Round 11 Sunday wrap: Souths Logan defy gutsy Clydesdales
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Souths Logan coach Karmichael Hunt believes his side showed a new level of resolve in their 36-28 victory over the Western Clydesdales on Sunday.
The second-placed Magpies avoided a scare in their Round 11 clash in Toowoomba, after a fast-starting Clydesdales raced out to an 8-0 lead in front of their home crowd.
The two teams then engaged in a thrilling arm wrestle, with the Magpies hitting back with three tries to take a 16-8 halftime lead.
Both teams scored six tries apiece in the end, but it was Souths Logan's goalkicking that made the difference.
While Hunt said there were some rough patches from his team, he knows that in the past it would have been a game that Souths Logan wouldn't have been able to close out.
"We got the win which is all you want," he said.
"But, to be honest, we were off our game in too many patches. Full credit to the Clydesdales - they played some really good footy today.
"For our credit, although it wasn’t perfect in a lot of ways, the boys stuck to the game plan. When we had the ball, we didn’t give up.
"We tried to problem solve and at the end of the day we won the game. In the past, it’s a game we would have dropped, just from the Clydesdales' efforts.
"We're happy to get out of Toowoomba with the two points."
Match: Clydesdales v Magpies
Round 11 -
home Team
Clydesdales
13th Position
away Team
Magpies
2nd Position
Venue: Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba
Hunt said he felt Souths Logan lost their way a little bit in defence.
In the second stanza the Magpies held a 28-8 lead, but the Clydesdales forced their way back into the match to be down eight points with just ten minutes left on the clock.
"Defensively early on were dropped our standards around the ruck ... we let a few offloads get away and some of our edge D decisions didn’t stay in system and we got hurt for it," Hunt said.
"Things we’ve been doing well consistently over the first half of the season in patches, we were off the boil."
Hunt was particularly impressed with the efforts of skipper Rory Ferguson, Cruise Ten, Callum Eggerling and three-try hero, Jordan Pereira.
The Magpies will now turn their attention to a huge clash against the Burleigh Bears on Saturday while the Clydesdales will head to Redcliffe for their Round 12 match.
For a wrap of Saturday's Round 11 games, click here.
