The Redcliffe Dolphins kept their finals hopes alive after a tense 33-30 win over the South Logan at Dolphin Oval on Sunday.
In a clash where both sides struggled to impose themselves, it came down to a field goal and a late penalty to seal a third consecutive win for the Dolphins.
There were more than a few familiar faces in the Magpies line-up, with Zac Lemberg, Ben Falcone, Rhys Jacks and Chris Faust having spent time in the red and white.
It was fullback Falcone who threatened the Dolphins most, proving hard to pin down on kick returns and scoring two tries for the afternoon.
But it was the the Dolphins young halves pairing of Cameron Cullen and Zach Strasser, who made his return from injury, that proved the difference in the end.
Cullen threatened the line with every touch with impressive running and late offloads while Strassers kicking game and support play helped finish several Dolphins tries.
Souths opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Andrew Edwards who was allowed to burrow over close to the line.
Redcliffe hit back through some quick Chris Fox thinking, who took a quick tap close to the line to catch the Souths defense napping and find Redcliffe their first points.
A further try each before halftime had both teams heading to the sheds at 12-12.
The Dolphins came out of the sheds firing and looking to grab hold of the match, with Sarafu Fatiaki pouncing on a Magpies error to give the Dolphins their first lead of the game.
But when the Dolphins failed to find touch from a penalty the Magpies surged, scoring three tries within six minutes to blow the scoreline out to 30-18.
It was Cullen when dragged Redcliffe back in the game when he broke the line, threw two dummies before linking with Chris Fox to leave the game in the balance at 30-24.
Nick Slyney then provided the inspiration for the Phins, bursting through with a huge run before offloading to Strasser who crossed for his second try and level the scores at 30-30.
With 10 minutes remaining, Redcliffe continued to push until Liam Georgetown calmly slotted a field goal with six minutes remaining.
The result was sealed when Paul Ivan was awarded a penalty for being held in the tackle after producing a one-on-one strip from the kick-off, with Georgetown kicking a penalty goal to complete the 33-30 win.
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 33 (Zach Strasser 2, Chris Fox 2, Sarafu Fatiaki tries; Liam Georgetown 6 goals; Liam Georgetown field goal) def SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES 30 (Ben Falcone 2, Andrew Edwards 2, Travis Waddell tries; Nick Doyle 5 goals) at Dolphin Oval.
In a clash where both sides struggled to impose themselves, it came down to a field goal and a late penalty to seal a third consecutive win for the Dolphins.
There were more than a few familiar faces in the Magpies line-up, with Zac Lemberg, Ben Falcone, Rhys Jacks and Chris Faust having spent time in the red and white.
It was fullback Falcone who threatened the Dolphins most, proving hard to pin down on kick returns and scoring two tries for the afternoon.
But it was the the Dolphins young halves pairing of Cameron Cullen and Zach Strasser, who made his return from injury, that proved the difference in the end.
Cullen threatened the line with every touch with impressive running and late offloads while Strassers kicking game and support play helped finish several Dolphins tries.
Souths opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Andrew Edwards who was allowed to burrow over close to the line.
Redcliffe hit back through some quick Chris Fox thinking, who took a quick tap close to the line to catch the Souths defense napping and find Redcliffe their first points.
A further try each before halftime had both teams heading to the sheds at 12-12.
The Dolphins came out of the sheds firing and looking to grab hold of the match, with Sarafu Fatiaki pouncing on a Magpies error to give the Dolphins their first lead of the game.
But when the Dolphins failed to find touch from a penalty the Magpies surged, scoring three tries within six minutes to blow the scoreline out to 30-18.
It was Cullen when dragged Redcliffe back in the game when he broke the line, threw two dummies before linking with Chris Fox to leave the game in the balance at 30-24.
Nick Slyney then provided the inspiration for the Phins, bursting through with a huge run before offloading to Strasser who crossed for his second try and level the scores at 30-30.
With 10 minutes remaining, Redcliffe continued to push until Liam Georgetown calmly slotted a field goal with six minutes remaining.
The result was sealed when Paul Ivan was awarded a penalty for being held in the tackle after producing a one-on-one strip from the kick-off, with Georgetown kicking a penalty goal to complete the 33-30 win.
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 33 (Zach Strasser 2, Chris Fox 2, Sarafu Fatiaki tries; Liam Georgetown 6 goals; Liam Georgetown field goal) def SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES 30 (Ben Falcone 2, Andrew Edwards 2, Travis Waddell tries; Nick Doyle 5 goals) at Dolphin Oval.
