Graceville Fixtures (Wednesdays) Season 2 2012
Venue Location
Bert St Clair Oval, 247 Graceville Ave, Graceville.
Key Information
- Key Contact:Tim Swan – 0403 604 190
- FINALS: Only Registered player are eligble to play finals.
- Weeks 10 and 11: ALL TEAMS HAVE GAMES IN WEEKS 10&11. Teams that are not playing in finals this week will play off for the Wildcard (see below).
Grand Final Results:
TRL would like to congratulate the following teams for their Grand Final wins:
Mens 1: Custard – Prizes: Trophy + Medallions + $125 OFF next season
Mixed : 24fit- Prizes: Trophy + Medallions + $125 OFF next season
Mens 2: GRC – Prizes: Medallions + $100 OFF next season
Wildcard Result
Congratulations to Cherbourg Sharks for their Wildcard win. They receive $100 next season.
Results: Week 11 (26.09.2012) Grand Finals and 2nd Week Wildcard
*Scores in Non-Grand Final games have been doubled
Graceville Wednesday End of Season Write-Up
Mens 1
The Div 1 Mens competition this season comprised of some very talented teams and was arguably the top flight division across the entire Brisbane comp. Teams like No Reserves, Balmain Tigers and the Weekend Punters would just about clean up anywhere else but in this particular comp, stands one very tall poppy…and that poppy comes in the form of Custard.
Custard, predictably took out this competition but to fully comprehend their dominance, understand this stat: 66 games of TRL played at Graceville; 66 victories. They have now won 6 straight undefeated premierships! This season they were certainly challenged by the other teams in the top 4 but when the pressure was on, they always stood up. The challenge will again be set in the summer!
Playing them in the Grand Final were Autumn Season Div 1 Mt Gravatt Tuesday winners, No Reserves. No Reserves had a very strong season and deserved their GF spot. Unfortunately they did not quite have enough to combat Custard but they put in a valiant effort in the GF. These guys have very fast ruck speed and at times it is very difficult to defend.
The Balmain Tigers are a team with plenty of potential but seemed to find ways to lose the close ones going down by 1 try on 3 occasions through the season. This ended up costing them a spot in the GF and they will need to lift a gear in defence if they are to seriously challenge Custard next season.
The Weekend Punters missed out on a top 3 finish on For and Against and as a result, had to play Custard in the semis. They put in a solid performance but did not quite have enough in the tank to launch a proper assault. They too will be back for the summer and we expect them to lift a gear with a few more players available.
The PIGs had what could be described as a disappointing season. Far too often Bobby B was left to marshall troops through facebook at the 11th hour. Injuries, work commitments and miscellaneous activities seem to leave this team decimated every second week. At their best, they are probably the side most likely to really challenge Custard’s grip on the trophy but unfortunately getting that strong lineup on the park each week proved difficult this season.
For M&A it was an eye opener playing in Div 1. With plenty of handy players at his disposal, Wade Davey just couldn’t get his team in rhythm and whilst they pushed No Reserves in a tight one in week 7, Div 1 was probably too much of an ask for them week in, week out. They will head into Div 2 for the Summer comp where I think they could do some real damage.
Mens 2
This Division was one of the closest fought divisions across the board this season. There were stacks of draws and games decided by 1 or 2 tries. In the end, our longest serving Wednesday night team – Kooga – made it to the GF to face off against GRC. This Final was always going to be close and was locked up 2-2 at halftime. In the end, GRC ran out victors 6-5. The result was emphatic for GRC but gutting for Kooga who did so well this season. GRC will be taking the next season off whilst Kooga will battle it out in Div 1 along with DBC who will also be promoted.
DBC had their best season yet and could easily have played in the GF in week 11. A few seasons back they were struggling to win games in the Sunday arvo comp but have reignited things this season. They can attack from anywhere on the park and have plenty of very handy players at their disposal. If I was to give them any advice it would be nominating certain players to fulfill certain roles. I think at times there are too many cooks in the middle. If they can start playing as a team, I am confident this team could develop into a powerhouse on Wednesday nights.
Good For Nothing have been one of the most consistent teams at Graceville for a number of years. I am hard pressed to think of a season where they have not at least made the semis and they did so again this season. Whilst they did not make it through to the GF, they had a very solid season which included plenty of highlights.
