The Wash-Up: Qualifying Final – Eastwood v Warringah
by Paul Cook - (see match highlights here)
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THE WARM-UP:
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A twist of fixtures fate meant that this Qualifying Final – between the sides that finished 2nd and 5th respectively - was a repeat of the match played out on the same pitch only seven days previously. That game had ended in a manner, which suggested that this clash would be anything but a formality for Eastwood, Warringah pushing the reigning Premiers all the way before going down 31-24. And with Waratah, Hugh Roach, a late withdrawal and the Woodies not exactly firing on all cylinders over the past month, there was more than a hint of upset in the air...
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THE BREAKDOWN:
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Those judges may have felt the building pangs of justification as the first quarter played out. Warringah, clearly buoyed by their efforts in defeat the previous week, came out in a confident manner and had the better of the territory and possession stakes, a Hamish