Queanbeyan-Palerang Power have stunned the defending champions, North Fire, to get just their second ever win in the CFL, with an incredible second half performance at Daramalan College on Sunday.
The new look QP Power started strong, controlling the majority of possession in the opening stages. A long range effort Adam Neou could not be stopped as the ball sailed past the defence into the bottom corner. North Fire had their chance to respond from a free-kick not long after, but Josh Freeman was on hand to deny at the back post.
A fifth foul before half time from Power, gave Fire a chance to equalise from the spot, as Elie Darwich calmly dispatched to level the scores.
It counted for little as a perfectly weighted ball over the top from Dylan Deep-Jones was met first time was met by Marco Gayer, who poked the ball around the keeper first time to put Power back inn front.
It was all QP Power in the second half as two goals in a minute, from Cullen-Rua and Neou, got the side off to the perfect start. It was all the Power from then on, as they piled on 11 goals in the second half.
Neou ended with four goals, Doug Woodiwiss and Gayer both got hattricks, while Ed McCarthy and Marley Jackson rounded out the incredible performance with goals of their own.
The Friday night game was the Uni Derby as UC Stars went two wins from two, with a three-goal victory over ANU Apex.
It was an open start to the encounter as both sides battled for possession early on. Seb Arranz was on form early to deny ANU on multiple occasions. UC would take the lead as Nick Pratezina calmly slotted home off a corner.
ANU responded not long after, as Braulio Melo pounced on a mistake from Will Manalo in defence for UC and poked the ball home for the equaliser. They would go on to take the lead close to half time, as John Hajdu slammed the ball home from a free kick.
UC took control in the second half, with Luca Macor getting the ball rolling in the 27th minute, with Jayde James-Ward following with his own effort soon after. Nick Dahl would seal victory for UC, with two goals in a minute to end the game.
After having their round one clash postponed, South Canberra Swift got their season started with an impressive display against West Canberra Lightning.
Swift got things going quickly, as Aisosa Ihegie slotted the opener home from range, to give his side an early lead two minutes in.
Lightning took their time to respond with a goal of their own, with Nathen Megic tapping the ball home after his initial attempt had been saved.
With it looking likely that the teams would head into the break level, two quick goals from Swift ensured they went in with the upper hand.
Micheal Adams beat two defenders before finding the back of the net, while Fernando Jorquera scored and incredible half volley right on the buzzer to extend the lead.
Lighting came out of the blocks quick in the second half, pulling one back in the first minute as Nick Subasic smashed one home off the back of a corner.
Swift responded only a few minutes later, Marco Alcazar finishing off a quick counterattack with a well struck shot.
Lightning again pulled one back, as Megic smashed one in from range, but Ihegie got his second of the night less than a minute later, with Swift firmly in control once again.
A late flurry from the Swift, with three goals in two minutes, saw them put the result beyond doubt. Marco Alcazar added his second to the scoresheet, while Lucas Alacazar adding a brace of goals to Swift’s tally.
RESULTS
UC Stars 5 (Pratezina 7’, Macor 27’, James-Ward 30’, Dahl 39’, 39’) ANU Apex 2 (Melo 10’, Hajdu’)
South Canberra Swift 8 (Ihegie 2’, 31’, Adams 19’, Urzua Jorquera 20’, Pena Alcazar 25’, Alcazar-Stevens 38’, 38’) West Canberra Lightning 3 (Megic 8’, 31’, Subasic 21’)
North Canberra Fire (Darwich 16’) QP Power (Neou 9’, 22’, 35’, 37’, Gayer 18’, 28’, 39’, Cullen-rua 22’, Woodiwiss 26’, 27’, 30’, McCarthy 28’, Jackson 36’)
TABLE
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | UC Stars | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 6 |
| 2 | QP Power | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | +12 | 3 |
| 3 | South Canberra Swift | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 3 |
| 4 | West Canberra Lightning | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | ANU Apex | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 15 | -8 | 0 |
| 6 | North Canberra Fire | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 18 | -13 | 0 |
TOP SCORERS
4 Daniel FULTON (Lightning), Adam NEOU (Power)
3 Doug WOODIWISS (Power), Johnny HAJDU (Apex), Marco GAYER (Power), Nathen MEGIC (Lightning), Nick DAHL (Stars)
2 Nik POPOVICH (Lightning), Bailey SORENSON (Fire), Aisosa IHEGIE (Swift), Jayde JAMES-WARD (Stars), Luca MACOR (Stars), Marco Alessandro Pena ALCAZAR (Swift), Lucas ALCAZAR-STEVENS (Swift), Nicholas SUBASIC (Lightning)
1 Ben BASSER-SILK (Lightning), Ashley BLOUNT (Lightning), Connor FALUSI (Apex), Nick FITZGERALD (Apex), Bradley MALONE (Fire), Elliot SANTOS (Fire), Nick RATHJEN (Stars), Jake WILSENER (Stars), Caleb CULLEN-RUA (Power), Nicholas PRATEZINA (Stars), Micheal ADAMS (Swift), Fernando Javier Urzua JORQUERA (Swift), Marley JACKSON (Power), Ed MCCARTHY (Power), Own GOALS
