Cherbourg’s Jack O'Chin Oval was packed for the Rivalry Round clash between the Ipswich Jets and Souths Logan Magpies.
The locals came out to have their taste of top level Intrust Super Cup; and if they were hoping to see some Marmin Barba magic, they drove home happy after the match.
The Barba show included three tries and three goals for a personal tally of 18 points; adding to his already impressive 13 tries and 18 goals this season.
In his 50th Intrust Super Cup game he brought up his 300th point, while also skipping clear of Wynnum Manly’s Daniel Ogden as leading try scorer. Barba has now scored 16 tries from 11 games.
The Jets lost hooker Matt Parcell who made his NRL debut for the Broncos in Canberra, in his place Landon Hayes played his second Intrust Super Cup game.
Josh Cleeland started the game with a towering bomb that was swooped on by the reliable Dane Phillips; Phillips sensed his halves partner and threw it back to Cleeland for the Jets to be away to a great start and up 6-0.
In typical fighting Souths way, they responded with a try of their own through Josh Damon off a clever cross field Ashley Taylor kick which found its target and had the Magpies back at 6-4 after seven minutes.
Clever play from Hayes and a 40/20 saw the Jets not only win possession, but also capitalise and Brendon McGrady scored his third try this year to put his team ahead 10-4.
Again the Jets let Souths answer back with a try to Samisoni Vaioleti; and things were tight with both teams trading blows at 10-8.
Souths thought they had the numbers and spread the ball wide looking for a hole to expose, but like that other great Jet pilot Maverick; it was time for Barba to request a fly by. While Souths may have said the pattern was full, Barba took the intercept and ran for his first try of the afternoon and the Jets began to establish some dominance at 14-8.
At 10 minutes to the break, Ipswich weren’t done with yet when livewire winger McGrady kicking for himself and chasing hard to regather and touch down for a 20-8 lead.
With seven minutes left until the break Chris Walker must have felt left out with Barba and McGrady showing plenty of pace so Walker showed guile, experience and pace and left Souths wondering if it was 2001 as he touched down for try number five this year.
Forward Rod Griffin wasn’t ready for halftime just yet and offloaded to a flying Cleeland to score his second try and send the Jets to halftime up 30-8.
Souths half Taylor showed his kicking skills in the second half starting with a try to Dallas Anderson, who gathered the kick and had the Magpies the start they needed at 30-14.
Billy McConnachie got one back for the forwards when he followed Cleeland to the line and gladly accepted the pass to score his second try this year.
It was time again for the Jets outside backs to finish the game with Barba, Carlin Anderson and Nemani Valekapa all scoring to take the game well away from the Magpies and see the Jets hit the half-century mark for the first time this year in their 50-20 win.
IPSWICH JETS 50 (Marmin Barba 3, Brandon McGrady 2, Josh Cleeland 2, Carlin Anderson, Chris Walker, Billy McConnachie tries; Marmin Barba 3, Carlin Anderson 2 goals) def SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES 20 (Josh Damen, Samisoni Vaioleti, Dallas Anderson, Herschel Gideon tries; Scott Doyle 2 goals) at Jack O’Chin Oval, Cherbourg.
Final Teams
Souths Logan Magpies: 1. Josh Damen 2. Samisoni Vaioleti 3. Dallas Anderson 4. Tim Brooks 5. Matt Trnka 6. Jack Joass 7. Ashley Taylor 8. Tikiko Noke 9. Herschel Gideon 10. Andrew Edwards 11. Scott Doyle 12. Dan Tamou 14. Travis Waddell 15. Joe Boyce 13. Phil Dennis (c) 16. Sam Gardel 17. Leon Panapa
Ipswich Jets: 1. Carlin Anderson 2. Marmin Barba 3. Chris Walker 4. Nemani Valekapa 5. Brandon McGrady 6. Josh Cleeland 7. Dane Phillips 8. Josh Seage 22. Landon Hayes 10. Rod Griffin 11. Sam Martin 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Keiron Lander (c) 14. Fakahoko Teutau 15. Kurtis Lingwoodock 16. Billy McConnachie 17. Gerico Cecil
