THEY wouldn’t have dared to dream it at the start of the season, but Quirindi will figure in the Central North finals after thrashing Gunnedah 39-nil at Gunnedah on Saturday, to stitch up top spot in Tier 2, and the remaining finals berth.
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It's the first time the Lions have been involved in the finals since 2010 and will see them making their way to Moree on Saturday.
The Red Devils were the final hurdle to their finals dream and had the better of the early possession and territory.
But they couldn't make it count on the scoreboard, unlike the Lions, whose first sustained foray into their half resulted in a try to winger Jake Smith.
The home side had a penalty to hit back midway through the first half, but were unsuccessful and minutes later were caught napping by the Lions on a quick lineout throw.
Fullback Ben Webber followed up with another try not long after, to push the lead out to 17-nil.
It remained that through to the break, much to the Lions’ frustration.
"At half-time we were a bit unhappy," co-coach Ben Wilkes said.
"We were just giving away silly penalties."
They also seemed to lack a bit of composure at times in attack, which led to turnovers.
"We pushed the passes a little bit," Wilkes said.
He put that down to a little bit of over-enthusiasm, and trying to put some points on.
They also identified a few issues with their fringe defence, with the Red Devils making some good metres just off the ruck.
On the flip side when the ball stuck they moved it well across the backs.
Webber's try came from a brilliant long ball from five-eighth Elliot Tourle to get the fullback on the outside of his man.
Minutes later Tourle and Jake Murray almost masterminded a fourth try, with only some desperate cover defence from the Red Devils preventing Murray finding the line.
He did get there in the second half, scoring on the bell.
"We were pretty happy with the second half," Wilkes said.
"The only thing that let us down a little bit, was discipline."
The lineout also had a bit of an off day and was a bit scrappy.
One of the most pleasing aspects was the nil against them.
"That was one of the things we spoke about in the sheds," Wilkes said.
"If we want to compete and give it to these sides in the top tier we have to have a stonewall defence."
He thought coaching partner Nick Rees was one of their best. He was everywhere, he said. Smith was meanwhile electric out wide and a threat anytime he got the ball, while Tom Tanner did a good job shifting to five-eighth in the second half..
