Scott’s View 01/09/2009
You can start reaching for the old cliché’s and come up with a hundred good ones to describe the events that unfolded on Saturday night at Browne Park in week one of the Queensland Cup Semi Finals.
The Comets were tarred with the easy beat brush by many, only to silence the knockers in fine fashion in front of a packed house. The game would be a first for both sides with the home side and travelling Eagles in unfamiliar territory, semi finals football. You could say a win would spell the drought was over in the centre of the state, with the Comets long climb to the top finally starting to show promise. Both sides were keen to get into the grind early and possession was of utmost importance resulting with completions high in the early exchanges. The Comets were looking for some big guns to fire and it would be last year’s Competition best and fairest Nat Bowman who grabbed the bit by the teeth. Some clever lead up work by Ian Webster saw the livewire get some clean ball before stepping off his right and palming a scrambling defender off on his way to the white stripe. The try was unsuccessfully converted and the score read 4 nil after 20 minutes. From there the Eagles posted a try through the boot of Hodkinson and the scores were deadlocked. The Eagles had chances to score but to no avail and the Comets used what possession they had to score close to the break and convert. Then through another kick the visitors out jumped the Comets defenders and locked scores 5 minutes from the break. The Eagles got lucky on some calls and with a mount of possession scored again on the half time siren to lead 14 – 10.
The second half was of the highest standard and both teams tried desperately to get the upper hand. Then with the support of their home crowd the Comets scored out wide through back rower Alan ‘Kojak’’ Rothery to level proceedings. With 10 to go and numerous close calls for either side, the Comets broke out of the gate in the form of a runaway bull, big Carl Johnson split the defence on his way to the match winning try. The victory was sealed by comeback kid Nat bowman with a last minute field goal and the fairytale ride for the Comets continues to march on. With special mention usually going to a select few players this week has to go to the playing group as a whole for their attitude change and belief in each other. The win sets up a grand final qualifying showdown with the high flying Northern Pride who will look to overcome last year’s near miss against the magpies. We would like to make special mention to our Gold sponsor for 2009, PCD Steel Processing Qld’s leading Steel Processor and supplier.
