Tigers remain on top of ladder

Noosa player Lucas Matthews had eyes only for the ball at Saturday’s Weyba Road clash between the Tigers and Sandgate. Noosa defeated Sandgate 114 – 43.

Geoff Potter

Noosa is scheduled to host Maroochy Northshore in the final round, but judging by the two Coast teams' current form, it is likely it will not be the last time they clash this year.

In what was billed as one of its tougher assignments in the build-up to the finals, competition leader Noosa sent an emphatic message to its Pineapple Hotel Cup rivals, with a scintillating first-half display against Sandgate at Weyba Road yesterday.

The Tigers kept top-four outfit Sandgate goal-less in the opening two quarters and piled on 11 goals, to ensure the game was wrapped up by half-time, leading 11.7 (73) to 0.3 (3).

Noosa went on to cruise home – taking out the game 17.12 (114) to 5.13 (43).

The Tigers remain at the top of ladder, a win plus percentage ahead of the second-placed Maroochy Northshore Roos, which at Fishermans Road yesterday predictably smashed the bottom-of-the-table Mayne by a whopping 136 points.

During the first half at Weyba Road, the pressure Noosa applied to its opposition from one end of the field to the other was nothing short of relentless.

The Tigers' run out of defence, greater hardness at the ball and ability to get more players at spillages after marking contests, were also hallmarks of their play.

It was Noosa's 10th win in a row and sweet revenge, after Sandgate beat the side by 39 points in round one.

The Tigers' last loss was in round five against the Roos.

The two Coast outfits are firming as hot favourites to meet in the grand final in seven weeks.

Lucas Matthews, one of Noosa's best yesterday, said the team was not getting too far ahead of itself.

“(Third-placed) Palm Beach are the reigning premiers, so they're the team to beat,” Matthews said.

“We build our game on our back six, and our back six were outstanding today.”

SCOREBOARD NOOSA 14.11 17.12 (114)

(Jay Reynolds 4, Brett Duke 3, Liam Guinan 2, James Brain 2, Gary Wallace 2, Luke Brauer, Lucas Matthews, Brendan Page, Adam Eady goals)

SANDGATE 0.1 0.3 2.8 5.13 (43)

(Mike Pettitt 2, Luke Reynolds, Sean Cornish, Shane Rogerson goals)

OTHER MATCH: Maroochy Northshore 30.16 (196) d Mayne 8.12 (60)