JOLTING TITLE BID
PALM Beach Currumbin’s QAFL premiership defence has received its greatest boost yet, with the side overcoming a raft of injuries to beat Broadbeach on Saturday.
The Lions made five changes to their Round 6 side who produced a first-quarter clinic before going on to beat the Cats 11.17 (83) to 8.13 (61) at Subaru Oval.
The reigning premiers move to 5-0 and remain on track for back-to-back flags.
“We had a lot of players out so it was a good win and a good test of our depth,” Palm Beach Currumbin coach Chad Owens said.
“We put them away in the opening term. We should have been up by more at quarter time but we didn’t take all the opportunities we had from our ball dominance.”
A five-goal opening term had Palm Beach Currumbin leading by 24-points going in to the first break and the margin hardly shifted through each quarter.
Ruckman Jed Turner, who
came back from NEAFL side Southport for the game, gave Palm Beach Currumbin first use of the football and their work through the midfield gave them the momentum going forward.
“They didn’t have an answer for Jack Anthony (two goals) and Jarryd Douglas (one). They didn’t kick a lot of goals but they set up a lot.
“They didn’t lose contests and got the ball to ground for blokes like Brock Askey and Nathan Robertson.”
Palm Beach Currumbin went down to two on the bench by three-quarter time in the win after injuries to Robertson (concussion) and Callum Mcburnie (ankle).
“Callum actually hurt his ankle in the first quarter but managed to stay out there which was good,” Owens said.
Palm Beach Currumbin are on top of the ladder while Gold Coast sides make up three of the top four teams in the competition, with Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise holding third and fourth respectively.
Surfers Paradise lost 11.13 (79) to 9.12 (66) to secondplaced Mt Gravatt on Saturday at Sir Bruce Small Park while Labrador continue to struggle, losing 16.11 (107) 4.6 (30) to Morningside at Jack Esplen Oval.
Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise and Labrador will all have a bye this weekend while Palm Beach Currumbin will play in a top of the table clash against Morningside at Salk Oval on Saturday.