The Ray White Noosa Dolphins 26-19 victory against University last Saturday has secured not only the Minor Premiership but the hosting rights for the first Semi Final in a battle for immediate entry to the 2024 Grand Final. Playing at University, a ground that has been a hoodoo for the Dolphins in recent years, the win was even more important with this weekend bye offering no opportunity to add points.
With Noosa under constant pressure from the reigning three-time Premiers, the first half all about defence, an area that the Noosa side has not been excelling at this season ranking 4th, being key and the coaching staff were not disappointed with the half time score limited to 7-0 to the University.
The first 20 minutes of the second though saw the Dolphins demonstrate their attacking ability with raid after raid on the University line. With errors eliminated and patience displayed, the Dolphins were able to advance the scoreline taking a 14-7 lead with tries to Julian Scott-Davies and Gideon Kautai. With the lead in hand though, it was again ill-discipline that infected Noosa performance seeing three yellow cards, two being for repeated team infringements. These concerning lapses opening the door to University who demonstrated why they have been so successful in recent years, taking the advantage and piling on two tries in succession. With the match in the balance at 26-19, the Dolphins found themselves under attack in the final five minutes of the match with University being held up twice over the Dolphins line.
For the second week in a row, it was the kicking accuracy of the KB’s Player of the Match Joey Caputo playing a significant role converting both tries and a further four penalty goals. Will Christie and Jock Hanson also found themselves in the player points.
The Ray White Reserve Grade have also secured the Minor Premiership despite their 12-5 loss to the University side. Going into the match with depleted numbers due to injuries and absences, it was always going to be a battle against the full-strength opposition fighting the improve their ladder position, the Dolphins cause was not helped with in match injuries to Nick Cherry and Josh Munro. In a match that at times became heated, Alex Tollis was named the KB’s Player of the Match with Max Skinner, Kipp Comrie and Conrad Trotman performing well. Flanker Max Skinner demonstrated his commitment and positional flexibility stepping into the front row due to injury, maintaining contested scrums in doing so.
With a round bye this weekend, the Dolphins focus turns to the home Semi Final on Saturday 3 August. With the table so congested, it will be this weekend’s match between Maroochydore and University that will decide the Dolphins opposition in A grade and a similarly tight reserve grade ladder has three points separating the second, third and fourth placed sides battling to challenge the Dolphins.
Injuries continue to cast a shadow over the Dolphins with medical and coaching staff closely monitoring the recovery of Jimmy Wilso-Bishop, Pala Mailangi, Ben Condon and Josh Munro. Whilst the final round bye for the Dolphins last year saw them tumble out of the top four, the round bye this weekend is a timely one as the semifinal preparations providing an extra week for some key players to return to the field.
For all the updated player and team information, and semi final details, log into the Noosa Dolphins Facebook and Instagram pages.
