Barnett full of praise 17/05/2010

The Comets’ Junior Auru takes the ball up during his fine effort against Souths (Photo courtesy of Chris Ison at The Morning Bulletin)

Against a very compact and tidy Logan, the Comets had the match in their grasp before being sunk by two hit-and-hope kicks they failed to deal with.

To Logan’s credit the kicks were directed away from full back Junior Auru who successfully dealt with anything that came his way, but nevertheless supporters left the ground feeling it was two points the Comets had lost rather than the Magpies had earned.

Throughout the match the Comets looked the more creative football team, but the crucial difference between the sides was that when the home side made an error they paid dearly.

Three sets into the match and a routine kick into the corner saw Karl Johnson make a meal of collecting the ball resulting in Logan getting a scrum feed about 10 metres from the Comets line and Cy Lasscock crashing over.

It was not a lead Logan held for long as the Comets replied with a try in the corner for Cooper Nobbs after he was set up with a succession of long cut-out passes.

Against less organised teams the Comets would have run riot as their forwards made metres with the ball and then usually created a problem with a timely off-load. From the ruck there was always someone willing to make a darting run, turning around the big Logan pack and making them work.

It was a miracle off-load from Alan Rothery that sent Auru on a jigging run to make it 10-6.

Just before the interval some tired defence let in winger Michael Brophy to score in the corner and send the teams in at 10-10.

The Magpies defended the Comets second half barrage well and then upset the home team with a try to Bradley Cross after he looked the least likely of three players – the other two being Comets – to bring down a bomb.

With 12 minutes remaining Nathan Barraclough powered through to score and then added the extras with the kick and the Comets were in the box-seat.

Barraclough had looked set to score with a charge down from a Michael Picker kick but as he was about to touch down he was stripped of the ball in the tackle.

Then came those final minutes of misery.

A wobbly looking kick from a Logan forward caught Nobbs in two minds and Quentin Laulu-Togagae reached higher to pluck it out of the air and touch down.

As the Comets tried to salvage the game Nick Skinner pressed home the advantage with a match-sealing try.

“I can’t take it away from the boys, Logan weren’t that creative and we defended everything they threw at us,” Barnett said.

The coach conceded the mistakes made by the Comets were in crucial areas and usually resulting in Logan gaining points, but overall was happy with what the team had done on the park.

Auru was a standout, while the adaptable Guy Williams started the match and barely put a foot wrong.

“I thought it was one of the highest quality games I’ve seen,” he said.

Barnett said the Comets now have their eyes set on picking up the fifth or sixth place on the Intrust Super Cup ladder to make the finals.

Next week they are on the road again when they meet Tweed Heads with injury concerns being Johnson, who received 13 stitches to his eyebrow and Rothery, six stitches, after they clashed heads.

SCOREBOARD

Comets 16 (Junior Auru, Cooper Nobbs, Nathan Barraclough tries, Ian Webster, Barraclough goals.

Souths Logan 24 (Michael Brophy, Bradley Cross, Cy Lasscock, Quentin Laulu-Tagagae, Nick Skinner tries, Michael Picker (2) goals.

Half time: 10-all.