EAGLES FLY ON TO NEXT ROUND
Highfields down Warwick in TRL elimination final
RUGBY LEAGUE: Highfields have taken one step closer to securing their first ever TRL Agrade title, taking a 28-14 win over Warwick at Glenholme Park yesterday.
In a fiery battle resulting in three players being sent to the sin bin, the Eagles managed to hold their nerve throughout the elimination battle, to book a clash with Dalby this Saturday.
Eagles five-eighth Sean Loxley was a key contributor, including scoring a pivotal try in the 52nd minute to stretch Highfields lead out to two converted tries soon after the break.
“That was a really good team try, everyone got to where they needed to be and it was just good football all around, and I was lucky enough to be on the end of it,” Loxley said.
He commended his players for lifting to the occasion, putting two regular season defeats to the Cowboys behind them to advance.
“It was a very physical game. You can tell since last week the level has gone up in the competition,” he said.
“It was definitely back and forth. I felt like our forwards got over the top of them which helped win us the game. If your forwards don’t perform you can’t win.
“Our completion rate (will be a focus in our next game). You’ve just got to keep completing in this competition and you’ll be very hard to beat.”
Highfields had a dream start to the match, forcing the Cowboys into an error in the opening set, before Dale Madden crossed for his first try inside
‘‘ IT WAS A VERY PHYSICAL GAME. YOU CAN TELL SINCE LAST WEEK THE LEVEL HAS GONE UP IN THE COMPETITION.
SEAN LOXLEY
three minutes.
After Warwick captain Michael Bloomfield and Loxley were binned for an altercation in the 12th minute, the Cowboys struck back through Joe Fuimaono and Josh Cruice to hold a 10-6 lead.
The Eagles struck back hard in the lead-up to the break to wrestle the momentum away from their rivals, with Nick
Bainbridge crossing from dummy half and Madden picking up his second just minutes from the break.
With the sin binning of Cruice 10 minutes into the second half for a punch, Loxley made Warwick pay after throwing the dummy to give Highfields a handy 22-10 lead.
The Cowboys once again edged closer through a piece of individual brilliance from Dave McGrady cutting the deficit to eight.
They were gifted a chance to make further inroads into the lead with under 10 to play, before opting to take a shot at penalty goal, which Bloomfield missed from in front.
Highfields officially ended Warwick’s season with five minutes to play after captain Jarrod Lee took an intercept from a scrum on their opponent’s line, rounding out the victory.
ROOSTERS THROUGH TO GRAND FINAL QUALIFIER
Valleys are one game away from a grand final berth after defeating Dalby in the qualifying semi final 32-20.
In a tight tussle for ascendency in the first half, Dexter Buchanan crossed first for Valleys, but their lead was only momentary with Zac Morris levelling things four minutes later.
Dylan Chown managed to pounce on a kick inches before crossing the dead-ball line, using his speed to get his side ahead, before Xavier Manley again responded in quick order for Dalby, barging his way over from close to the line.
Kalemb Hart gave Valleys the best possible start after powering his way through the Dalby defence four minutes into the half, and Hnaloan Budden produced a second just minutes later to put Valleys ahead 20-10.
The advantage was stretched further 58th minute after Hugh Sedger avoided a rushed defence on the line from the Diehards to change direction, and overpower three defenders to plant the ball just inside the in-goal area, before a touchline conversion from Brett Seymour pushed the lead out to 16.
A never say die attitude from the Diehards saw Corey Blades score with 18 minutes remaining, before they took full advantage of Valleys being offside at the kick-off, with Morris crossing for his second from the next set.
That would be as close as they would get, as Cory McGrady’s bullet pass to Buchanan put the front rower over for his second in the 77th minute.
Valleys now face rivals Wattles on Saturday night as they look to book a grand final spot.