Round 4
Aspley Broncos 36 d. Souths Logan Magpies 18

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

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

Scared Nags Find Stride Down Stretch
Sun April 8, 2007
Source: www.qrl.com.au

Relucant to hit full stride, the Aspley Broncos suffered an almighty fright from Souths Logan before bolting to a 36-18 win against the Magpies at Bishop Park on Saturday.

The deceiving scoreline hid the fact that Souths Logan led 18-16 with less than half-an-hour remaining in the contest. Even then the Magpies converted just one of four tries and should have led by more.

Having experienced two losses and a bye in the three rounds prior, Aspley appeared headed for an ignominious beginning to the 2007 season. But helped by a three-try performance by rookie winger Rodney Davies and a sterling injection from debutant Troyden Watene-Edwards, the Broncos stormed home with four consecutive tries to steal the game.

"We certainly like to make it hard for ourselves don't we?" noted Aspley coach Mark Gee.

Indeed if Gee could have bottled the first and last 15 minutes of the game, he would have chilled it for end-of-season celebrations. Had he bottled the remaining 50 minutes, it's likely it would have ended up on nearby Nudgee Dump.

The Broncos almost scored in the first minute of the game as they hammered forward relentlessly. Half Brent McConnell knocked on a difficult pass that would have seen him stroll over underneath the sticks. It took little time to make amends, as 17-year-old Davies crossed after four minutes, Joel Moon getting his arms free in a tackle and hitting his man out wide. Back from a stint in FOGS Cup where he posted five tries in three games, centre Jamie Simpson then sliced through moments later for an early 10-0 lead.

With David Taylor dominating around the middle and Aspley's other forwards denting the Magpies' line, it looked like a hiding was on the cards. But Souths Logan refused to be shell-shocked and after impressive skipper Cameron Joyce orchestrated a try for Darren Glase in the 12th minute, the Magpies began a stirring and unconventional fightback.

Slowing the pace of the game, playing across the field and throwing ad lib passes, the underdogs clearly upset the rhythm of the barnstorming Broncos. As their bigger opposition began to tire, the Magpies then applied the afterburner and began firing out of dummy-half, exposing some lax marker defence and new combinations either side of the ruck. Sucking in defenders, they then created room on the wings, where Matt Templeman, Quentin Laulu-Togagae, Scott Marks and Kyle Lodge enjoyed good metres.

When the Magpies hit the front shortly after halftime, there were two plays which epitomised the troubles they were causing the Aspley defence. The first was Michael Anschau crossing from dummy-half after a long Templeman run, his eyes lighting up with the Broncos leaving a 10m blindside corridor unmarked. The next was when Souths, with one player down injured, ran six men at a seven-man defence from a scrum and still got around the outside.

For all the fight though, the Magpies could not land a knock-out and Aspley came roaring back. After receiving treatment for a knee injury Clifford Manua returned full of running and set the platform for John Te Reo to cross. He was followed by lock Derricke Watkins and then winger Davies, who grabbed the last two of the game. Davies was fully deserving of the rewards, having looked sharp and enthusiastic throughout the entire battle.

Resting easier with a win under the belt, Aspley takes on Burleigh in a battle royale at Suncorp Stadium this coming Friday. Kick-off is 5.15pm. After three straight losses Souths Logan has the bye in Round Five to regroup.

ASPLEY 36 (Rodney Davies 3, Jamie Simpson, Jason Moon, Derricke Watkins, John Te Reo tries; Brent McConnell 3, John Te Reo goals) d SOUTHS LOGAN 18 (Darren Glase, Michael Anschau, Scott Marks, Quentin Laulu-Togagae tries; Tim Cannard goal) at Bishop Park.

Report sent by: www.qrl.com.au

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