By Beth Newman
Logan City Cobras 26.24 (180)
UQ Redlions 4.2 (26)
Logan will have all the momentum in the first week of SEQAFL Division 3 finals, after a massive win over UQ on Saturday.
The Cobras flexed their muscle and had their way with the Red Lions in their final regular season tune-up.
Cobras spearhead, John Kennedy, finished with 11 majors for Logan in the match.
It was a disappointing end to the season for UQ, who finish in eighth, with three wins.
Logan finished the regular season in fourth, setting up a first semi-final against Pine Rivers next weekend.
Coomera 22.18 (150)
Ipswich 7.9 (51)
Coomera reminded everyone why they have only dropped one game this season, with a clinical display against Ipswich on Saturday.
The Magpies ran all over the Eagles in their final home and away fixture, to keep their losses to only one for the regular season.
Josh Murray continued his stellar season, slotting seven goals, while Glenn Ryan was the Magpies’ best on the day.
Coomera will face Beenleigh in the second semi-final next weekend, with the winner earning a week off.
What the coaches said:
Stuart Vimpany (Coomera):
“We slipped up a bit in the game but now we’re just focusing on next week.”
“It was good to have another solid win to end the rounds.”
“After half time our forward pressure was back to how it should be.”
“All credit to Ipswich’s guys, they had a crack and stuck it to us.”.
“We know it’s a completely different brand of footy (in finals).”
“Everything steps up in finals and if we don’t’ bring our A-game, they’ll run over the top of us.”
“Our season starts next week. If we don’t get a result in finals, the season means jack.”
Pine Rivers 5.3, 9.9, 20.13, 25.14 (164)
Carrara 3.5, 8.8, 9.10, 14.12 (96)
Pine Rivers finished their home and away campaign on a high, with a percentage-boosting win over Carrara.
The Swans overcame the long trip to the Saints home ground to establisth their dominance early in the game.
It was all one-way traffic after half-time, with Pine Rivers kicking 11 goals to one in the third term, to sew the result up.
Cameron Colvin impressed with 10 goals, while Nick Murray had another strong game for the Swans.
Corey Taylor managed four goals for the Saints and was his side’s best on the day.
Pine Rivers now faces Logan in the first semi-final, to kick off their finals campaign.
Carrara finishes in seventh, with a 4-11 win-loss record.
What the coaches said:
Ben Long (Pine Rivers).
“It was a good way to finish the regular season, even though we didn’t put in the best performance.”
Considering where they were in the ladder, Carrara really took it to us. They wanted it a bit more, especially in the first half.”
“Probably in the first half, we didn’t pay them too much respect.”
We shut down their run and stopped giving them uncontested possession and played more accountable footy and ran away from them in that third quarter.”
“To come up from division four and go from not have a reserves to finishing third and having our reserves finish second, we’re really proud of the footy club to get ourselves n a position to have a realistic crack at winning finals.”
Beenleigh 6.0, 13.3, 19.6, 30.9 (189)
Calamvale 4.1, 7.2, 8.2, 11.4 (70)
Beenleigh sewed up second spot, with a massive win over wooden-spooners, Calamvale.
The Leopards took it up to Beenleigh in the first quarter, but couldn’t maintain their intensity over the whole match.
Ashley Templar was sensational once again, with 14 goals for the Buffaloes, and reinforcing his importance to the side.
Luke Morris was the best for the Buffaloes, while Glenn Hodgetts impressed for the Leopards.
Beenleigh face Calamvale in the second semi-final next weekend, for a spot in the grand final.
Calamvale finished last on the ladder, with one win for the season.
