Pirates crack code of rivals
BOND Pirates have the Gold Coast District Rugby Union’s Big Three in their sights as they target a stunning lateseason charge to fifth place.
It took until Round 13 for the Miami-based club to get on the board; now they have two wins in their past three starts.
Their 33-10 victory over Coolangatta Tweed on Saturday, earnt after conceding the first 10 points of the match, drew them level on competition points with the Barbarians.
The Pirates remain seventh and last though courtesy of their -534 differential but believe they can do more than just dodge the wooden spoon through the final six rounds.
“To be honest, our goal is to finish fifth,” Pirates captain Ben Louisson said.
“It’s a stretch, we’ve got to beat some of the big teams, we know that, but that’s what we are aiming for.”
The veteran prop says there is genuine belief that they can now shake the premier sides.
“I think we have figured out the game plans of all the other teams,” he said.
“Being able to see what they are doing and being able to stop it are two different things. If we can get the right people down to training and a few things go our way, then I can’t see any reason why we can’t pull off a surprise or two.”
Helensvale coach Tonga Lea’aetoa’s declaration that his side are peaking at the right time of the year was proved as a late Jack Finigan try helped the Hogs split the points with Surfers Paradise in a 17-17 scoreline at Albert Park.
Though disappointed with
some missed opportunities against an injury-stricken Dolphins outfit, Lea’aetoa agreed the result would do wonders for his players’ confidence.
“For the last however many years they haven’t come close to Surfers so hopefully this is more of a mental barrier with them with the boys,” he said.
“We probably played the last two minutes the way we really should have played (all game).
“I think we just gave them a lot of respect but we could have piled on more points than what we did. We’re improving.”
Gold Coast Eagles pipped Palm Beach Currumbin 24-20.