Tully Showgrounds in Far North Queensland is a long way from Davies Park, Brisbane, but last night, this picturesque rugby league ground in the wet tropics was home to South Logan Magpies in their Round 10 Hostplus Cup clash against Northern Pride.
Taking their home game to the small North Queensland town was something long serving Souths Logan president Jim McClelland said the club was happy to do.
“These games are always a great thing for the bush where rugby league is in the DNA of these towns and we just love playing here,” McLelland said.
Match: Magpies v Pride
Round 10 -
home Team
Magpies
13th Position
away Team
Pride
11th Position
Venue: Tully Showgrounds, Tully
An appreciative crowd of more than 1200 were on hand to watch the clash played under lights in front of the new Tully Showgrounds grandstand, after a round of Cairns and District Rugby League and junior games.
Starting strongly and despite back-to-back penalties in the fifth and seventh minute, South Logan were unable to break the Pride's defence and it was the Cairns-based side who scored first in the 16th minute thanks to Ash Little, followed by back-to-back tries to wingers Gideon Gela-Mosby and Robert Derby to lead 18-0 at halftime.
A second half South Logan resurgence brought the scores closer when winger Jordan Pereira’s crossed for the first of his two tries in the 44th minute.
With the scores 18-6, South Logan struck again in the 55th minute when prop Justin Fai crashed over to close the gap to 18-12.
The game then became a real grind, but it was the Northern Pride who scored in the 65th minute to lead 24-12. Both sides then scored in the final 15 minutes of the game bring up the final 24-16 score line.
Among the spectators were Tully locals and former Brisbane Souths players from 1980s Phil Tardiati and Craig Teitzel, father of Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons squad member Romy Teitzel.
For hard-working Tully Tigers club president Anthony Emmi, the game was a great outcome, after having originally approached the QRL to host the game and having it planned for 2021 until COVID intervened.
This was the only Hostplus Cup match to be played this weekend, with all other teams in action next weekend.
