Mustangs show grit to down Magpies
RUGBY LEAGUE:
After the news the club has been waiting for, the Western Mustangs started their Mal Meninga Cup campaign in the best possible fashion to celebrate.
With the club given a provisional license to return to the Intrust Super Cup in 2021, the U18s side recorded a stirring 26-20 win on the road against Souths Logan Magpies.
Coach Brendan Wilson said he was proud of how his side was able to look past a tough trial schedule and switch on when it mattered.
“The feeling is good among the boys. The result was a reward for the pre-season. A few were getting carried away with the trial results, but they put it together against Souths Logan and played really well across the park,” he said.
“We actually played the way we wanted to. Our forwards were able to move their big fellas around.
“You could tell before the game they were switched on. We were able to get through sets early in the game and their bigger players couldn’t match up with our speed through the middle.”
The Mustangs were able to capitalise on a strong start, with Shaun Packer and Lachlan Thom giving them a 12-0 lead inside 14 minutes.
A fightback from the Magpies saw the lead cut to just two at the break, before tries to Keanu Wright-Dunrobin and Blake Moore pushed the advantage back out to 10.
The Magpies again struck
with 10 minutes to play, however Sam Gillespie’s fourpointer just minutes later was enough to see the visitors home.
“Something I was impressed with was how we were able to score back-to-back tries and respond when we made an error,” Wilson said.
“It’s still something to improve on, but the boys really dug deep over the last 10 minutes.
“You could see they wanted to play for each other, and their class came through.
“There’s still a long way to go. The first thing we said after the game that this is the standard we have to play at for the rest of the competition, and we need to continue to work hard.”
Halves pairing Wright Dunrobin and Brayden Paix led the way according to Wilson, with the forward pack also setting a strong platform.
U20S SETTLE FOR DRAW
A fast start wasn’t enough to get the Mustangs U20s over the line in their Hastings Deering Colts game against Souths Logan.
The Mustangs led 12-0 after 20 minutes on the back of a double to Benji Neliman, before the Magpies levelled things up with back-to-back tries prior to halftime.
Mamakumai Naiyep gave the visitors the lead straight after the break, before the home side again posted consecutive tries to take its first lead of the contest.
Despite the Magpies coming home with all the momentum, the Mustangs were able to recover with Brandon Clarke scoring to give them a 22-all draw.
THE WEEK AHEAD
The Mustangs will prepare for their first home game of the season this weekend against the visiting Townsville Blackhawks.
The return to Clive Berghofer Stadium will begin with the U18s at 3.30pm, followed by the Hastings Deering Colts at 6pm.