Round 16
Toowoomba Clydesdales 12 l. Easts Tigers 33

2006 Wizard Queensland Cup Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Australia > Queensland > State/Metropolitan Level Competition: Wizard Queensland Cup

Pesky Tigers Upset Clydesdales
Mon July 10, 2006
Source: QRL

EASTS has shown it will provide more than nuisance value should it maintain a spot in the Wizard Cup top five, recording a huge 33-12 upset victory against Toowoomba at Clive Berghofer Stadium.

Had opposing teams not sat up and taken notice after recent wins over Redcliffe, Burleigh and Wynnum Manly, then surely they would have after the Tigers mauled a strong Clydesdales side on Saturday.

Toowoomba went into the match celebrating the return of several noted contributors and boasting 11 wins from its last 12 games. Yet 80 minutes later the Dales were left with their tails between their legs, losing an equal share of the competition lead.

Easts scored first via young halfback David Georgiou and by halftime held a 16-8 advantage.

The irony of the situation was that Georgiou and fellow teenagers David Tyrrell and Shane Neumann were among the Tigers better performers, playing against rivals more often favoured for junior representative sides.

Toowoomba was given limited opportunities by Easts tactical and territorial control. However the Clydesdales looked dangerous whenever an opportunity was presented and it made for a keen contest.

Superior fitness and the ability to rapidly build momentum had seen Toowoomba come from behind more than once this season and that scenario again seemed on the cards when the home side scored first after the break.

Yet Easts did not fold as they perhaps would have at the beginning of the year, sticking to the gameplan and continuing to graft away. The closing half-hour led to three more tries, two goals and even a cautious field goal from Matt Lockyer.

Backing up from a Players Player performance for Queensland Residents last Wednesday, Lockyer was again commanding and displayed real leadership qualities.

The win marked Easts fourth in succession and thrust the Tigers three points clear of Tweed Heads and Burleigh, who are tied for fifth place.

With only six rounds remaining the tendency would be to consider Easts a certain finalist. However a difficult month lies ahead, with games against Souths Logan, North Queensland and Tweed Heads scheduled, plus a bye for which no competition points are allocated.

Next Saturdays clash against Souths Logan will have particular feeling, after the Magpies won the first round of the local derby 30-18 back in April. The hit-out should also mark Brandon Costins first appearance at Langlands Park since he left the Tigers mid-season in 2005.

Toowoombas challenge next Sunday will be taking on Burleigh at Pizzey Park, a task which has given the Clydesdales some difficulty in recent times.

Winger Denan Kemp now has 14 tries for Toowoomba this season, second only to Tweed Heads Nat Barnes (16 tries).

EASTS 33 (Mark Cantoni 2, David Georgiou, Luke Branighan, Matt Lockyer, David Tyrrell tries; Luke Branighan 4 goals; Matt Lockyer field goal) d TOOWOOMBA 12 (Joel Moon, Denan Kemp, Derricke Watkins tries) at Clive Berghofer Stadium.

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