With nine rounds remaining in the In Safe Hands Cup, three clubs - Redcliffe, Easts and Wynnum Manly - top the ladder with the West Brisbane Panthers a point behind in second at the end of Round 12.
West Brisbane Panthers V Logan Brothers
Logan Brothers produced their best game of the season against West Brisbane Panthers at Kev McKell Oval last Saturday afternoon. After a two-week hiatus, and a fair touch-up from Valleys prior to their break, the Brethren put all that behind them to show they have the squad to threaten in the remaining rounds.
A Luke Strasser grubber to the in goal had Michael Pearsall pounce to open the scoring within the first five minutes, the try was converted by James Sharkie to go to 6-0. Fifteen minutes of explosive defensive football was interrupted when Leon Panapa broke through Wests’ line to run 40m to register the visitors’ first points. Panapa’s try was unconverted, 6-4.
Six minutes later, a burrowing Kololo Saitaua from dummy-half and a successful Nick Doyle conversion sent two exhausted teams to the sheds 10-6, in favour of Logan Brothers. The whole first half dished up delicious and at times brutal football.
Luke Strasser took on the defensive line 10 minutes after oranges to break through to then fire a pass out to the support player in Ethan Marrinan for him to place the pill under the crossbar for what should have been the simplest of conversion. However Sharkie, who has been outstanding with his goal-kicking, missed from in front to keep it all locked up at 10 a piece.
The try of the match started 10m in Panthers territory , Luke Strasser fired a long pass to the flying Adam Wickins. Wickins set sail for the left corner but the cover defence forced a Hail Mary pass in-field. Pearsall bumped Paul Ulburg out of the way to collect then to try to finish the move, but again Logan’s cover defence halted his progression, not before Ulburg, who was still lurking, accepted the Pearsall offload to put the movement to rest under the cross bar. No mistake this time from Sharkie and the Panthers were in front again 16-10.
With less than 10 to go, Saitaua from dummy-half again took on the marker defence on the tryline. The Panthers were up to the challenge this time, so they thought, however Saitaua was able to push the pass back to Rhys Melville who crashed over and the Doyle conversion brought the scores level at 16-16, also the full-time score.
Easts Tigers V Ipswich Jets
Round 12 of the In Safe Hands Cup started on Friday night at Suzuki Stadium. The Ipswich Jets requested the change due to the popularity of the Ipswich Cup on the Saturday. Mark Bishop’s Jets were left in the starting barrier as the Tigers jumped away to cross the line 50-10. Mark Krause’s Tigers now have five wins in a row to advance to join Redcliffe and Wynnum Manly at the top of the table.
Redcliffe Dolphins V Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Sunday’s mouth-watering contest between the top two sides after round 11 in Wynnum Manly and Redcliffe at Kougari, did not disappoint.
Redcliffe had been their own worst enemy in the first half, and along with a near faultless completion rate from the Seagulls, the Phins were only down 12-6 at the break.
Redcliffe’s Jack Ahearn earned Player of the Match, for his work rate and try assists to put the premiers back at the top of the table after taking the points, 24-18. Redcliffe have their first win in three rounds and the Seagulls have back-to-back losses.
Valleys had the bye.
RESULTS – IN SAFE HANDS CUP – ROUND 12
June 16-18, 2017
East Tigers 50 (David McKenna 2, Michael Pouhlia, Jack Schaffer, Brayden Torpy, H James Salter, Brandon George, David Murphy, Luke Lavelle Tries; Brayden Torpy 7 goals) def Ipswich Jets 10 (Bernard Mosby, Raymond Baira Tries, Mikaera Beattie goal).
West Brisbane Panthers 16 (Adam Wickins, Paul Ulberg, Ethan Marrinan Tries: James Sharkie 2 goals) drew with Logan Brothers 16 (Leon Panapa, Kalolo Saitaua, Rhys Melville Tries Nick Doyle 2 goals).
Redcliffe Dolphins 24 (Rinsma Saueha 2, Joe Bradley, Taylor Brown Tries; Kyle Van Klaveren 4 goals) def Wynnum Manly Seagulls 18 (John Te Reo, Brad Mana, Kelly Tate Tries; Paora Kemp 3 goals).
Valleys Diehards - bye
