Normanby Hounds and Brothers Juniors certainly left their best games to last, grinding out a thrilling 14-14 draw in Saturday’s Open 2 Men’s North match at Bert St Clair Oval.
Not only was it a carnival atmosphere at the Hounds for their Old Boys' day, but club stalwart Michael Crosby was also notching up his 200th game for the club.
After a torrid opening 20 minutes, the Hounds did strike first blood through centre Tobias Moore, who used his strength to power over the line in the corner to put the home side on the board first.
Brothers followed suit in the 25th minute, scoring a belter try of their own when Leprechaun winger Codie Fisk evaded two Hounds defenders to slide in inches from the touchline.
Normanby’s big men were troubling the visitors with man-of-the-moment Crosby playing out of his skin and Elijah Gagai the pick of the Hounds.
However, the Leprechauns were busy in attack and toyed with the home side through their backs, in halves pairing Sam Turnbull and captain Andrew Searle.
A superb kicking and passing game from Searle saw the halfback pull off a pinpoint 40/20 with the run of play right before the half-time hooter, but it amounted to nothing as the sides went into the break with the Leprechauns' noses in front 6-4.
Philippines international Luke Srama showed his experience out on the field and it would be the diminutive hooker’s scoots from dummy half which set up the Hounds' next try, through winger Issac Moore.
Moore’s evasive skills shone through as he powered down the sideline beating two Brothers defenders to slide in and score.
Leprechauns halfback Searle -- who is a standout in this division - was everywhere in this game.
He delivered the perfect cut out pass in the 44th minute to find an unmarked Richard Evans, who had no trouble planting the ball over the line.
While Crosby was toiling away in his 200th game, his defence was exemplary and paved the way for the younger Hounds in a side that were still muscling up against their hosts even late in this game.
But the Leprechauns were out to spoil the party and in the 51st minute five-eighth Turnbull delivered a beautiful pass that found his winger Fisk, who touched down for his second try of the afternoon.
The Hounds however found some extra spark which had the visitors back-peddling up the field through their tireless forward pack.
They would eventually have the last say in the game before the siren sounded through halfback Darren Crilly.
The experienced half fired out a superb pass to find his fullback who crashed over beside the sticks.
An easy conversion from Crosby saw both teams locked up 14-14 at fulltime, taking away a point each in what was a highly entertaining game of rugby league and their final games of the season.
