Hornets Nest By Graeme Lawrence
CUDGEN Hornets have sprung the upset of the season so far by finishing much stronger and much more enthusiastically when they beat the previously undefeated Southport Tigers 30-24 in the Bycroft Rugby League cup match at Ned Byrne Field, Kingscliff, at the weekend.
Fresh from his impressive performances for the Gold Coast/Tweed representative under-20 side the previous week, Cudgen Hornets centre Jake Sands was the outstanding player on the field, and by the proverbial country mile.
Sands scored the first Hornets try after 12 minutes in a beautiful zig-zag movement which turned the Tigers defence inside out . The run from 50 metres ignited the Hornets and seemed to give them the self belief that they could match the powerful Tigers outfit.
And that they did as the rugby league from both sides was top shelf stuff until just before half time, when the Tigers gave the crowd a sniff of why they are the competition leaders.
In eight short minutes they crossed for three impressive touchdowns to go to the break unlikely 14-6 leaders.
The half-time talk from coach Troy McCarthy didn’t seem to work as just after the break the Tigers were on the board again and had quickly stretched their lead to 20-6.
Hornets prop forward Jackson Stanford was on his way to the dentist to re-set his teeth while team-mate, tough as teak second rower Peter Spring was out of the match with a neck injury.
Most Hornets supporters were feeling that the worst was possibly yet to come.
But enter the youth, we remember that don’t we? Centre Jayden Johnson, winger Zac Spring, second rower Luke Campbell and that man Sands had other ideas.
They cranked up the quality of rugby league. With veteran prop forward Dan Donovan and returned half back Shaun Nipperess directing the ruck area, the youngsters provided the class and the points. Centre Johnson ran onto a lovely reverse pass from second rower Jay Solley to start the comeback – and if the score-tying try, 24-24, by Luke Campbell wasn’t crowd inspiring enough on its own then the linebreak, deft chip, regather and offload in the tackle to winger Zac Spring, who had only only centimetres to spare, by that man Sands was absolutely sensational. It brought a huge and deafening roar of approval from the Hornets faithful. Sands calmly converted from the sideline, (five consecutive goals), as the siren sounded and the Tigers had tasted defeat for the first time this season.
As the players left the field to a standing ovation and loud cheers you could sense that coach McCarthy’s plan for his team to keep under the radar might have started to fall apart.
It was an inspirational performance and one that promises some fine rugby league in the future as this squad of players continues to improve and impress under the astute guidance of McCarthy and his assistant coach Mick Burrows.
The Reggies unfortunately, were eventually defeated 30-20 in a tough match but not without putting up a gutsy effort against a much bigger tigers outfit. The older guard of Shannon Murphy, Steve Kirkham and Scott Ella put in strong performances while centre Ryan King continues to grow in confidence. Popular five eight Josh Alcorn also played strongly.
What can you say about the luckless under-19s, beaten by a cruel penalty on the bell 30-28. They matched their more fancied opponents all game but maybe a little more commitment in defence might bring them more positive results. Once again prop forward Nick Clark was outstanding while lock Dylan Hawkey and centre Marcus Cridland, who scored a wonderful individual try, were the standouts.
Next weekend the Hornets are home again to the Currumbin Eagles in all three grades with the proceedings kicking off at noon on Sunday.
