BRL In Safe Hands Rd 16 wrap

West Brisbane Panthers took the three points on offer against Logan Brothers to move equal second with Wynnum Manly on the In Safe Hands Cup table. Redcliffe grinded out a win in their one-two shootout with the Seagulls. Easts took out the thriller against the Jets to end their indifferent form of late.

West Brisbane Panthers v Logan Brothers

Logan Brothers had only decided on their starting '16' moments before kick-off as three players had to back up from the previous Premier Grade game. With their feeding of players to the Souths Logan Magpies, the Brethren ran on to Civic Park with seven forwards and only the one half in L.J. Waddups.

The Panthers were the first to put points on the board after a bombardment of their tryline by the homeside in the opening five minutes. A break from Kennedy Pettybourne had the Logan defence scrambling. A cross-the-field backline movement eventually had Jamie Olds scoring in the corner.

Ten minutes later a grubber kick from Waddups rebounded off fullback Adam Wickins for Waddups to regather and score under the cross bar to level it all up. The Panthers again shifted the ball from left to right, this time Pettybourne did it himself with a fend on the defence and crossed for the visitors’ second try.

A 60m break just on half time by Logan Brothers had Lincoln Paikea score in the far right corner and another thriller was on the cards as both sides went to the drinks break with the Panthers ahead 12-10.

Second half

Enter Josh Afoa. The big unit crossed twice for the Panthers, both occasions taking four defenders with him to the tryline, and the game was starting to slip away from Logan Brothers. With 15 minutes remaining Kalolo Saitaua copied Waddups with his own grubber to regain after a rebound from a defender to bring the difference to eight points.

An offload from Panther Troy Swift 5m out started a crazy movement of the footy. From the middle of Civic Park to the right corner, the ball then was switched all the way to the left for Mitch Hallinan to cross untouched after going through 10 sets of hands.

Logan Brothers with two minutes remaining were to cross in front of the clubhouse after Saitaua made a break and kicked forward for Matt Parata score. The Panthers taking the valuable three competition points 28-22.

Panthers coach Wayne Weekes said: “Our boys held their commitment for the 80 minutes against a very determined and physically tough unit. I was proud how the team responded to some honest feedback after our poor effort last week against Valleys. We need to continue that type of attitude in the coming weeks if we are to be a genuine contender in this competition.”

Weekes also paid credit to Logan Brothers. “They will be a difficult assignment for other teams in the run home to the semis. Their place on the ladder does not justify on what they are producing now.”

Easts Tigers v Ipswich Jets

Easts were out to return to their mid-season form against the Ipswich Jets, the last team they have registered a win against. The Tigers scored first from a crossfield bomb in front of the scoreboard and again when prop Gene Ropoama barged over for his first of two journeys over the chalk to put the Tigers up 10-nil.

The Ipswich Jets have this uncanny ability in the In Safe Hands Cup of producing tries from scrum feed wins. Brendan Marshall capitalised on the No.1 rule when defending the Jets, never break the line. The Jets crossed again through a line break from Jayden Connors, then, again the big men putting the line defence on notice when Jets strong man Anthony Komboi smashed over.

Second half

The Jets were again over in the second half and the Tigers were in danger of continuing their run of poor results, down 20-10.

As the Tigers have done in the past, a comeback was on the cards when Easts scored back-to-back tries. The second scrum feed win to the Jets, and again, they went to the tryline. Jets in front 26-22. When Ropoama crossed for his second it was all square, leaving the conversion for Connors to give Easts the home win - he did so on the bell. Tigers up in a thriller 28-26

Redcliffe Dolphins v Wynnum Manly Seagulls

The blockbuster at Dolphin Oval between Redcliffe and Wynnum Manly did not disappoint. Some monster tackles had the trainers from both sides on their toes, with both sides looking to stamp their authority on the game, and the competition.

Second half

At 12-4 at half-time the match was still up for grabs. The premiers the only side to cross in the second stanza of ruthless defence from both sides, to take the game 18-4. Redcliffe are now clear leaders in the In Safe Hands Cup.

West Brisbane Panthers 28 (Josh Afoa 2, Kennedy Pettybourne, Jamie Olds, Mitch Hallinan tries: Kane Zalewski 4 goals) def Logan Brothers 22 (Matt Parata, Lincoln Paikea, LJ Waddups, Kalolo Saitaua tries L.J. Waddups 3 goals).

RESULTS – IN SAFE HANDS CUP – ROUND 15

Redcliffe Dolphins 18 (Kyle Van Klaveren, Sonny Munroe, Mitch Wilson tries; Kyle Van Klaveren 3 goals) def Wynnum Manly Seagulls 4 (Leonard Baker try).

Easts Tigers 28 (Gene Ropoama 2, Conor Jones, Adrian Henley, Luke Lavelle tries; Brandon Downey 3, Rex Johnson goals) def Ipswich Jets 26 (Jayden Connors, Brendan Marshall, Ben White, Anthony Komboi tries; Jayden Connors 3 goals).

Valleys Diehards had the bye.