Rangers plot an end to Emus' premiership reign - Toowoomba Chronicle

Toowoomba Rangers on the attack against Dalby in their semi-final meeting two weeks ago. Glen McCullough

TOOWOOMBA Rangers welcome back key players tomorrow when they look to do the "unthinkable" by ending Goondiwindi's Wagners Risdon Cup season and premiership reign.

Rangers and the Emus meet in a preliminary final showdown this afternoon at Riddles Oval with the winner to face Dalby in next week's grand final.

Goondiwindi went into the finals series as firm favourite to claim its third successive Risdon Cup title.

But following a crushing 26-5 semi-final loss to Dalby last Saturday, the Emus are suddenly under threat of missing the season decider as they ready themselves to face a Rangers team growing in confidence.

Rangers' cause is aided this week by the return of hard-working forward Matt Roberts and playmaker Andrew Turner to five-eighth.

Rangers advanced to today's match with a 43-13 elimination last Saturday of Toowoomba Bears at Goondiwindi.

"We were good in the second half last week but not so much the first half," Rangers coach Mark Nicholls said.

"We turned over too much ball early and Terry Harvey (Bears), being as good a player as he is, held us up for a while.

"But we fixed things after half-time and it will be no different against Goondiwindi.

"I think we are a real show if we continue that sort of form.

"Ball control and continuity is the real key to us beating Gundy.

"Lachie Stuart and Tom Crockett are out this week, but having Matt Roberts and Andrew Turner is a real bonus for us.

"I think it will be a really good game.

"We knew we had to beat both Dalby and Goondiwindi at some stage to win the competition.

"We are still quietly confident.

"We stayed and watched some of the Dalby-Gundy match last week. Dalby was very impressive and we are encouraged by that.

"Hopefully we can repeat what Dalby did and get a Toowoomba team through to grand final day."

DOWNS RUGBY FINALS

Preliminary finals, today,

Riddles Oval, Goondiwindi

A-grade: Goondiwindi v

Toowoomba Rangers at 3pm

B-grade: Dalby v Condamine

at 1.30pm

C-grade: Dalby v Chinchilla

at noon