Dolphins make Intrust Super Cup final

REDCLIFFE’S opportunity to win their first Intrust Super Cup grand final since 2006 is a 15-day wait away, after the Dolphins booked a spot at the decider with a tough 13-6 win against the Burleigh Bears in the major semifinal on Saturday.
The competition’s most successful club with five premierships, the Dolphins will eagerly watch next Saturday as Burleigh face Easts, who beat the Ipswich Jets 50-20 in the minor semifinal, at Pizzey Park on the Gold Coast to determine the second finalist.
Redcliffe had lost the last three Intrust Super Cup deciders they contested — in seasons 2007, 2012 and 2016 — to slightly besmirch their tremendous record.
However, they are in as good a position as ever to put an end to the streak, finishing minor premiers and leading from start to finish in the major semi at Dolphin Stadium.
After Burleigh dominated the opening 15 minutes in terms of territory, Redcliffe struck first when Tom Opacic, picture, steamed on to a Cameron Cullen pass and couldn’t be contained on the edge.
Bryce Donovan was good with the conversion from out wide and then added a second goal from a penalty kick six minutes later to give the Dolphins an 8-0 lead.
Burleigh could have cursed their luck after a number of plays went frustratingly close to succeeding, but ultimately failed.
Finally, in the 29th minute, they troubled the scorers when Sami Sauiluma scored to notch a four-pointer, with Jamal Fogarty adding the two from in front of a vocal Des Webb stand.
At halftime a scoreline of 8-6 in Redcliffe’s favour was a great reflection of a season where the minor premiership was constantly up for contention.
Yet the Dolphins came out and were much more commanding in the second half, Josh Beehag doing well to catch a slippery ball out wide and twist over for a 12-6 advantage in the 50th minute.
Redcliffe’s defence was first-class, forcing spill after spill from Burleigh. Indeed, both teams didn’t shy away from the body contact and it was the defining feature of the contest.
At the death, Donovan showed composure to step inside a charging Luke Page and pot a field goal with eight minutes left on the clock, bringing up the final seven-point margin. Results: Sat, Sept 8 – Ipswich Jets 20 Easts Tigers 30, Redcliffe Dolphins 13 Burleigh Bears 6. – QRL