Bombers zero in on finals

Swifts halfback Joel Lennox sets sail for the line in his team’s 36-32 defeat of Goodna at Llewellyn Motors Field yesterday. The win provided Swifts with the President’s Cup and minor premiership.

Claudia Baxter

FASSIFERN’S investment in the talent of the South Pacific Islands has paid off.

The Bombers left it until the final match of the year to motor into the Ipswich Rugby League semi-finals for the first time in seven seasons.

Their 36-8 win over Norths at Hayes Oval, Harrisville, edged them ahead of Norths into fourth spot, ending the Tigers’ semi-finals aspirations.

At halftime there was no indication of what was to come, with the Bombers holding an 8-4 lead.

But such is their pace, skill and unpredictability, once Norths’ legs began to tire, the Bombers found their range with terminal consequences.

Both sides had blown chances to score more points in the first half with Fassifern the worse transgressors.

The Bombers launched a sustained onslaught on the back of Norths’ indiscipline but the visitors’ defence was impressive.

John Lehrman’s thumping tackles inspired his teammates and it was Norths dishing out the type of punishment in defence normally associated with their opponents.

When Norths equalised at 4-4 after 26 minutes, Fassifern seemed rattled, throwing the ball about with little purpose.

It forced a return to simpler means.

Quick play-the-balls and short passes caught Norths out late in the half and Fassifern halfback Isimeeli Hafoka crossed to give his team the halftime lead.

Fassifern showed what they are capable of three minutes into the second half when Norths five-eighth Josh Roberts tried to pin them deep with a kick.

Instead, winger Atelea Okati fielded the ball, beat Roberts, found space and linked up with five-eighth John Tuala who put centre Saia Palei over in a 95m move.

It was typical of a Norths team who, as they have all season, let their good work be undone by shoddy defending.

So it was with most of the remaining five Fassifern tries.

Norths forward Jackwitz blamed the work Norths had to do in defence in the first half for them falling off tackles in the second.

“We couldn’t keep defending like that,” he said.

To avoid having to, the halftime plan was to keep calm heads and be disciplined with the ball.

That didn’t happen, partly due to the miraculous skills, athleticism and verve the Bombers combine in their unpredictable package.

“We went against everything we talked about,” Jackwitz said of Norths’ second half.

“It was always going to be hard coming here.

“You can’t afford to let them get a roll on.

“They’ll lift their heads and off they go.”

Tuala said the turnaround in Fassifern came from the inspiration hooker Kaliora Nauque provided out of dummy half and the strength of the Bombers’ bench, which showed the gulf between the teams once Norths began to tire.

It was when Nauque took control late in the first half and early in the second that Fassifern found Norths’ weak points around the ruck.

“We couldn’t afford to play expansively,” Tuala said.

“(Nauque) took a lot of pressure off. He controlled the forwards pretty well.”

Tuala said Fassifern were far from comfortable at halftime but drew confidence from the skills they can draw upon.

“We’ve got the skill levels but every time we go and play, I’m sure we’ve had the coach’s heart in his mouth,” Tuala said.
 

Semi-finals

Elimination: Brothers v Fassifern, 7pm Saturday.

Qualifying: Swifts v Goodna, 3pm Sunday.

All semi-finals at North Ipswich Reserve