By Beverly Warnest
Competition trend-setters South Cairns remain undefeated after grinding out a 26-point win against a gallant Port Douglas at Fretwell Park on Saturday.
The 18:8 (116) to 13:12 (90) win hid the evenness of the two teams in the first three-quarters. The Cros lead by three at the first stanza, trailed by nine at half time, and a solidarity point at the final break.
The Cutters 2008 football narrative of a free-flowing running game built upon numbers around the leather, crisp ball skills and accurate disposal disserted the ladder leaders in the round seven match up.
Port Douglas shut down the home side which produced a scrappy game, but had the effect of nullifying Souths and a producing a tight score line.
The Cros had subdued both Cutters players and home ground spectators for three quarters and looked in the game trailing 71-70 at the final break.
But they fell away in the last as Cutters running game came to the fore, allowing them to dominate possession and bring home a hard earned victory.
Played in near perfect overcast conditions Cros full forward Darryl Taylor kicked six and Souths Rat Rattray marked strongly and nailed five.
Port Douglas lost two players early to injury. Mark Liddell was taken to hospital in an ambulance to treat a broken collar bone, and youngster Mitch Nicholson received medical attention for concussion.
The visitors played without defender Robbie Douglas who is recovering from a left ankle injury obtained in their 52-point victory against Norths Cairns last weekend. Midfielder Johanthan Peal was unavailable.
Souths missed on-baller Hayden Foss who broken his left hand in the ANZAC day clash against the Tigers at Watsons Oval three weeks ago. Cutters are hopeful he will return for the round eleven clash when the two sides meet again.
The club is hoping Steven Coxford will make a return to the field at the same time after a knee reconstruction in October.
Scott Shelley left shoulder is still undergoing rehabilitation after a reconstruction, and midfielder Andrew Douglas remains out due to an ankle operation.
Cutters coach Steve Daniel was openly disappointed with his teams first three quarters, but acknowledged his chargers managed a win despite playing what he referred to as “bad football”.
“We were really ordinary today, we did not play well for three quarters at all, but I suppose to play the way we did and still get a win is a good sign.” Daniel said.
“Our ball disposals were particularly ordinary and we turned it over too easily.”
Port Douglas coach Paul Cox said his sides injury count contributed to an easier fourth quarter for Souths.
“We ran out of legs as we only had 15 fit men on the field,” Cox said.
“Two were taken to hospital, and Andrew McLeod, James Hitsert and Bryce Willis were all injured.”
Cutters travel to Trinity Beach to play xx-placed Bulldogs next Saturday. The Cros get the eighth round bye to relax.
Last Modified on 11/02/2009 10:11