Devils one step closer

GYMPIE Devils reserve grade rugby league side is one game away from making the grand final - and Gympie football history .

ON FIRE: Gympie Devils player Tom Murray scored two tries for reserve grade on the weekend. Picture: Craig Warhurst / Gympie Times

GYMPIE Devils reserve grade rugby league side is one game away from making the grand final - and Gympie football history .

The Devils won their knock-out semi final against Bribie Island at Maroochydore 52-16 on Sunday and, if they can keep their good form going against Caboolture next weekend, they would be the first Gympie Devils senior side to feature in a grand final.

Devils reserve grade captain Lee Mason was excited at the prospect of making the final after the side's demolition of Bribie Island.

“We have the strongest reserve grade side I can remember,” he said.

“The Devils have a lot of depth this year,” he said.

Mason said the forwards led the way for the Devils against Bribie with Eli McBride and Riley McDowell putting some much needed aggression into the pack.

Tom Murray, the 17-year-old lock forward, also impressed Mason when he came on to the field from the bench.

“He came on and made an impact, scoring two tries including one 50-metre special from the base of a scrum,” Mason said.

“Our defence was good; we were hitting pretty hard,” he said.

The captain said the best part of the performance was the team's control of the football in the first half.

“We only made one or two errors in the first half, our completion rate was up around 75 per cent.

“That's pretty good for a reserve grade side,” he said.

The Devils led 24-4 at half time and piled on another 28 points in the second half to give their attack plenty of confidence for the do-or-die game next weekend.

Full back Michael Dodt's 75-metre intercept try was a highlight of the game, but Mason said everyone pulled together for the win.

“It was a good team effort,” he said.

The Devils have won and lost against Caboolture this season.

They lost their first game away in Caboolture, but beat them well at home on Jack Stokes Oval.

“If we play like we did on the weekend we will have a good chance of making the final,” Mason said

“There is no reason we can't win.”

Try scorers for Devils reserve grade were: Tom Murray 2, Lee Mason, Michael Dodt, Daniel Hawkins, Mac Temple, Sula Talimalie, Andy Dow and Ian Naylor.

Originally published as Devils one step closer