Round 13
Easts Tigers 6 l. Ipswich Jets 36

2007 Wizard Queensland Cup Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Smith Returns To Haunt Tigers
Sun June 10, 2007
Source: www.qrl.com.au

Former Tigers legend Darren Smith returned to crash the party for Easts on the weekend, as he helped direct Ipswich to a 36-6 spanking of his old club at Langlands Park.

A member of the Jets' all-star coaching line-up, along with Kevin Walters and Glenn Lazarus, Smith stepped up his involvement this week while head honcho Walters was absent with State of Origin commitments.

The task was no easy one for Ipswich, carrying heightened expectations and facing an Easts side that had won well the previous week.

On a personal level, Smith also had the peculiar circumstance of returning to the club where he was a player and chief executive less than a year ago.

"It was a big day there at Langlands. The Past Players' Reunion was on and there were a lot of people I knew in the crowd," Smith noted.

"There were guys from my very early days starting out at Easts, but unfortunately for them I came with a job to do and that was to beat them.

"We won in all three grades as well and it's been a long time since Ipswich beat Easts like that."

Smith wasn't the only ex-Tiger to come back in enemy colours. Speedster Donald Malone and forward Trevor Exton posted three tries between them, lining up against their 2006 teammates.

The nature and magnitude of the win was largely unexpected, even accounting for Ipswich's great recent form.

Ipswich led 24-0 at halftime and then 36-0 before allowing the home side the last try of the contest.

"I'm more than pleased. (The players) are a good bunch of blokes who, most importantly, are playing consistent footy," Smith said.

"That's what we've been trying to drum into them more than anything. You can't afford to play really well one week and not back it up the next.

"From where we were at the start of the year?well I was just hoping we could compete. But the team has clearly performed above expectations."

The latest victory came with several players battling the flu and fullback Ben McFadgean only arriving at the game shortly before kick-off. McFadgean, who missed a game recently due to a car accident, was again stuck battling traffic.

For Easts the result means a spectacular drop from third to sixth on the table, while Ipswich ranks only behind North Queensland and Redcliffe.

Next week Ipswich plays the ABC Match of the Round against Norths at 2pm at North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday. Easts visits Rockhampton on Saturday to face the Central Comets at Browne Park at 7.30pm Saturday.

IPSWICH 36 (Donald Malone 2, Ben McFadgean, Luke Walker, Chris Walker, Trevor Exton, Ricky Dodd; Chris Walker 4 goals) d EASTS 6 (Isaac Kaufmann try; Justin McKay goal) at Langlands Park.

News sent by: www.qrl.com.au

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