The battle of the Open 1 South heavyweights Logan Brothers v Bulimba Valleys took place at Langlands Park for the right to claim the prestigious Ted Beaumont trophy.
With both sides level pegging on 20 points on the premiership table, it was always going to be a well evened match up.
But someone forgot to tell Bulimba that as they toppled a disappointing Logan in front of a healthy crowd 40-34.
The Bulldogs scored the first try of the afternoon early on when winger Jie Crawford swooped up a loose Logan ball to race away untouched to score in the corner. With Cameron Joyce unable to land the difficult sideline conversion, the Bulldogs were up 4-0.
It was only a matter of minutes before the Bulldogs had their next try when the Bulimba captain fired out a textbook pass along the backline and found a willing Matthew Norton who latched onto the pass and crossed for the first of his two tries for the afternoon. With another difficult conversion in the windy conditions, the goal was waved today but had Bulimba leading 8-0.
With Logan appearing to have stage fright, it was all Bulimba in the opening exchanges and a brilliant 40/20 by the experienced Cameron Joyce had the Bulldogs on the attack again. From the quick tap, Bulimba turned the screw even further and busy hooker Pat Noonan burrowed his way over under the posts to post the next Bulimba try. Joyce had no problem with this conversion and a shell shocked Logan had no answers to the Bulldogs game plan.
Logan however got the try they were looking for after a Bulimba dropped ball saw Mathew Faiumia scoop up the loose ball and find powerful centre David Gorman who scored out wide. Tanielu was unable to add to the tally and Bulimba were still cruising at 14-4.
Logan made some easy metres from the kick off which saw them make some good field position and no sooner were they in Bulimba’s red zone they scored again when human wrecking ball Terry Kepu swatted away defenders like flies and steamrolled his way over the tryline to make the score a more respectable 14-10 as Tanielu slotted the easy conversion.
But the Bulldogs replied in typical fashion and winger Salesi Tuitahi scooted down the blindside and crashed into the corner. Joyce again unable to add the extras and Bulimba still had the edge 18-10.
Coach Brian Dart’s game plan was being executed perfectly as the Bulimba attack chiselled away at the heroic Logan defence and as a result, hard working lock Dan Waterson was awarded a try after accepting a nice pass from halfback and captain Smith.
As the second half unfolded and with the score now starting to blow out at 24-10, it was up to the electrifying Logan fullback Ono Sa’oialo who mesmerized the Bulimba defence with a dazzling side stepping run that would see him crash over beside the posts.
Tanielu added the extras and Logan were back in it at 24-16. Unfortunately, Logan dropped the ball straight from the kick off and had Bulimba on the attack once again and scoring his second try of the afternoon was Mathew Norton who raced unopposed.
Bulimba were now sneaking away at 30-16. With two tries in the space of five minutes to Moli for his second and second-rower Adam Ooorschot shot the lead out to a now commanding 40-16.
Logan were now in need of some inspiration and with coach Jason Gainey reluctantly making serious changes, it was now up to Logan’s go to men and with hard hitting lock Chris Turner running at the Bulimba defence with some powerful runs and joined by second rower Nui Mauigoa, Brothers were now finding some chinks in the Bulimba armour.
Logan scored again through fullback Sa’oialo with one of his trademark side stepping runs to race in and score. Another quick try to replacement Ron Maiava for Brothers was just what the doctor ordered and a comeback was on the cards at 40-28.
Bulimba were now tiring and Logan were finding their second wind, but it would prove all too late, with the Bulimba side hanging on for a 40-34 win.
