Captain-coach Simon Belston says Southport Labrador ‘can beat anyone’ after booking finals spot

SOUTHPORT Labrador captain-coach Simon Belston believes the Kookaburra Cup’s best four teams will square off in the semi finals, but is adamant the Tigers can “go on and beat anyone put in front of us”.

SOUTHPORT Labrador captain-coach Simon Belston believes the Kookaburra Cup’s best four teams will square off in the semi finals, but is adamant the Tigers can “go on and beat anyone put in front of us”.

Precariously poised at 7-115 chasing Coomera Hope Island’s 138, fourth-placed Southport received a helping hand from the rain gods on Saturday as play was washed out at Morrie Glasman Oval.

With Palm Beach Currumbin and Mudgeeraba Nerang snapping at their heels for a finals spot, the washout handed the Tigers victory based on the runs percentage rule and left the chasing pack needing to register outright wins – a mountain that proved too difficult to climb.

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Alberton Ormeau’s (129) defeat of Burleigh (122) in the battle for the minor premiership means Southport will now make the trip to Trevor Hammel Field on Saturday and Sunday, while the Bullsharks will host Broadbeach Robina in the other semi.

While a relieved Belston said the table didn’t lie, he had full faith the Tigers could mount a premiership assault.

Southport Labrador’s Simon Belston. Picture: Richard Gosling

“We’re ready for finals. I really do feel that to have blokes like Nic Peterson, Wade Kilborn and Paul Johnston, we’re good enough to go on and win a premiership,” Belston said.

“I reckon you’ve got the best four sides in the comp at one, two, three, four. Burleigh are a strong side, Alberton are a very good side and Broadbeach are a very dangerous side as well.

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“If you asked me at the start of the year if Southport would be playing finals we’d have took it. We’re looking forward to (playing Alberton), its’ going to be a hard-fought game and we wouldn’t expect anything different. “Alberton is usually a really good deck up there so we don’t mind travelling. We can go on and beat anyone put in front of us.

“I’m sure any of the four captains would say the same. I feel I’ve got two or three of the best players in the comp in my side, we just needed to be playing finals and now we’re in there.”

ROUND 18 SCOREBOARD

■ Coomera Hope Island 138 def. by Southport Labrador 7-115 (win on percentages)

■ Alberton Ormeau 129 def. Burleigh 122

■ Queens 118 def. Broadbeach Robina 68

■ Helensvale Pacific Pines 160 drew with Mudgeeraba Nerang 4-22

■ Runaway Bay 174, 0-38 def. by Palm Beach Currumbin 6-175 declared

FINAL LADDER

Alberton Ormeau 81

Burleigh 80

Broadbeach Robina 67

Southport Labrador 64

Palm Beach Currumbin 63

Queens 58

Mudgeeraba Nerang 57

Helensvale Pacific Pines 49

Coomera Hope Island 42

Runaway Bay 42

Surfers Paradise 39