Condamine off to finals despite last-round loss
The Condamine Cods live to fight another day despite copping a scoreboard bruising in Saturday’s final Wagners Wellcamp Risdon Cup fixture round.
In what turned out a mixed day for Condamine it finished on the end of a 47-10 touch-up from Toowoomba Rangers but still qualified for the upcoming finals’ series following the demise of close rival USQ.
While the Cods had a forgettable day at Gold Park, the news was much worse for Uni whose injury-marred end to the season finished with a 61-14 home loss to Goondiwindi.
The Emus head into the finals on a high but their strong season finish wasn’t enough to snatch the minor premiership from Dalby.
The Wheatmen safely held top spot and earned themselves a week’s break after accounting for fourth-placed Bears 32-17 at Heritage Oval on Saturday.
This week’s Super Saturday semi-finals at Riddles Oval will see Goondiwindi face Rangers in the major match while Bears and Condamine meet in the elimination game.
The good news for the Cods out of Saturday’s loss is they have a week to ponder and try to rectify what went wrong against a committed Rangers outfit which outplayed them in every department.
Led by strong forwards, Rangers were on top of Condamine from their opening try to centre Tom Caskey in the fifth minute.
Further tries to Lachie Sperling, Matt Roberts and Eric Donaldson saw them rattle up a 28-5 half-time lead with Condamine’s points coming through a good individual try to winger Emosi Vunivosa in the 10th minute.
Condamine’s first-half effort was not helped by the loss of Vunivosa and captain Roger Geldard after both picked up yellow cards
Rangers finished their good day’s work with second-half tries to Jakeb Rice, winger Hugh Wright and young replacement forward Clayton Clinch with flanker Epeli Basituka replying for the Cods 10 minutes from time.
Rangers’ day finished on a worrying finals’ eve note with lock Fraser Donaldson and Sperling leaving the field late with lower leg injuries.
They entered the match missing several key players but assistant coach Ryan O’Grady pointed to the efforts of their replacements.
“We’re very happy with the effort today, considering four of most senior players are missing,” O’Grady said.
“But the blokes who stepped up for them today have done a great job.”
In Saturday’s other match UQ Gatton finished on a winning note with a 36-31 away win over an improved Highfields Redbacks.