PLAY-OFF PREVIEW
Souths beat Gatton to force mid-week battle
If yesterday’s clash between Gatton and Souths is anything to go by, Wednesday night’s Hutchinson Builders TRL Premiership mid-week sixth-place play-off could be a thriller.
Souths kept their season alive and forced a mid-week play-off with an exciting 34-30 win over sixth-placed Gatton at Cahill Park yesterday in the last round of the regular season.
The two teams will meet again at Herb Steinohrt Oval on Wednesday night, with the winner of the mid-week play-off progressing to this weekend’s elimination semi-finals.
Gatton, playing in special and different jerseys for its charity day fundraiser, made a decent start getting out to an 8-0 lead on the back of two tries to centre Cameron Nicholls.
Souths then gained the ascendancy with three tries putting the Tigers on top 16-8.
The two teams then traded tries to see Souths lead 22-14 at half-time.
A Dwayne Duncan try after the break got Souths out to a 28-14 lead leaving Gatton starring down the prospect of a mid-week play-off.
Momentum then swung the way of the Hawks big time as the hosts scored three tries in just eight minutes to lead 32-30 with eight minutes to play.
Souths were starved of the ball during that period but made the most of a rare opportunity with the ball when centre Kyle Athorn scored what proved to be the match-winning try for the Tigers in the 76th minute.
“I’m pretty happy with the boys’ efforts today,” Tigers coach Daniel Holmes said.
“It was do-or-die for us today and to come out with a win in the dying seconds means that everyone is still trying their heart out.
“It means a lot to the boys to get the win.”
Not only will Souths have the momentum heading into Wednesday night’s sudden-death play-off, but Gatton will have to contend with injury concerns and a short turnaround in the lead-up to the mid-week battle.
Dennis Burgoyne and Josh Ryan picked up injuries and they were not alone as Hawks co-coach Nicki-John Harch conceded Gatton could have some forced changes for Wednesday night.
“We finished the game with no one on the bench so we’re down on troops a bit,” he said.
“We showed we’ve got the footy in us to turn it around but it is just about our attitude and how the boys pull up.”