QLD Cup: Tigers defeat Magpies 18-12It may not have been pretty, but Easts Tigers secured a valuable two competition points with a hard-fought 18-12 victory over Souths Logan Magpies at Davies Park.
Easts took a 10-nil advantage into sheds but had to withstand a gallant second half comeback from the home team.
Souths Logan battled to a two-point lead before Tigers fullback Corey Thompson latched onto an error from his opposite number to steal the match winner.
The former Magpie pounced when Souths Logan fullback Dallas Anderson fumbled a grubber his ingoal, the ball fortuitously landing in the hands of Thompson.
The 22-year old played a strong game and also produced a try saving tackle early in the second half.
The Tigers fielded just two Melbourne Storm contracted players (Shea Moylan and Keny Bromwich), with Luke Kelly and Mitch Garbutt late withdrawals.
With the race for top five spots heating up, the victory keeps Easts at fourth spot on the ladder.
In a first half punctuated by errors, it took a nice piece of play from Isaac Kaufmann in the 21st minute to break the deadlock – the veteran halfback put Bromwich through a hole before supporting the break to score.
Easts quickly stretched their lead when Cody Walker took on the line for his tenth try of the 2012 season.
Despite trailing 10-nil, the Magpies launched a counterattack in the second stanza and were only denied in the early stages by a desperate tackle by Thompson.
However they didn’t lose heart, a cross field kick on the next play saw Walter Imo push through defenders to touch down.
The plucky Magpies continued their surge and levelled proceedings when five-eighth Ben Cronin was the first man to an ingoal grubber ricochet. The ensuing conversion from Josh Damen gave Souths Logan a 12-10 lead and the sniff of an upset.
But the Tigers regrouped, setting up camp in their opponent’s twenty-metre zone before Anderson’s fumble gifted Thompson the crucial try in the 66th minute.
Ahead 16-12, Easts then controlled field position in the dying stages – a penalty goal on the fulltime hooter secured the win.
Easts Tigers - 18
Tries: Corey Thompson, Cody Walker, Isaac Kaufmann
Goals: Cody Walker 3
Souths Logan - 12
Tries: Walter Imo, Ben Cronin
Goals: Josh Damen 2
Source: Storm
Topic: Magpies V Tigers Match Report (Read 130 times)