Perfect year for the Dolphins

The winning Noosa reserve grade team and right, coach Stu Beaky celebrate.

Nicholas Falconer

It was like the pain of 2009 vanished as the pea in the referee’s whistle sounded for the final time this season at Dolphin Oval on Sunday.

Noosa erased the memories of its bitter end to last year with a hard-fought 13-5 victory over Maroochydore in the A-grade Sunshine Coast Rugby Union grand final.

It capped off a perfect year for the Stu Beakey-coached Dolphins, which for the first time since 1992 did not lose a match in the season.

There was no controversy as there was in last year’s decider, when University’s Rohan Molineux was awarded a dubious try in the final seconds to hand the Barbarians a third straight premiership.

Yesterday was all about Noosa – the undisputed best team of the competition for the whole season.

While the Dolphins did not produce the rugby they are capable of, it was a gallant performance in which they dug deep when it counted to hold out a spirited Swans outfit.

Asked for the secret to his side’s perfect season, Beakey was at his straight-shooting best.

“The boys dedication – no doubt about it,” he said.

“The guts and the way they hung in. We were down under pressure but our defence came through.

“Our defence has won us a lot of games this year and today was no different.

“We certainly didn’t take our A-game today and

ironically we won by penalty goals and not tries, which hasn’t happened all year.

“Maroochydore, to their credit, flooded the rucks and mauls.

“It didn’t quite work for us today but we’ve come away with the win and that’s the main thing.”

It was a case of third time lucky for Dolphins captain Kyle Beakey, who played in the 2008 and 2009 losing sides.

“Losing last year was hard. They (Maroochydore) came at us again and I mentioned to the boys it’s not over until the whistle goes, like we learnt last year,” he said.

SCOREBOARD

NOOSA 13

Aaron Di Ianni try; David Harrold 2 pens, con

MAROOCHY 5

Anton Jaaniste try