Hungry Bears into title decider

WHEATMEN OUTGUNNED: Toowoomba unit too slick for Dalby in qualifying final

TOOWOOMBA Bears sent any doubters a timely reminder of their Risdon Cup premiership credentials with a decisive win over Dalby in Saturday night’s qualifying final at Heritage Oval.

Bears claimed the first spot in this season’s grand final with a 26-12 win over the game but outgunned Wheatmen.

Dalby now faces Goondiwindi in Saturday’s preliminary final at Dalby for the right to face Bears at Clive Berghofer Stadium on September 7.

Saturday’s match was Bears’ first since their epic final-round battle with Goondiwindi which the Emus won 24-17 in a bruising encounter.

But with two weeks’ rest under the belts and a near full-strength roster at their disposal, Bears had all the answers to Dalby which came into Saturday’s match on a high following its semi-final win over Goondiwindi seven days earlier.

Bears had much of the territorial advantage in a tight opening to Saturday’s match.

But it wasn’t until the 34th minute of play that the match deadlock was finally broken by a converted Bears try to captain Ben Dare which set up a 7-0 half-time scoreboard.

Two minutes after the resumption, Brad Neill forced his way over for Bears and when Mick Makkai raced in for a converted try in the 12th minute of play, the writing was on the wall for Dalby as it looked at a 19-0 deficit.

Dalby battled hard to stay in the contest but Bears were able to maintain their ascendancy and stretched the score to 26-0 after 57 minutes when elusive winger Chase Berg crossed in the corner.

The Wheatmen put some respectability into the scoreline during the final 15 minutes through tries to forwards Colm O’Laughlin and Mick Gall but by then competition focus had already switched to their upcoming showdown with the Emus.

Beaten coach Peter Smiles sensed a flat edge about his team following their previous victory at Goondiwindi.

“We didn’t seem to control the ball for long enough to set

We made simple mistakes as well and perhaps we did come up a little flat after last week.

– Peter Smiles

ourselves a platform to build on,” Smiles said.

“But then again we weren’t allowed to either.

“We made simple mistakes as well and perhaps we did come up a little flat after last week.”

Bears’ coaching duo Andrew McKinnon and Owen Goddard found plenty to like in their side’s opening 60 minutes.

“We’re happy with our first 60 minutes,” McKinnon said.

“But we definitely took our foot off the pedal when we began substituting players over the final 20. But Dalby did well. They keep coming at you.”