|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
One to go Brisbane, Sydney set to battle for NRL title
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Brisbane advanced to the National Rugby League grand final against the Sydney Roosters after fighting off a determined Parramatta 16-10 Sunday at the Olympic stadium. On Saturday, the Roosters produced a second-half comeback to beat Newcastle 26-20. Brisbane and the Roosters meet next Sunday, Aug. 27, in the league championship match. Broncos backrower Brad Thorn won the match when he ran straight at the Eels defenders and forced his way across the line to score Brisbane's third try in the 74th minute. Minutes earlier Parramatta looked set to cause the biggest upset of the season when winger Jason Moodie crossed the Broncos' line in the 70th minute. Fullback Clinton Schifcofske came close but failed to convert the try from the sideline for Brisbane to hold a tight 12-10 lead with eight minutes to go. Parramatta's defeat ends a fairytale for a team with an average age of 22, which just scraped into the finals series in seventh place and then beat the Roosters and Penrith to make Sunday's semifinal. The Roosters fought back from a 14-point halftime deficit. Fullback Luke Phillips opened the second-half scoring spree in the 51st minute for Sydney when he collected a pass from winger Anthony Minichiello to score under the posts. The try came after the Roosters were awarded a penalty two minutes earlier when Newcastle lock Bill Peden was penalized for playing the ball incorrectly. Sydney skipper Brad Fittler added another try two minutes later when he intercepted a cut-out pass from Knights halfback Andrew Johns to touch down beside the posts. Center Ryan Cross gave Sydney the lead for the first time in the match when he touched down for the Roosters' third converted try in five minutes. The Roosters haven't won a grand final since 1975. It will be Brisbane's fifth grand final appearance since it entered the competition in 1988. They have never lost a premiership decider.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
