Avondale Tigers clinched the Wide Bay Australia NDRL premiership for 2013 following a gallant effort to topple the Agnes Water Marlins 34-20 at Gin Gin in front of a huge crowd.
The kicking game of Marlins five-eighth Tim McIntosh and Tigers halfback Andrew Filo was worth paying the money to see.
The big men up front led by Carman, Steemson and Watts did a great deal of work gaining metres to give their backs room to move up and around the Marlins.
Centre Corey Chapman had been playing outstanding footy in recent weeks and showcased his skills again by scoring two tries. Tiger Nathan Leather had been shifted around this season from fullback, hooker to wearing the number six which he seemed to have settled into as he played well in the biggest game of his career.
The Marlins were within reach of victory late in the second half until the Tigers scored back to back tries in quick succession to clinch their first premiership in recent years.
Credit must go to Agnes Water for making the grand final in only their second year in the NDRL competition. Marlins have some quality players in McIntosh, Noy, Lowcock , Carey and the Sykes brothers.
If they can retain their player base for next year they could be up there again.
Long serving Avondale member Burnie Johnson, who passed away in July, would have been very happy looking down over his beloved Tigers on the weekend.
The Patons Cup between Gin Gin and Miriam Vale, who were both looking very likely to be the grand final teams for 2013, was a great match to watch with big hits and plenty of tries scored between the two sides with Gin Gin running out winners 56-28.
For the Magpies, front-rower Brent Crawford was the stand out player scoring three tries and hitting the ball up every time he was asked.
Gin Gins fullback Brandon Galea scored two beautiful tries and has improved so much in his first season of league. Brandon comes from an athletics background and once he is away free from the opposition no one has been able to run him down.
Michael Laybutt has turned the Gin Gin club around in his first season and the Hawks hope he will return for the 2014 season.
The kicking game of Marlins five-eighth Tim McIntosh and Tigers halfback Andrew Filo was worth paying the money to see.
The big men up front led by Carman, Steemson and Watts did a great deal of work gaining metres to give their backs room to move up and around the Marlins.
Centre Corey Chapman had been playing outstanding footy in recent weeks and showcased his skills again by scoring two tries. Tiger Nathan Leather had been shifted around this season from fullback, hooker to wearing the number six which he seemed to have settled into as he played well in the biggest game of his career.
The Marlins were within reach of victory late in the second half until the Tigers scored back to back tries in quick succession to clinch their first premiership in recent years.
Credit must go to Agnes Water for making the grand final in only their second year in the NDRL competition. Marlins have some quality players in McIntosh, Noy, Lowcock , Carey and the Sykes brothers.
If they can retain their player base for next year they could be up there again.
Long serving Avondale member Burnie Johnson, who passed away in July, would have been very happy looking down over his beloved Tigers on the weekend.
The Patons Cup between Gin Gin and Miriam Vale, who were both looking very likely to be the grand final teams for 2013, was a great match to watch with big hits and plenty of tries scored between the two sides with Gin Gin running out winners 56-28.
For the Magpies, front-rower Brent Crawford was the stand out player scoring three tries and hitting the ball up every time he was asked.
Gin Gins fullback Brandon Galea scored two beautiful tries and has improved so much in his first season of league. Brandon comes from an athletics background and once he is away free from the opposition no one has been able to run him down.
Michael Laybutt has turned the Gin Gin club around in his first season and the Hawks hope he will return for the 2014 season.
