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6:09AM Sunday 23 November, 2008 Sunshine Coast weather Mostly sunny min 17° - max 25°

Noosa Tigers running hot

11 May 2008

| By Jon Tuxworth

If the old adage that a football team begins a match the way they finished is true, take pity on Palm Beach Currumbin when they play Noosa next week.

The Tigers will fancy their chances of becoming the first team to beat the Gold Coast giants in two years after an unbelievable final quarter performance resulted in a 28.12 (180) to 12.11 (83) thrashing of Maroochy-Northshore at Weyba Road yesterday.

Trailing by 42-points at three-quarter time, the Roos reduced the deficit to 29 with the opening two goals of the final term.

To say the home side responded to the challenge would be the understatement of the year. A bit like saying a sumo wrestler is a little chubby.

Noosa kicked 11.2 unanswered to seal a 97-point victory and maintain its undefeated status in the Pineapple Hotel Cup.

Full forward Matt Hicks was simply unstoppable once again, finishing with a bag of 10 goals to take his overall season tally to 34 from just five matches.

His partner in crime, centre-half forward Scott Maddern, was also terrific, as was half-back flanker Michael Dobson and skipper Adam Bovalino.

But easily the best on ground was Noosa on-baller Caleb Isles, who made picking up clearances and finding a forward lace-out look ridiculously easy.

“Caleb’s game today was awesome,” Noosa coach Wayne Fletcher praised. “It was certainly one of the best individual performances I’ve seen this year from one of our players, and he sets a good example for everyone to follow.

“He’s the smallest in the team but he’s always hard in for the footy with his head over it all the time, and his work rate was sensational.”

“Full credit to Maroochydore. They showed a lot of spirit all through the course of the game.”

Fletcher said the side’s hard work on the track during the pre-season reaped its dividends during the final quarter rout.

“I called for a big effort in the last quarter and certainly our fitness showed at the end,” he said.

“To finish off with such a big win is pleasing, especially against your arch rival.”

Fletcher said they can now look forward to the toughest test in the Pineapple Hotel Cup, beating Palm Beach Currumbin on their home turf, with plenty of optimism.

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