Brandon Park Acacia Ridge may have played host to the game of the year thus far with Souths Magpies and Carina Tigers fighting out a 16-16 draw in the Open 2 Southside competition on Saturday.
In a topsy turvey encounter, both sides put on a show for the hardy souls in attendance producing a game that had everything.
In a frantic final passage, the Tigers grabbed a one-on-one strip and looked set to steal a late victory, but they were cut short in the dying seconds with the game ending in a draw.
It took just one minute of play for action to get going when Carina got on the board with a try in the corner to Omair Khan.
However, the Magpies on home soil dusted themselves off and hit back with a powerful 11th minute try to Brayden Wright.
Both sides oozed class and defensively, the Magpies and Tigers were on and they ticked all the boxes with their skills as well.
With a penalty to Carina right in front of the sticks for a high tackle, five-eighth and goal kicker Jayden Bewley calmly slotted the easiest of conversions to see the Tigers back in front.
The Magpies had the last laugh leading into the halftime break with Terence Hill grabbing an intercept and outrunning the defence to score a breathtaking 80m try.
Souths kept the momentum going after halftime, with Wright grabbing his double with another scintillating effort.
But just as it appeared that the Magpies were on a roll, the Tigers scored off a charge down by Bewley who scooped up the ball and raced away to score under the sticks.
While some exciting tries were being scored by both teams, the defence at this stage of the game was still brutal. Magpies enforcers Alex Beaumont and Jordan Davies were near perfect in that department.
Carina levelled the scores thanks to a late try to winger Michael Bullock who inched his way over the line.
The Tigers had a chance to secure victory right there, but with two minutes remaining - the sideline conversion attempt was unsuccessful and the scores remained level.
Carina knocked on from the restart gifting the Magpies a chance to snatch victory from 20m out, but a one-on-one steal soon after meant it was the Tigers on the attack in the dying stages.
Ultimately, the scores remained level as the fulltime siren sounded, which most observers would agree was a fair result considering the show both teams put on.
*Mike Simpson is the Rugby League Brisbane correspondent for the QRL
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