The Souths Logan Magpies have snapped a three game losing streak with an impressive 42-22 victory over the Mackay Cutters at Davies Park today.
Entering the match having won three of their last four outings and celebrating Sam Hoare’s 50th cup game, the Cutters were expected to start strongly. However, it was the home side who jumped out of the blocks.
The blustery conditions played havoc with the Mackay kicking game early in the piece, with the Magpies capitalising on an errant Cutters dropout to send centre Brenko Lee over for a try after only three minutes of play.
When the Cutters found touch on the full from the restart, a perfectly placed grubber found winger Jordan Rapana behind the defence for his first four pointer of the match. The ensuing set saw second rower Shane Duck cleave through the Cutters defence and cross in the right corner, followed by a Phil Dennis try 10 minutes later to give the Magpies an astounding 20-0 lead after Rapana added the extras.
It took a bit of Liam Taylor brilliance to put first points on the board for the Cutters, with the winger bursting two tackles down the right edge to find the line. An impressive sideline conversion by Taylor moments later spurred the Cutters into action, with a forced dropout from the following set leading to a Brent Warr try, putting the visitors back in the contest trailing 20-12 after 30 minutes.
It was the Magpies who had the final say of the first half however, with Jordan Rapana leaping high over a Cutters winger to drag down his second try for the match, sending the home side into the break ahead 26-12.
The second half began with back-to-back tries for centre Niko Mataia, bringing the deficit back to only four points. Soon after, a late shot on hooker Anthony Mitchell brought the match to a momentary halt.
Although Mitchell was eventually cleared of any serious injury, the stop in play seemingly took the wind out of the Cutters’ sails, with the Magpies seizing control of the match.
In the Magpies’ following set, 120kg winger Ramon Filipine crashed his way past two Mackay defenders to give the home side some much needed breathing space. A now-weary Cutters defence found itself unable to combat the resurgent Magpies, as quick-fire tries to hooker Kurt Baptiste and five-eighth Jack Ahearn put the final result beyond doubt.
Jordan Rapana was a standout for the Magpies, with his two tries and strong ball running giving the Cutters all sorts of grief. For the visitors, fullback Zac Santo was once again impressive.
Next week Souths will travel to Piggabeen Sports Complex to face sixth-placed Tweed Heads on Sunday, while the Cutters will host the Ipswich Jets in a must-win showdown at Virgin Australia Stadium, also on Sunday.
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES 42 (Jordan Rapana 2, Ramon Filipine, Brenko Lee, Jack Ahearn, Kurt Baptiste, Shane Duck, Phil Dennis tries; Jordan Rapana 3, Luke Archer, Jack Ahearn goals) def MACKAY CUTTERS 22 (Niko Mataia 2, Liam Taylor, Brent Warr tries; Liam Taylor 3 goals) at Davies Park.
Final teams
Souths Logan Magpies: 1. Luke Archer 2. Ramon Filipine 3. Grant Cooke 4. Brenko Lee 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Jack Ahearn 7. Rhys Jacks 8. Andrew Edwards 9. Kurt Baptiste 10. Sam Mataora 11. Shane Duck 12. Darcy Wright 13. Phil Dennis (c) 14. Mitch Cronin 15. Leon Panapa 16. Rez Phillips 17. Luke Bateman
Mackay Cutters: 1. Zac Santo 2. Liam Taylor 3. Niko Mataia 4. Josh Benjamin 5. Chris Ulugia 6. Brent Warr 18. Anthony Mitchell 8. Sam Hoare 9. Dave Petersen 10. Karl Davies 11. John Asiata 12. Chris Gesch 13. Tyson Martin (c) 14. Doug Hewitt 15. Mitch Day 16. Kelvin Nielsen 17. Ryan Kinlyside
