Dolphins to take on Fraser Coast

This weekend the Dolphins A Grade and Reserve Grade teams return to Noosa for their clash against Fraser Coast Mariners.

The Phinettes Women’s team has a bye and the Colts play Nambour as a curtain raiser to the premier game, although there is a possibility that this will be transferred to Dolphin Oval. The Rocco Peregini coached Dolphins are missing a couple of key players for the weekend, but their numbers allow them to absorb these small difficulties and it should be a great contest.

In Reserve Grade, Michael Phelan’s team will need to keep their wits about them as this young Fraser Coast team has improved since their last encounter. Having said that, the Dolphins will undoubtedly be a very difficult hurdle for Fraser Coast to leap as they now have more than 700 points scored for them and a mere 53 points against for the season to date.

In A Grade, the Fraser Coast team has won a couple of games this year, with their last win only a fortnight ago against the ever improving Gympie side. Their forward pack is strong and with the likes of young De Vere roaming wider, their defence is formidable.

The Fraser Coast’s front row of Ian Everest, Jason Palmer and Jacob Walmsley is a proven combination, but it does run across a formidable team at Noosa, with Andy Irving stepping into the side to replace Gary McNeil.

In the second row, James Brown and Regan Collier come up against Stuart Gordon and Fijian Lorima Lawai, who is working his way into form at the right time of the season for the Dolphins.

On the open flank for Fraser Coast, Sam Beattie, whose father is an ex-international and whose brother plays for the Stingrays, comes up against the combination of Colvin, Simpson and Boyd, which will be a little daunting for the youngster.

Once the ball reaches the back line it becomes an interesting battle, as Noosa will be missing stalwart Massoud this weekend, and the half back five eighth combination of Ebert and Dougan for Fraser Coast has been successful in recent weeks.

Out wide, the Noosa combination of Dianni, Aglio and “Devil” Forres, comes up against Fraser Coast try-scoring machine Nathan Bensein on the wing with Karl Lever and Troy Ngatai making up the back three. In other matches for the weekend, Caloundra and Caboolture continue to battle for the fourth position in the finals and should both achieve relatively easy wins.

Caloundra plays Nambour, which has been struggling throughout 2010.Caboolture takes on the ever improving Gympie, and should be too quick out wide.

The big clash for the weekend is the Maroochydore/University game, and while finishing in second position is virtually out of reach for the Maroochydore side, there is a lot of pride to be had based on the result from this encounter.

The Swans have been struggling in recent weeks, but as Noosa knows only too well, they should never be underestimated.

With the game at University, it will be difficult for Maroochydore to overcome the home-ground advantage.

At the Dolphins’ club rooms after the game, live music is on yet again and a courtesy bus has been provided by the club.

It is rumoured that coach Beakey’s favourite lady turns 30 this weekend and will be celebrating on Saturday night. Evidently, Stuart has promised to be at his most jovial and to buy all of Gail’s friends a beer on the night.