Aspley Devils finished off the regular season on a high with a gritty 38-26 win over Moreton Bay Raiders in the Rugby League Brisbane Open 3 competition on Saturday.
Despite the Raiders being out of finals contention, they weren't going to make it easy for the home side at Harry Kirby Park.
Moreton Bay fullback Ryan Andrew kickstarted the scoreboard after only two minutes of play, scooting in from dummy half to post first points of the afternoon.
Aspley returned serve in the eighth minute crossing beside the sticks after a superb burst up the middle by second rower Marcus Hunt.
Nimble Raiders halfback Elton Connors would soon ensure the visitors took back the lead.
The dependable club stalwart grubbered for his lock Noomai Vila, who was too big and strong for the Devils defence, to go in beside the posts.
But in a game that ebbed and flowed throughout the afternoon, the Devils hit back in 27th minute through hooker Zac Rind.
The busy dummy half spotted a gap in the Raiders defence to pounce over the line and see the home side up 12-10.
In a game that was being dominated by both forward packs, the action was surely wreaking havoc up the middle.
Raiders dynamic fullback Ryan Andrew bagged his second try of the afternoon on the stoke of the 30th minute.
An error from the Devils saw the elusive custodian sprint his way to the line to put the visitors noses in front.
The Raiders finished off the first half in style through centre Willie Nati, who burst into the clear to score a superb 50-metre solo try to see the visitors head into the sheds with an 18-12 lead.
A dressing down at halftime from Aspley coach Daniel Pattison was what the home side needed and it worked a treat with the Devils first to score in the second half and they levelled up the scores through five eighth Sialo Ulberg.
Ulberg was getting success down the left and his bullet pass to Vika Fale found the back rower looming out wide, who made no mistake in crossing beside the sticks.
The Devils moved further ahead in the 53rd minute when they crossed beside the sticks after a Raiders dropped ball, to make it 28-18.
Another Aspley try in the 57th minute pegged the score out to 34-18 after a brilliant midfield burst by Devils unsung hero Max Wilson, who got his side within reaching distance of the line.
But the Raiders were not done yet.
Hooker Trae Nicoll’s vision spotted a gaping hole for the dummy half to go in untouched in the corner.
Then, Raiders flying winger Junior Kerr gave the home side a fright in the dying stages, motoring down the sideline off the kickoff to score, in what was a spirited comeback by the visitors.
However, Aspley had the last say in the game through Fale, who grabbed his second try to see the Devils sneak home in a thriller.
Aspley will play sudden death footy against Burpengary Jets next week as finals begin across Rugby League Brisbane Opens competitions.
