The Ray White Noosa Dolphins have claimed the crown of Sunshine Coast Rugby Union Premiers in both the men’s A Grade and the Senior Women’s competition in front of over three and a half thousand spectators at Sunshine Beach.
With both matches in the balance until the final whistle, the locals were able to mount a rear-guard action to defeat their highly fancied opponents University and Caboolture.
The Dolphins reserve grade was not so fortunate going down to University in a nail-biting 22-19 defeat.
For the second year in a row, the A Grade Dolphins faced a University side stacked with quality, including six Queensland Country representatives, and the pre match predictions of Dolphins coach Jim McKay in the Noosa Today proved prophetic.
In assessing where the grand final would be won in last week’s Noosa Today, McKay said the match would come down to the team who is able to play at their best for the longest period of the match and that is what transpired, with the Dolphins trailing for 77 minutes of the match, but sticking the longest to take victory.
University started the match with speed and field possession and within 10 minutes, the Dolphins faced a 12-3 deficit. The Dolphins had also lost their flanker, and one of the season’s best in Billy Tait, at the 10th minute mark to a knee injury. University extended their lead after 23 minutes with their third try. It wasn’t til the 32nd minute mark that the Dolphins had advanced into the opposition half and off a rolling maul, hooker Harry O’Connor was able to finish off with a try. Minutes later, the move was replicated with the same outcome giving a half time scoreline of 24-17 in University’s favour.
Again, it was University who struck early in the second half, scoring and converting just one minute into the second stanza, taking the scoreline to 31-17. With field position swinging back into Noosa centre Albie Polu and winger Matt Schoutrop added with two further tires for the Dolphins, leaving the locals just four points behind. It wasn’t til the 77th minute of the match, that Noosa finally led on the scoreboard with number eight Tai Ford breaking through to score and with the conversion successful by Joey Caputo, the Dolphins took a 37-34 lead into the full time whistle.
“No one wants to be behind on the scoreboard, but with the massive territorial advantage University enjoyed in that first half, and the wind advantage, I knew that if we could be patient, retain possession and work our way up field, that we had the strike power to keep in touch,” Noosa Coach Jim McKay said after the match.
The Senior Womens match proved even closer with Noosa and Caboolture level at full time 7-7 after 70 minutes of tough rugby. At half time, the teams were stuck at 0-0, with neither side giving an inch, a clear indication of the quality of both teams. It wasn’t til 18 minutes into the second half that the first try was scored by Noosa. From a scrum penalty, Georgie Daniels took a quick tap and four phases later, the dominance of the Dolphins pack paid dividends with Daniels diving over to score. In a reversal of fortunes though with the Dolphins 7-0 up and four minutes left on the clock, Caboolture dominated a scum to be awarded a penalty. In a repeat of the Noosa try, they took a quick tap and two phases later scored to square off at 7-7.
With seven minutes each way to play in extra time, with no golden point, it was the Dolphins to take first scoring opportunity with Shelbie Beardmore finishing off an attaching raid taking a 12-7 lead. Perhaps with pressure mounting, the Dolphin’s conceded back to back penalties allowing Caboolture to take back field possession, scoring a match levelling try three minutes later. With conversion successful, the Dolphins went into the extra time break trailing 14-12 and that is where the score remained for the next five minutes. With a penalty to Noosa on their own 22-meter line, the girls showed confidence in their attack, Georgie Daniels again taking quick penalty tap and fullback Bronte Wilson and centre Tiger Livingston combining to reach the halfway mark before an offside penalty aided the Dolphins cause, with Steive Te Moana securing the ensuring line out ball with only seconds left in the match. The Dolphins continued to pepper the Caboolture line earning another offside penalty. Georgie Daniels again took the quick tap charging 15 meters before Lydian Alo-Emile took the ball at the back of a ruck to dive over and seal the match 17-14.
“I had said to the girls before the match, grand finals are won in the first minute of the match and the last minute. I never thought though that last minute would be the 84th minute,” coach Damine Cogill said.
Dolphins president Chris Burton could not contain his pride after the match.
“When I think of where we were in 2023, our worst results in the club history, to now winning both the Men’s A Grade on the back of our win last year, and the Senior Womens and just missing in reserve grade, is incredible. The players last year and this have developed their own moto and that is to be a source of pride for the Noosa region. I hope that with what we have witnessed this season, and especially today, that our Region can be proud,” Burton said.
