Clydesdales Hit By Comets
by
Tuesday April 29, 2003
Source: http://www.rleague.com

A strong Rockhampton crowd has seen the Rockhampton Leagues Club Central Comets stage a huge second half to come back from 16-nil down to defeat the Toowoomba Clydesdales 30-16 at Browne Park in round six of the Queensland Cup on Saturday, April 26.

Early it was all the Clydesdales who had the wind at their back and a mistake by the Comets in their own half gave the Toowoomba side an opportunity to post first points and they did so off the scrum with fullback Tony Duggan cutting through on the right side to cross the line. Winger Dan Kennedy converted the try and the Clydesdales led 6-nil after six minutes.

For the next 20 minutes neither side troubled the scoreboard with great defense from both sides and a few silly errors from both sides in attacking positions however late in the first half Clydesdales captain Barry Berrigan cut through the Comets defense and drew the fullback and passed to halfback Josh McCartney who went in under the posts. Kennedy converted to put the Clydesdales 12-nil a head with 13 minutes to go in the half.

Two minutes later the Clydesdales were on the attack once again and this time the hooker Berrigan cut through from close range to score out wide and Kennedy missed the conversion to see the Clydesdales lead 16-nil with ten minutes to go in the first half.

The Comets and the Clydesdales both had chances in the final ten minutes of the half however neither side crossed and the Clydesdales went into the break 16-nil up.

With the wind at their back in the second half the Comets came out with all guns blazing being controlled by a superb kicking game from half Craig Kimmorley. A precision placed bomb from Kimmorley seen veteran centre Heath Egglestone cross out wide for the Comets and Kimmorley converted to see the Comets 16-6 down with just under 40 minutes to go in the game.

Three minutes later the Comets continued their onslaught with another try this time to replacement forward Wayne Phillis. Kimmorley converted to bring the score line back to 16-12 to the Clydesdales with just over 30 minutes to go in the game.

A brilliant forty-twenty kick on the final tackle from Kimmorley once again gave the Comets a great attacking opportunity and they capitalized with Comets prop Damien Wilkes busting the line to bring the score line back to 16-all. Kimmorley once again converted for the Comets for them to take the lead for the first time in the game 18-16 after 52 minutes in the game.

Ten minutes later another forty-twenty kick from Kimmorley seen his side on the attack once again and Egglestone run from dummy half and turned it back inside to young winger Rory Bromley to cross the line out wide. Kimmorley missed from out wide and the Comets led 22-16 with just under 20 minutes to go in the game.

A third forty-twenty kick from Kimmorley seen his side on the attack once again five minutes later and the Comets then crossed through replacement forward Stu Cheffirs who took yet another precision placed bomb from Kimmorley. Kimmorley then converted for the Comets to lead 28-16 with just over ten minutes to go.

The Clydesdales then had a number of opportunities to launch attacking raids however they just couldn't get it together with some extremely strong defense from the Comets and some silly errors from Toowoomba.

With seven minutes to go in the game a high tackle from a frustrated Phil Lee on his opposite number David Faiumu seen a fight break out. Referee Rob Alexander marched both Lee and Faiumu for ten in the bin and awarded the penalty to the Comets who kicked a penalty goal to take the Comets lead to 14 and seal the victory with five minutes to go on the clock.

It was a great performance in the second half for the Central Comets led by classy half Craig Kimmorley who used the wind to perfection but the platform was laid by some great go forward from props Rex Gamble, Stu Cheffirs and Damien Wilkes as well as back rowers Wade Bidgood and Wayne Phillis. Comets centres Heath Egglestone and Wes Goodwin both had solid games as well as
winger Rory Bromley. Former Cowboy Ashley Alberts had a strong game at fullback.

Best for the Clydesdales were hooker Barry Berrigan, fullback Tony Duggan and back rowers Nick Kenny, Matt Harris and Phil Lee who all did their best however on the night the Comets just finished the stronger and classier side.

This will pose as the turning point of the season for the Central Comets who now sit equal eighth with the North Queensland Young Guns and the Norths Devils while the Clydesdales drop back to fifth place with the Ipswich Jets and the Redcliffe Dolphins both leaping from them with their victories last night.

The Comets will face the Burleigh Bears next week at Pizzey Park on Saturday at 7 pm while the Toowoomba Clydesdales will face the Norths Devils at Stadium Toowoomba. The Comets must win or go close to winning if they want to gain consistency in their 2003 campaign.

CENTRAL COMETS 30
Tries: Heath Egglestone(41st), Wayne Phillis(45th), Damien Wilkes(49th), Rory Bromley(61st), Stu Cheffirs(67th)
Goals: Craig Kimmorley 5
Team: Ashley Alberts, Dallas Williams, Wes Goodwin, Heath Egglestone, Rory
Bromley, Jade Wogand, Craig Kimmorley, Rex Gamble, Terry Benson (c), Damien
Wilkes, Willie Scanlon, Wade Bidgood, David Faiumu. Int: Stu Cheffirs, Wayne
Phillis, Grant Broadhurst, Gerry Doyle
defeated TOOWOOMBA CLYDESDALES 16
Tries: Tony Duggan(5th), Josh McCartney(26th), Barry Berrigan(29th)
Goals: Dan Kennedy 2
Team: Tony Duggan, Dan Kennedy, Luke McDougall, David Stagg, Nathan Stains,
Scott Prince, Josh McCartney, Ben Czislowski, Barry Berrigan (c), Michael
Coorey, Nick Kenny, Matt Harris, Phil Lee. Int: Michael Ryan, Josh Hancock,
Ben Hannant, Steve Irwin
Venue: Browne Park Date: Sat Apr 26  7:30pm
Referee: Rob Alexander
Half time: Toowoomba 16-0
First Try: Tony Duggan(Toowoomba)
Man of the Match: Craig Kimmorley