Meninga Cup semi-final Plays of the Day
Meninga Cup finals’ fever: A Cowboys signing was sensational as the Cup’s semi-finals saw two Coast teams qualify for the grand final. Read about the key moments, players of the day from both games.
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Tweed Seagulls fullback Mason Barber produced a sensational second half performance to turn a close match into a compelling 42-14 win, booking the team a grand final berth against Burleigh Bears.
Tweed turned a 10-nil deficit into a spanking win, while the Bears dismantled Redcliffe to win 42-10.
TEAMS OF THE SEASON
CONNELL CUP TEAM OF THE SEASON
HARVEY 19s TEAMS OF THE SEASON HERE
HARVEY 17s TEAM OF THE SEASON HERE
Signed by the Cowboys, Barber, the Keebra Park SHS product, was elite on his way to scoring or creating three long distance tries in the second half.
His final play of the match, extending his arm to gather in a chip kick and then having his long legs kick him away from the defence, was reminiscent of former Canberra Raiders champion Brett Mullins.
The season slid quickly away from Ipswich who were much better than the 28 point margin, and Jets supporters should still doff their caps to the side after a whole hearted effort.
The Burleigh Bears produced a sensational up-tempo performance to unseat Redcliffe in dramatic fashion, with speed through the ruck, energy, pace and slick passing too much for the Dolphins to handle.
Five-eight Bailey McConnell was outstanding, but he had a lot of mates who shone including No.13 Cooper Bai, his dangerous edge forwards and both Creedence Kelly Donovan and Klay Tancred who had roving commissions.
Redcliffe, the benchmark side for two seasons, were just ambushed. Like Ipswich, the season quickly moved out of reach in the second half but the Dolphins squad should be given credit for the standard of play across the home-and-away season.
But the better side won and deservedly won well today.
TWEED v IPSWICH
PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Nicholas Tuliatu and Kanaan Magele (both Ipswich), Zac Kumbamong and Jack Schmidt (both Tweed)
Ipswich props Tuliatu and Magele ran the first quarter of the match, but Tweed prop Kumbamong and later Schmidt finished the game as if they were running down hill. All four were very good.
Mason Barber (Tweed)
The Cowboys have an exciting prospect here in fullback Barber. He was electric in the second half as Tweed Seagulls gained more momentum around the ruck and halfback Zane Harrison started taking advantage of weary defenders around the ruck.
Barber scored one long distance try, created another from his side of halfway and then regathered a chip kick to become the middle man in a sensational 80m try by Tweed to finish the game.
Barber also saved a try with a classic covering tackle.
THE TURNING POINT
Tweed’s late flurry of first half possession
Ipswich had shaded Tweed Seagulls for the first 20 minutes of the match courtesy of robust props Nicholas Tuliatu and Kanaan Magele, along with lock Lyncoln Cliffe laying the foundations.
Tuliatu and Magele were the best two players on the field early on.
Ipswich led 10-nil and were making all the running when a dropped ball and a couple of penalties altered the momentum of the match.
The feast of possession fatigued Ipswich who conceded close to their line when Zac Kumbamong thumped over from close range, and then as halftime loomed a left side raid saw quality left edge forward Jac Finigan score. All of a sudden Ipswich went from leading to trailing 12-10 at the break.
KEY PLAYERS OF THE FINALS HERE
PLAYS OF THE DAY
Three sensational covering tackles
Ipswich captain Lachlan Stuart pulled off a classical cover defending tackle on runaway Tweed winger Bailey Simpson in the first half. It was like past champions Ron Coote, Norm Carr and Steve Mortimer all rolled into one.
The other splendid try saving tackle from behind came from Tweed fullback Mason Barber who used his pace to run down a try bound Ipswich hooker Nathan Fraser.
But did the best of the day come last when Jack Hudson dived late to prevent elite Ipswich winger Junior Saifiti from crossing? We think so.
Zane Harrison magic
There is no better player in a big game than Harrison, and the champion PBC SHS and Tweed Seagulls halfback came to the party with his creation of a try two minutes into the second half.
