Coast’s giants clash in decider
THE 2020 Langer Cup grand final will be an all-Gold Coast affair after a Tom Weaver and Ryan Rivett-inspired Palm Beach Currumbin SHS beat Ipswich SHS 34-6.
PBC will now confront Keebra Park whose flash of form against Wavell SHS will send shivers down the spine of its opponents next Wednesday.
It was one almighty semifinal, worthy of a grand final.
But in a match featuring a wonderful forward contest, ultimately it was the deft touches of PBC halves Rivett and Weaver that proved decisive at Langlands Park on Wednesday night.
“They were really good, our halves, but that came on the back of a lot of hard work,’’ PBC coach Brad Davis said.
“Ipswich really challenged us. They were really physical in defence and they were running really hard.
“For us, it took a lot of effort on effort to really get on top of them. Having said that, what a preparation, a good, tough finals win.’’
Weaver was never far from the action and provided the final pass for his team’s first three tries.
Rivett’s lovely short-kicking game in the second half constantly turned around Ipswich and was the sign of a calm player deflecting the pressure of a clutch final.
Rivett’s kicking game generated pressure on Ipswich and that ultimately led to Weaver putting Deine Mariner over and his side into the lead 16-6.
Rivett also scored a fine individual try to wrap up the match with 13 minutes to go.
Trailing 22-6, Ipswich was bailing water and late in the game a try for Reef Sommerville off Rivett extended the PBC lead.
Earlier, the PBC and Ipswich wingers traded tries in the opening nine minutes with Troy Duckett (PBC) and Caleb Jackson (Ipswich) scoring.
Many years ago Langlands Park was home to a Tigers legend called Wayne Lindenberg.
With a twist of his hips and a flick of his wrists, halfback Weaver channelled Lindenberg with a magnificent face ball to create Duckett’s try.
Duckett is quick but Weaver’s ball was so good the winger only had to fall over the line to score.