In the tightest competition men’s premier league players have seen in years, Quolls scraped through with a one-point win to claim the minor premiership on Tuesday.
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A Quolls loss would have propelled Advanced Communications Cobras to top-spot, but the Quolls shored-up the result early in the second half, establishing a four-point gap that Katana Security Wizards did not bridge, despite a strong finish.
On the final buzzer the score was 8-7, and a full-strength Quolls squad celebrated an achievement three years in the making.
While most teams pack the middle with their best players, Quolls had two of their best on the wings, James Hodges and Edward Ansell, scoring four of eight tries off long balls.
Hodges orchestrated the play of the day, diving to catch a long ball that nearly hit the ground and scoring on the same motion.
Quolls mids Cade Price, Callum Price and Jordan Little outpaced Wizards; likely targets for rival teams in the finals series.
Best: Jack Flood (Quolls, 3), John Downes (Wizards, 2), Little (Quolls, 1).
Meanwhile, in the concurrent game, Cobras defeated a persistent MJR Electrics’ squad 8-6.
Best: Andrew Baggio (Cobras, 3), Brocke Argus (Electrics, 2), Cameron Breust (Cobras, 1).
Teams have a general bye next week, then play finals on March 14 when Quolls face-off with defending premiers, Cobras, for a spot in the grand final and Electrics face Wizards in a do or die match.
In the women’s premier league, AKW Jets bagged the minor premiership weeks ago, and fought hard to defeat Bar Up Bullbars on Tuesday.
With only five players in the first half, Bullbars outsmarted Jets’ defence to score three tries, by switching, keeping the ball hot, stepping and driving forward.
Jets, outnumbering Bullbars, exploited the wings to score five tries in the first half, under orders from coach Kevin Salmon.
“Don’t overthink it, against five, the winger should score all day,” he said early in the game.
Bullbars recruited at half-time, adding Amanda Gooden and Fiona Pinney to the line-up, and matched Jets’ score in the second half, finishing down 8-6.
Best: Claudia Obst (Jets, 3), Abbey Corbett (Jets, 2), Vienna Randal (Jets, 1).
Meanwhile, Young Guns ended a strong preliminary season on a high, defeating KFK 8-0.
Tuckies, who had the bye, finished second, and will play Jets in the major semi-final, while Bullbars play Young Guns in the elimination final.
