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5:19AM Tuesday 02 December, 2008

Pomona cuts down Colts

4 September 2008

| Martin Howell

The only thing that did not go to plan on Coolum rugby league’s biggest day last Saturday was the result, the Colts going down to the Pomona Cutters in the qualifying semi-final of the Red Rooster Cup.

The loss now sees Coolum walking the tightrope of sudden-death football when they face Caboolture in the minor semi-final to be played on Saturday at Yandina.

The Cutters will play minor premiers Yandina, with the winners progressing straight to the grand final.

Club president Quinton Stevenson said Coolum had the game won but poor ball security allowed the Cutters back into the game.

“We were ahead for all but five minutes of this game and lead by 12 after the first 10 minutes,” Stevenson said.

“To be honest, we should have gone on with it from there but instead of playing a steady possession game we took the poor attacking options, forcing passes and as a result we let the Cutters back into the match.

“I can not remember us playing out a set and working to the kick. Instead, we tried to play an expansive all-out attacking game and it back-fired on us.

“The Cutters are a quality side and you can not give away cheap possession in a semi-final.”

The Colts appeared to have the game wrapped up midway though the second half when Dale Shearer scored a trademark kick and chase try to take the Colts to a 22- 14 lead.

But a lack of possession for Coolum and some bad luck saw the Cutters fight back.

When Pomona scored an intercept try against the run of play to hit the lead it was clear that it was not going to be the Colts’ night.

To rub salt into the wound, the Cutters scored again with 30 seconds left to make it 30-22.

Colts captain-coach Nathan Ratcliffe said his players were devastated.

“They know that we let this one slip out of our hands and we feel as though we have let the club down – to be quite honest I am a bit lost for words right now,” Ratcliffe said. “If we can take any positives out of this, the Cutters scored two tries from kicks and one was an intercept.

“To me that shows that defensively we were strong as they had to go over us rather than through us.

“Hopefully we can learn from this as a group and play the kind of football needed to win against Caboolture.”

Pomona-Cooran 30 defeated Coolum Colts 22 (Corey Gray, Ryan Carfantan, Dale Shearer, Trent Hartshorn tries. Nathan Ratcliffe 2, Dale Shearer 1 goals.

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