Deja vu semi loss for Tigers

SMILING JETS: Bilambil player Mitch Heyden celebrates after scoring the match-winning try against Tugun yesterday.

Scott Powick

IT was all deja vu at Owen Park yesterday when the Bilambil Jets took control in the final 20 minutes to down defending premiers Southport Tigers 20-12 in the Gold Coast Rugby League major semi-final.

The Tigers, who are the minor premiers chasing a hat-trick of premiership wins, were beaten by the Jets last season and then downed Tugun in the preliminary final before winning back-to-back Bycroft Cups. They will take on a much-improved Currumbin Eagles in the preliminary final at Owen Park next Sunday, with Tugun taking on Bilambil in the reserves and the Jets clashing with Runaway Bay in the under-19s.

Centre Guy Lanston had a good game crossing for two tries and running well off halves Matt Nuttall and Paul Rolls.

Tom Dawney, who was lock in Nuttall’s absence last week, played lock and scored a try late in the game to give the Jets the lead.

Nuttall finished with a personal tally of eight points from a try and two goals and again prop Mitch Spackman led from the front and back-rower Jason Klimis was probably the best in a hard-working pack.

Meanwhile Currumbin Eagles scored three tries in the first seven minutes to beat the Tugun Seahawks 22-12 in the minor semi-final at Boyd Street Oval on Saturday.