With a showing of the ball, a half dummy and a jink he poked his nose through the line and offered a pass which Jake Lateo accepted to score. That made it 18-10.
IPSWICH JETS, MACKAY CUTTERS SEMI-FINALS PICTURE GALLERY
MENINGA CUP’S MOST IMPROVED PLAYERS HERE
And Mason Barber magic x three
Three times elite fullback Mason Barber struck in the second half to blow the game open and deliver his team certain victory.
Firstly, off the back of a half break and momentum generated by towering Tweed centre Sam Stephenson, long striding fullback Barber stuck.
It took him two-thirds of the game to impact with his running, but Barber made the wait worth it with a blazing run down the middle to put Ryder Williams over.
Then, about six minutes later, Barber took a pass one off the ruck and threaded through the Ipswich ruck defence, producing a brilliant 55m solo try.
And finally he regathered a chip kick to put a teammate over. Wow, what a performance.
Zac Kumbamong’s tackle
One of the tackles of the day came from the big prop who answered the challenge thrown at him by the Ipswich middle with his own impact. It was Zac Kumbamong’s big tackle which stripped Ipswich of possession and gave Tweed attacking ball which they used to extend the lead to 28-14. It was a big moment.
The ricochet that mattered
A grubber kick from Ipswich five-eight Keaton Stutt rebounded favourably for Ipswich, with Roosters-bound centre Amaziah Murgha swooping to get his side close to Tweed again trailing 18-14.
REDCLIFFE v BEARS
PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Cooper Bai and Jett Bryce (Bears)
Burleigh based its game around enthusiasm, energy and effort with and without the ball and these two back rowers were model citizens.
Bai stood out like a lighthouse with his green headgear, but he could have worn an invisible cloak and still stood out, while Bryce was all energy.
Hayden Watson and Klay Tancred (Bears)
The Bears dummy halves had long stints on the field together, with Tancred’s running game, quick feet, slick hands and energy giving the Burleigh side more speed.
The Melbourne Storm-signed Watson has been a revelation since coming up from the Connell Cup under-17s to play in the under-19 competition.
Bailey McConnell (Bears)
McConnell is finishing the season in style and his performance as the running halve and organiser is outstanding. He was a leader on the prowl, looking left and right to pass while also having the ability to run.
Amare Milford (Bears)
While he didn’t crash through, he took some holding and his presence on the left would have sucked some attention away to what Burleigh was forming on the right hand side of the field.
Creedence Kelly Donovan (Bears)
He wore No.5 but he roved like a drover’s dog after the Bears lost starting fullback Ray Puru. Donocan was on the left, the right and everywhere in between - even racing to dummy half. He contributed to the speed in which Burleigh played at.
TURNING POINT
We’d suggest the turning point was hatched at training during the week, when Burleigh players brought into playing the match with high energy, intensity, ball movement and speed.
Tactically everyone while eyes were on how Redcliffe defended the Bears left side attack of McConnell, Amare Milford and Phillip Coates, but it was Burleigh’s right edge featuring Jett Bryce, Sunny Kama and Disharne Tonihi and the roving Creedence Donovan which was just as potent.
To have such thrust on both sides of the ruck really stretched the Dolphins defence.
PLAYS OF THE DAY
Phillip Coates’ chase
Coates scored a sensational try which came about from effort. He chased a Coby Black bomb which landed in no man’s land, and although he could not reach it on the full, he still attacked the ball and managed to get his foot to it, creating a chance to score a sensational try.
Ray Puru’s flick pass
Bears fullback Puru produced a magical flick pass to deceive the Redcliffe defence and pick up his winger Creedence Kelly Donovan who was angling his way back toward the corner post. Creedence Kelly Donovan scored courtesy of Puru’s pass.
Klay Tancred (Bears)
The Bears utility livened up his team’s attack with his run and passing, but it was his tackle on Redcliffe’s forward battleship Elijah Rasmussen when deflected the Dolphins. At the time Redcliffe were down 24-6 and on the attack when Tancred forced a turnover.
Originally published as Meninga Cup semi-final Plays of the Day
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