Tigers still in the race

Noosa player Brett Duke gets his kick away despite the tackle from his Sandgate opponent.

Geoff Potterne

THE Noosa Tigers have been downed by Sandgate in their semi-final showdown at Weyba Road but remain in the race for the Pineapple Hotel Cup title.

Undefeated in their past 13 games, the Tigers went into the match odds-on favourites to advance to the grand final but were overrun in the final quarter to lose 15.9.99 to 12.16.78.

While the loss was a bitter pill for coach Wayne Fletcher and his men, they will receive a second bite of the cherry.

The Tigers will meet the winner of today’s semi-final between Burleigh and Maroochy-Northshore.

While Maroochy-Northshore coach Peter Somerville – who watched the match intently from the sidelines – will use the lure of setting up a lip-smacking local derby to motivate his players, the Tigers are licking their wounds and refocusing.

Tigers captain Adam Bovalino said although his side had made its job that much harder, it was still very much in the running.

“We said all along that if you work hard during the season, if you get into the top three, you get a double chance,” he said.

Noosa was slow out of the blocks but still led at the first turn. The home side then clicked into gear in the second half, getting the better of possessions and clearances.

However, Sandgate was kept in the match by Noosa’s wayward kicking.

The Tigers kicked three goals in a row through Zac Smith, Brett Duke and Liam Guinan to open up an 11-point buffer before being pegged back to an 11.12 (78) to 11.6 (72) lead at the final turn.

Sandgate then worked its way into the contest and eventually levelled things up with 10 minutes on the clock. But the Tigers turned the ball over cheaply, with Sandgate’s Josh Walker accepting the spoils and kicking his sixth goal to hand the Hawks the lead.

The visitors never gave up the advantage and secured their passage to the competition decider.

SCOREBOARD

SANDGATE 15.9 (99)

J Walker 6, B Drew 3, S Webster 2, B Long, J Anthonisz, T Morrissey, D Dickfos

NOOSA 12.16 (78)

Z Smith 2, J Brain 2, B Duke 2, J Reynolds 2, A Bovalino, B Page, L Guinan, C Isles