NORTHS overcame a potentially serious injury to star playmaker Josh Roberts to crush in-form Goodna 32-8 yesterday at North Ipswich Reserve.
Article courtesy of the QT.
By Paul Smeaton, 06/08/12
http://www.qt.com.au/story/2012/08/06/tigers-pivot-injured-before-gooda-tamed/
The Tigers five-eighth looked a certainty to take out the inaugural Merv Gumbleton Medal for player-of-the-match between Norths and Goodna until he was injured setting up a try late in the first half.
Roberts had already scored a length-of-the-field solo try minutes earlier when he again broke through the defence before being ankle tapped with the try-line in sight.
Losing his balance, Roberts threw a perfect pass to James Stephensen but crashed to the turf face first while his team mate crossed untouched to score. Trainers quickly attended to the popular player who appeared to have movement in his body but complained of neck pain.
Ever-cautious officials called for paramedic support and Roberts was taken to hospital for further assessment. Norths went to the break ahead 24-4 and, far from being rocked by Roberts’ injury, the Tigers came out resolute in the second half to dominate the out-of-sorts Eagles.
It was a stellar performance by a club cruelled by injury before and during the game.
“I’m not a guy that gets too excited about things to be honest but we played really well,” Norths coach Boss Cecil said post-game.
“We had players backing up from 18s and we even got a couple of Jets boys to come back from FOGs to cover some holes. All up it was a very good effort by the boys.”
Cecil used the half-time break to remind his players that only half the job was done and not to worry about the well-being of their co-captain.
“We addressed that straight away at halftime because Josh is one of our leaders,” he said.
“He directs the play so it was important for the boys to keep their focus.”
Brent Newton was forced to call on his schoolboy experience, deputising for his captain at five-eighth.
While he did a solid job, it was brother Tim Newton who secured the Merv Gumbleton Medal in his last game for the club before heading overseas.
There were plenty of long faces in the Goodna camp thanks to an error riddled performance well short of their recent good form.
The Eagles bombed at least three tries with knock-ons in the in-goal or forward passes and gave away undisciplined penalties and field position.
Coach Shaun O’Loan said his team just had an off-day.
“We couldn’t take a trick today,” O’Loan said. “They were excellent, they out-enthused us, they were strong in defence, just too good for us today.”
At Brother Seery Oval, Brothers became the second team in the IRL to rack up 100 points in a game this season.
The ladder leaders demolished Swifts 100-4 in a performance that equalled Fassifern’s 96-point mauling of Swifts in round 11.
The Bombers did their own demolition job on West End, winning 84-0 at Hayes Oval.
Fassifern ran in 16 tries to nil to shut out the battling Bulldogs.
STATE OF PLAY
With two rounds left, the IRL top four is almost set in stone
Brothers have all but wrapped up the minor premiership.
Norths’ victory over Goodna brings them within a point of third spot
