TURNING POINT
Mustangs comeback seals needed win
RUGBY LEAGUE: The Western Mustangs fought back from 18-0 down to record their first win of the FOGS Cup Colts Challenge season.
The Mustangs prevailed 30-22 over Souths-Logan as rain fell at Gold Park on Sunday in what was a gutsy victory.
Souths-Logan got out to a great start and led 18-0 after 17 minutes.
But from then on, the Mustangs got on top and overtook the Magpies to end their run of losses dating back to the state-wide U20s Cup semi-final.
Wally Pegler got the Mustangs on the board with a try before Blake Appo and Hayden Packer also crossed as both teams went into half-time at 18-18.
Souths-Logan scored the first try after the break for a 22-18 lead but that was their last scoring play.
Appo crossed for his second try in the second half before winger Denzel Burns scored a try in the 67th minute to close out the victory that could help the Mustangs get their Colts Challenge going.
“From about the 20 minute mark in the game it ended up being about 30-4 in favour of us. It was a great reaction after being under the pump early on and fighting back,” Mustangs coach Dean Bosnich said.
“We got back to 18-all at half-time and then went on with it and just played a tough game in really ordinary conditions. I’m proud of their effort.”
Bosnich hopes that win could spark a form revival as their record is now 1-4 after his squad has struggled since making the finals of the state-wide U20s Cup earlier in the year.
“We talked earlier in the week about that we’d dropped a lot of confidence since the state-wide competition,” Bosnich said.
“We’re still the same team that mixed it with the best in the state and we’ve just lost a bit of confidence of lately, so that will help.
“I think that’s a turning point for them.”
TRL: Dalby heads into the Madsen-Rasmussen Trophy final unbeaten after downing Highfields 24-18 on Saturday night.
The Diehards will take on Valleys in the mid-season final after extending their Hutchinson Builders TRL Premiership undefeated run to 10 wins with the six-point victory over Highfields at Dalby.
Highfields was the first to score as the Eagles were chasing a win to qualify for the MadsenRasmussen, before Dalby ran in 22 unanswered points to take a 22-6 lead at the break.
Two converted tries after the break got Highfields back in the game to make the score 22-18 with 20 minutes to play.
Dalby added a penalty goal with its only points of the second half in the 75th minute as the Diehards held on for the win.
It was also close in the Southern Downs derby on Saturday night as Warwick held on for a 24-22 win over Wattles at Father Ranger Oval.
Warwick ran in three first-half tries to lead 18-6 at half-time.
Wattles responded and got the score back to 18-18 to set up an exciting finish.
The game was still on the line even though the Cowboys took a 24-18 lead with 15 minutes to play through a try from Josh Cruice.
Ty Gardner then crossed for his third try of the night to make the score 24-22 in the dying minutes before Matt Duggan was unable to pilot over the conversion from the sideline to level the scores.
Warwick coach Craig Mullaly praised the determination of his players after the Cowboys had just one player available on the bench in the final 20 minutes.
Wattles also had reduced stocks on the bench because the attrition rate in the game was high.