Redlands Parakeets are on top of the table in the Rugby League Brisbane Open 2 Men's competition, with a hard fought 20-16 win over the Mt Gravatt Eagles on Saturday.
Allan Innes Field was awash with both new and old Eagles supporters for Old Boys Day, that saw the club's deck packed to the rafters.
However, it would be the Parakeets own 'old boys' in captain Lukas McIntyre and Craig Matheson who seemingly spoiled the Eagles party, winding back the clock with a stellar performance steering the younger brigade around the park.
In a scrappy first half, the visitors were first to post points through the hard-working Mitch Askew.
A scurry from dummy half saw the second rower pinch an easy four pointer to get things under way on the scoreboard.
A glut of dropped ball by both sides was frustrating to watch for the supporters, however Parakeets halfback Matheson soon breathed life into the game putting in a cross-field kick for his winger Sam Willard-Lee who touched down in the corner.
Defensively, both sides were evenly matched.
The Eagles' tireless veteran Barney Tiki-Tiki was showing no signs of retiring with another barnstorming performance, whilst the Parakeets' heavily tattooed captain McIntyre is still proving that he is one of the chief enforcers at the Bayside club.
The Eagles, who were down 10-0 on the scoreboard, could have pegged the score back just before the break when halfback Daniel Halligan’s cross field kick found an overlap, but it was fumbled into touch with the line wide open.
The Eagles had to score first in the second half if they were a chance of snatching this win and they did so in the 41st minute through centre Tyreese Pati-Sialapae, who burst through the Redlands defence to slide in out wide.
For the Parakeets though, it was all about ball security and maintaining their composure if they were to come away with the win.
Indeed, they did stay composed through some great ball handling by five eighth Josh Damen, who was superb.
The tall rangy pivot was instrumental in firing out a nice ball to his centre Lincoln Hogan who made no mistake crossing the try line inches from the touchline.
Not two minutes later, the Parakeets were in again after some nice lead up work by halves Matheson and Damen, who were running the entire Redlands show.
The Eagles fired back with a superb try of their own in the 60th minute through halfback Halligan, who grubbered for Pati-Sialapae to score his second of the afternoon.
A Redlands dropped ball from the restart saw the Eagles in prime position to score back-to-back tries and they did so through hooker Jarrod Patakay, who buried his way over from dummy half beside the sticks.
With Redlands leading 20-16, a pulsating last 60 seconds of the game unfolded with the Eagles crossing the tryline right on the hooter, however the try was disallowed by the referee ending what was a frantic last passage of play.
