In a classic contrast of styles, the fluidity and speed of the Sunnybank Magpies proved to be too much for the Inala Warriors, winning a one-sided affair 38-12 in the Brisbane Second Division Open 2 Southside match played at Jim Murdoch Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The Magpies effectively won this match in the opening quarter as the home side piled on three quick tries in the opening 15 minutes and the Warriors never recovered.
Sunnybank had the ideal start, going in to score after only 60 seconds on the clock. Centre Kaleb Houston launched an attacking raid down the Warriors left-hand side to find his winger Nathan Shaw, sending the long-striding flanker in to score.
Not 30 seconds later and straight from the restart, Magpies halfback Tokonoa Dean scored probably the try of the game. The nuggetty half chipped and chased twice to regather and score a brilliant solo try under the posts.
However, the Warriors side did show glimpses of textbook rugby league. Halfback David Miller and fullback Marley Blair were both outstanding on a losing side. On several occasions, it was Blair’s spectacular last line of defence that probably saved the visitors from racking up a much bigger score.
But, Sunnybank were here to win a football game and again the skills of halfback Dean would see him pop a nice ball to five-eighth Matt Pritchard who raced away to score under the sticks. At 16-0 the writing was on the wall for the Warriors in what looked like being a long day at the office.
Inala’s Blair who already was getting through a mountain of tackling at the back, was also a handy attacking player as well. The busy fullback sold a ridiculous dummy to the Magpies defence to power his way over under the sticks.
The Warriors already facing an uphill battle on the scoreboard were left reeling once again as Sunnybank’s Dean sliced his way through some brittle defence.
The powerful half again chipped over the top of the fullback to score an identical try and put the homeside in a comfortable half time lead of 26-6.
However, Inala came out in the second half a rejuvenated side. After only four minutes, the Warriors forwards in Graham Clevens and Jack Muagatai laid the platform with some good field position into Sunnybank’s half.
Five-eighth Corey Simpson, who looked unstoppable at times, quickly saw a gap open up and the nifty captain/coach slid in to score beside the posts for the visitors.
But despite an improved performance, the Warriors couldn’t prevent the home side from going in once again.
Dean slipped out of two tackles and found his centre Houston on his outside, who threw the last ball to winger Shaw who was able to plant the ball down inches from being tackled into touch.
A later rally by the Warriors wasn’t enough to halt the Magpies juggernaut and Shaw put the result to bed when he took an incredible intercept on his 30 metre line to race away unopposed and score under the posts.
Final score: Souths Sunnybank 38 def Souths Inala Warriors 12
