Mt Gravatt Eagles sit perched on the top of the Rugby League Brisbane Open 3 men’s competition after a commanding 40-18 win against Capalaba Warriors at John Federick Oval on Saturday.
The Eagles, who boast a vastly different side from their 2023 squad, appear to look in red hot form in season 2024.
It only took the Eagles three minutes to post first points of the afternoon when exciting fullback Tyreese Pati-Sialapae stepped his way through the Warriors defence to cross under the sticks.
However, the Warriors were in no mood to let the visitors have all the fun and returned serve in the 12th minute of play when the speedy Jesse Woodward raced in for his side's first try.
In what was a cat and mouse game between the two forward packs, it was the Eagles backline causing the most problems for the Warriors.
Mt Gravatt five eighth Zach Docking was one of those players and his razzle dazzle footwork would bamboozle the Warriors defence with the tricky half going in untouched under the posts.
However, trailing 12-4, the Warriors did respond with Jason Cassidy snatching an intercept pass racing 60m to touch down.
But the Eagles hit back two minutes later with a scintillating sideline sprint from speedster Jershon Carberry, who crossed in the corner.
The injection of Mt Gravatt warhorse and club legend Thomas Scorer paid dividends for the Eagles as the ageless warrior’s yardage with the ball set up his sides next try.
Eagles' Docking spread the ball out wide to replacement Braiydn Annakin, who then barged his way over the line.
Right on the stroke of halftime, the Warriors would have the last say before the break when winger Levi Chapman went in untouched.
The Warriors flanker latched onto an intercept pass and raced the length of the field to plant the ball under the black dot to see the Warriors trailing 24-14 at halftime.
With only four minutes of play under way in the second half, Warriors Cassidy almost did a mirror image of his first try.
He broke free from the Eagles defence to race 60 meters down field to post first points after the break.
At 24-18, the Eagles were looking over their shoulders, but some clever thinking from replacement player Tristan Pilot saw him lunge over from dummy half to give the visitors some breathing space.
Then in the 56th minute, a touch of individual brilliance from Eagles powerful centre Flynn Bullion, had his side go further in front.
The handy three-quarter busted the Warriors tired defence and burst down the sideline racing 60 meters to score what was a fantastic solo effort.
With the Warriors holding on bravely in the latter stages of the game, the Eagles would have the last say in the match when Carberry would go in for his second try of the afternoon rounding off what was a highly entertaining game.
