Beasley injured in Comets win 11/05/2010
“Chris couldn’t buy a game of football at the minute,” was the assessment of CQ Comets coach Wayne Barnett after the return from injury of star recruit Chris Beasley ended before it really began.
Chis Beasley (above) is likely to miss the rest of the season after breaking his jaw in the Comets' 30-6 win over the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls on the weekend. (Photo courtesy of Slice of Life Photography 2010)
On an otherwise perfect afternoon, Beasley had barely got into his rhythm after returning to the team following a fracture to an eye socket before he was back in the sheds with an injury that is likely to end his season.
“He has broken his jaw,” Barnett said.
While a massive blow to Beasley and the Comets, it was the only cloud over the CQ team on an otherwise magic afternoon, when the Comets turned the form books upside down by trouncing Wynnum Manly 30-6 on their home soil.
In the past the Comets have not always been at their best when they have the televised match and the team also went into the clash with a poor record at Kougari Oval.
However, even the ABC wordsmiths were left speechless by the Comets first-half display, which was close to being textbook.
From the first whistle the Comets tore into the home team, running them ragged with quick ball movement and then knocking them over when they tried to make yards with the football.
Hooker Ian Webster was into everything, setting up tries and forcing the errors as the Comets went in at the interval ahead by 20-6.
“We went into the game with the worst defence in the league,” Barnett said proudly.
Barnett had stated before the game that the Paul Green-coached Wynnum team played mistake-free football.
That might be the case, but against the fired-up Comets the home team found great difficulty completing a set of six during the first 40 minutes and was continually defending its line.
Webster set up the first try when he directed traffic to the Comets left and then was on the end of the move to score in the corner.
Webster converted from the sideline to make it 6-0.
It was spectacular stuff as ball carriers like Alan Rothery off-loaded in the tackle to send Wynnum scrambling in confusion.
Mick Esdale made a little dart and almost got over but in the next play Josh Bishop powered through to make it 10-0.
Karl Johnson gave signs he was back to form as he collected a Webster pass on the bounce and sidestepped his way past a mesmerised defence. The move had started after the Comets had won the ball from a Wynnum scrum feed.
The Comets final try of the half was so cheeky it was a delight to watch.
Again Webster was involved, collecting the ball at the base of a scrum and running to his right, showing the ball as if ready to pass to one of the players in support.
As the defence got interested he kicked a little grubber behind the line, which Marc Fickling gathered on the run to score.
Victor Silulu got a try back for Wynnum Manly but it turned out to be a consolation, as another try to Johnson and one to Nathan Barraclough blew the score out further.
After weeks of torment Barnett admitted relief at the way his team performed and its determination to stop Wynnum reaching double figures.
“It was important to win, not just for the points but to regain our confidence,” he said.
Webster was man of the match, even though there had been a question mark over his fitness going into the game.
“He was one player we were looking at to pull us through,” Barnett said.
Johnson’s two tries takes the heat off him – he had a good match despite it being his first on the wing for two years.
Defence around the ruck area was much improved, although Barraclough could remember little about that after being concussed.
The Comets return to Browne Park next weekend, when Souths Logan is the visitor.
Story courtesy of Alan Kennedy at The Morning Bulletin
