Gold Coast fans hoping to turn the tables on Newcastle after last year's Grand Final disappointment were shaken from the outset as Newcastle raced to an early 4-1 lead on their first service set.
Gold Coast managed to somewhat stabilise on their serve to pull back to 4-6 at the break, and 5-6 after Newcastle's first service point of the second half.
However Newcastle then pushed into overdrive, winning the next four points to lead 10-5, and eventually run out winners 11-6.
The loss is rumoured to have caused further ructions in the already-unstable Gold Coast club, with rumours circulating that players were drinking and partying into the early hours of last night at their Newcastle motel.
Gold Coast players, and Coach Dwane Heard, also clearly defied 24-hour media and technology ban by posting comments on the ARTTSL website last night. More to come on that breaking story as details emerge.
Newcastle have now won consecutive Premierships, and have firmed their image as the model club of ARTTSL after just two years in First Division. Newcastle also won the ARTTSL Second Division Premiership on their first attempt in 2009.
The question now is can anyone stop Newcastle in 2012? Little is known of what form the competition will take next year, whether Wilkington Tuffy will stick with the current 20-team First Division line-up, whether he will seek to rationalise the competition and/or re-introduce the controversial Second Division, whether the mysterious HyperBall threat re-emerges, what of the rumours of a team named the Southern Bundy Crushers, and what will controversial figures Jimmy Spring and Angus and Patsy do next?!
And the big question: Is Bernard Elksteine really dead?
Thank you for your support and interest during ARTTSL Season 2011. Don’t forget to renew your club memberships for 2012.
ARTTSL Premiership 2011, Grand Final Result
Newcastle 11 d Gold Coast 6 at Newcastle
1 comment:
Newcastle should savour this while they can. A few players coming off contract and their increasing value will make it hard to hold them all.
Steve Rignole
Wollongong
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