Ramrod were just off the pace this season and after so many seasons either in Div 1 and towards the top of Div 2, it was probably a case of missed opportunity to not make the top 4. Still they will return next season full of vigour and I think Mark will have them firing on all cylinders to make amends and once again, taste top honours.
Lids were a new side to TRL but there were plenty of familiar faces in the lineup and as a result, they certainly did not take long to click as a side. Whilst they did not make the top 4, there was plenty to like about the side who seemed to have a ball out there on the field. They love giving each other a hard time and it is great to see a team play with such a fun and social attitude. I think with a season now under their belts, they may be the smokey for the summer competition.
The Cherbourg Sharks played Div 1 a few seasons back and were very competitive up in that division. As a result, it was a bit baffling to see them languishing towards the bottom this season. That being said, Adam Powell has the boys playing on Monday nights as well next season so I am predicting with this added game practice, they will be right up the top next season.
Last but not least, Bounce probably did not have their strongest season but they were in the thick of things for most games. Rarely were they comprehensively beaten and I feel with a bit more luck, could quite easily have played finals footy. They too are back in action next week for the Summer comp and lets not forget this team has made the semis on plenty of occasions over the last 18 months in the div 2 competition.
Mixed
The rivalry between 24Fit and Touch This is developing into one of the fiercest around. They have faced off against one another in the Grand Final in successive seasons. In the Autumn Season, after dusting them twice during the rounds, Touch This fell to 24Fit in the big one. This season, they shared the round games one-a-piece. The GF was a see-sawing battle that actually went into extra time. In the end, it was 24Fit who got up in this period to make it two-in-a-row!
It was a heartbreaking end for Touch This who were bitterly disappointed with the loss but they have plenty to play for in the next few weeks with their Sunday side in the thick of finals footy. For 24Fit, they must certainly be gearing up for the next Champions’ League after missing the last one. To beat Touch This in two consecutive GFs must give this team plenty of hope of taking out the game’s glamour award at the next tournament.
The Fish Tacos are a great side. Speed, skill, TRL royalty – in that nearly every player helped mould the game in the early 2000s – they have it all. However, they have had to contend with the might of 24Fit and Touch This in the Wednesday comp – two of the greatest TRL Mixed sides ever. Whilst we have not heard a lot about this team in recent times, they have been playing some fantastic TRL and with the side moving to Tuesdays, I am confident we could see them once again climb to the top of the todem pole. The likes of King, Washington, Harg, S. Graham, D. Graham, Hume, Langford-Ely…Rutherford! It is hard to go past them as favourites for the Tuesday comp.
Usain’s Bolt had their ups and downs this season. When they had their full squad, they were very hard to beat but getting that team on the park every week was not easy for captain, Sarah Ulcoq. The team will be coming back in the summer for their 1000th season and I think if they can concentrate on getting the full squad their on a regular basis, they will be able to match it with Touch This and 24Fit.
Dirty Dozen were a new look team this season and it probably took about 5 weeks for the combinations to form. Towards the end of the season, they were really starting to fire and nearly pulled off a big upset against Touch This late in the season. They move to Mondays next time around and I am confident that they can do some real damage out at that comp.
Pig’s Company were joining a very strong competition and whilst results did not go their way, they would have learnt plenty as a team for the experience. What was great to see was a packed bench even in the last few weeks of competition and I am sure this team will go on to bigger and better things on a different night, next season…perhaps Tuesdays @ Graceville.
Tom Longworth
Wildcard Ladder:
| Team | P | F | A | F-A |
| Cherbourg Sharks | 2 | 20 | 7 | 13 |
| Balmain Tigers | 2 | 15 | 6 | 9 |
| Dirty Dozen | 2 | 25 | 19 | 6 |
| Good For Nothing | 2 | 18 | 14 | 4 |
| Bounce | 2 | 15 | 14 | 1 |
| PIGs | 2 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| M&A | 2 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| Lids | 2 | 13 | 18 | -5 |
| Pig’s Company | 2 | 19 | 25 | -6 |
| Ramrod | 2 | 12 | 21 | -9 |
| DBC | 2 | 10 | 20 | -10 |
| Fish Tacos | 2 | 4 | 16 | -12 |
| Usain’s Bolt | 2 | 10 | 24 | -14 |
| Weekend Punters | 2 | 2 | 17 | -15 |
