A VALIANT Capras outfit was unable to reel in a fast-starting Souths Logan Magpies side, going down 30-22 despite mounting an exciting second half comeback on Saturday night.
With a smaller but vocal Marley Brown Oval crowd braving the wet, the Capras, ravaged by late withdrawals through injury, showed plenty of spirit in the eventual eight-point loss as they attempted to send star five-eighth Brent Crisp out a winner.
The central Queensland lads snatched the lead halfway through the second stanza to ignite the crowd, who felt a grandstand finish coming.
However, it was not to be as Souths Logan snuffed out the Capras fight back with three minutes left in the match. The local contingent performed admirably.
Matt Mizzi was elevated to a starting position and battled strongly as the Magpies tried to batter the Capras through the middle of the ruck.
Peter Gallen played big minutes after early injuries to a number of Capras, including youngster Liam Pickersgill who was felled with what looked to be a knee-ligament injury.
Joel Marama came off the bench to provide plenty of starch to the Capras defensive line, sledgehammer-like in defence and providing plenty of energy as he attempted to reinvigorate his side.
Disappointed assistant coach Damien Seibold lamented the fact his side had let Souths, coached by Cowboys legend Josh Hannay, skip out to a substantial early lead.
“At halftime we sat down, looked each other in the eye and everyone put their hand up and said what they needed to do, which was to stick to the game plan, and we came storming back in,” Seibold said.
“Unfortunately, we let them score 20 points in the first half and it was too many.”
Saturday night proved to be Crisp's last in a Capras jersey, announcing his retirement post-match after the serious ankle injury he suffered almost 12 months ago proved too much to overcome, at least for the near future.
“The ankle hasn't repaired the way I wanted it to go, so it's time to put the boots on hold for a while,” Crisp said post-game.
“I'd never say never, but yeah, at this stage it's (the door on his playing career) shut.”
Crisp's booming kicking game will be missed by the Capras side, after a pinpoint cross-field kick from Crisp helped his side open the scoring on Saturday night.
However, it was not to be his night, team mate Gallen disappointed not to send Crisp out a winner.
“Yeah it would've been (nice to win for Crisp), Crispy's been the heart and soul of this side on and off the field,” Gallen said.
“He sets massive standards on and off the field.”
You can watch the highlights of the match here: Highlights Souths Logan v CQ Capras
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES 30 (Patrick Mago 3, Luke Archer 2, Grant Cooke tries; Jordan Rapana 3 goals) def CQ CAPRAS 22 (Hayden Buckman 2, Smith Samau 2, Rhys Williams tries; Brent Crisp goal) at Marley Brown Oval, Gladstone.
Souths Logan Magpies
1. Luke Archer 2. Ramon Filipine 3. Grant Cooke 4. Brenko Lee 5. Jordan Rapana 6. Phil Dennis (c) 7. Rhys Jacks 8. Luke Page 9. Kurt Baptiste 10. Zac Lemberg 11. Andrew Edwards 12. Patrick Mago 13. Leon Panapa 14. Mitch Cronin 15. Shane Duck 16. Rez Phillips 17. Luke Bateman
CQ Capras
1. Reece Baker 2. Ha'ofanga Rabakewa 3. Hayden Buckman 4. Smith Samau 5. Rhys Williams 6. Brent Crisp 7. Marlon Doak 16. Hughie Stanley 9. Theeran Pearson 10. Peter Gallen 11. Mitchell Zoning 12. Guy Williams 13. Liam Pickersgill 14. Mark Johnstone 15. Joel Marama 17. Matt Mizzi 8. Andrew Dale
