Round 15
Souths Logan Magpies 22 d. Tweed Heads 18

2008 Wizard Queensland Cup Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats]

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

Footrace provides epic finish
Mon June 30, 2008
Source: www.qrl.com.au

After 79 minutes of gripping action, it all came down to a footrace between the opposing fullbacks.

For Tweed Heads, their hopes hinged on the flying Brenton Bowen, whose team was behind 22-18.

Souths Logan magician Quentin Laulu-Togagae held the fate of his team's winning prospects in his hands, or should that be pumping legs, in the mad scramble that set Meakin Park alight.

In the final wash up, Laulu-Togagae was able to mow down Bowen, who had set off on a breathtaking dash down the sideline after scooping up a grubber kick off his own try-line.

Like an astute cowboy on horseback, Laulu-Togagage rounded up Bowen on the half-way line.

Tweed spun the ball wide from the next play, but the leg-weary Seagulls eventually ran out of ideas as the Magpies clung on for a nail-biting 22-18 victory.

While the hard-fought win maintained Souths Logan's standing at the top of the Wizard Cup table, the Seagulls finals hopes were all but extinguished.

Tweed's effort was sensational, but their execution at crucial times was poor.

The visiting Seagulls did well to overturn a 10-0 deficit to lead 12-10 at half-time following tries from James Wood and Matt Pow.

An upset victory was well and truly on the cards in the 43rd minute when the zippy Billy Ngawini sent Roy Friend on his way to the try-line following a neat dart out of dummy half.

The Daniel Evans conversion put Tweed in front 18-10.

Suddenly, the big contingent of Magpies supporters were out of voice.

But the Magpies rocketed back into contention on the back of a 48th minute special from Shea Moylan and a classy try from that man Laulu-Togagae in the 64th.

Moylan's try came from a sensational flick pass from Neville Costigan.

Costigan and giant forward Tom Learoyd-Lahrs made a huge impact for the Magpies, particularly in the first half.

Learoyd-Lahrs crashed through Tweed's front line on several occasions. Souths Logan halfback Phil Dennis was also a menacing figure for the Magpies.

Dennis, the ABC TV's man of the match, set up the opening try of the match in the sixth minute when he hit Learoyd-Lahrs on the chest with a brilliant short pass.

Learoyd-Lahrs charged over the last line of defence to cross near the posts.

The sight of Learyod-Lahrs crashing over the try-line would have been a welcome one for Raiders coach Neil Henry, who may yet call on the 115kg forward for Canberra's next NRL match.

Report Source: www.qrl.com.au

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