Rugby league fans at Davies Park were treated to an entertaining game on Sunday – with the Souths Logan Magpies holding on the record a 24-22 win over the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Both teams have performed well in recent weeks with little reward to show for it on the ladder and were looking to change that with a win in this game in front of the Channel 9 cameras.
Tweed Heads travelled to Davies Park following a 32-24 loss to the highflying Hunters in Round 15 – a result that in an alternate universe could have been at least a draw – with the goal kicking letting the side down in a match that saw both sides post five tries apiece.
The Seagulls started this game well, with Blake Anderson posting the first try of the afternoon – but Souths Logan hit back soon after with prop Andrew Edwards crashing over – with the conversion giving the home side a 6-4 lead.
A Dallas Anderson four-pointer extended the Magpie’s advantage and it looked like they would take a 12-4 lead into the break. However, the competition’s all-time leading try scorer Nat Barnes was able to find one more to add to his tally; closing the gap to two points at halftime.
After the break – the both sides went try-for-try with some exciting play; however the extra conversion from Souths centre Scott Doyle in the first half proved the difference in the end; giving the Magpies their fourth win of the season.
It was an important victory at home for the Magpies who also blooded new faces in the match – including Brisbane Broncos Under 20 George Fai.
Although new to the Cup team, he is definitely not a new presence at the club – having played his junior football with the Magpies; a stint that also included captaining the Cyril Connell Cup winning side in 2012.
For the visitors, Newcastle-bound prop and stand-in captain for the past few weeks Damian Sironen was strong for his side and will be a big loss for Tweed Heads during the remainder of the season.
Already hampered by a heavy injury toll not only to their own team, but also to their NRL feeder team the Gold Coast Titans; his drive in the middle will be missed.
This weekend, the Seagulls will have the week off with the bye while the Magpies will travel to Ipswich to take on the Jets.
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES 24 (Dallas Anderson, Hansell Semau, Andrew Edwards, Joe Boyce tries; Scott Doyle 4 goals) def TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 22 (Nathanael Barnes, Blake Anderson, Shaun Carney, Oliver Percy tries; Ali Grant 3 goals) at Davies Park.
Final Teams
Souths Logan Magpies: 1. Brandon Khuu 2. Paul Rokolati 3. Dallas Anderson 4. Scott Doyle 5. Tim Brooks 6. Jack Joass 7. Ben Thorburn 18. Hansell Semau 9. Travis Waddell 10. Andrew Edwards 11. Joe Boyce 12. Dan Tamou 13. Phil Dennis (c) 14. Jack Anderson 15. George Fai 16. Sam Gardel 17. Leon Panapa
Tweed Heads Seagulls: 1. Ali Grant 2. Nathanael Barnes 3. Blake Anderson 4. Jarrod Morfett 5. Leva Li 6. Ricardo Parata 7. Shaun Carney 18. Damian Sironen (c) 9. Sam Meskell 10. Oliver Percy 11. Caleb Binge 12. Dane Clarke 13. Sam Saville 14. Karl Lawton 15. Jai Ingram 16. James Wood 17. Will Bugden
