the completion of three SEQ Women’s finals.
