The 'Mitchell' show came to Davies Park in Round 6 of the Intrust Super Cup, as Mitch Krause, Mitch Buckett and Mitch Frei all crossed in the 'battle of the birds' with the Wynnum Manly Seagulls coming from behind to record a 22-14 victory over Souths Logan Magpies.
Trailing 10-4 at half-time, the Seagulls came from 14-4 down in the 48th minute to pile on three unanswered tries – all scored by the 'Mitchells' and converted by man of the match Matt Seamark – to record a what was in the end a comfortable victory.
The Seagulls' fourth win of the season sees them swoop past the Magpies on the ISC ladder to firmly cement their place inside the top-five.
The Northern Pride are the only undefeated team through six rounds following their thrilling 24-22 win over Norths Devils at Innisfail while the Capras secured their first competition points of the season with a 16-all draw with Redcliffe.
Ipswich inflicted the PNG Hunters' second loss of the season with a stirring 25-12 victory, Burleigh comfortably accounted for Sunshine Coast 30-6 and Kalifa Faifai Loa crossed as Tweed Heads defeated Mackay 12-8.
The steamy conditions at Davies Park were partly responsible for the cagey start to the contest between Wynnum and Souths who were both sitting on three wins apiece heading into the match.
With the majority of the football played in centre field, it was no surprise that it took until the 29th minute for the scoreboard attendants to spring into action.
Taking advantage of back-to-back sets, it was Souths who turned pressure into points, as their hooker Kurt Baptiste darted over from close range to open the scoring at 6-0.
The home side crossed again five minutes out from half-time when centre David Faamita stormed through a gap on the right-edge and muscled his way over the line after a 15-metre run. Luke Archer missed the conversion, ensuring the score would remain at 10-0.
Just as the contest looked like winding down to half-time, back-up Broncos hooker Jake Granville – playing in his 100th ISC game – sent Saia Makisi through a yawning gap through the centre on halfway. From the next play, the Seagulls shifted the ball out to the left, with Mitch Frei setting up winger Mitchell Krause in the corner.
Matt Seamark had his conversion attempt waved away as the half-time siren sounded, with the Magpies edging the Seagulls 10-4.
With the Magpies pressing the Wynnum try-line early in the second half, a one-on-one strip by Faamita on Krause close to the line allowed the Souths' centre to snare his second try. Archer's effort stayed wide keeping the score at 14-4 in the 48th minute.
Inferior ball control and questionable fifth-tackle options by the Seagulls compounded their woes and as a result the Magpies came close to scoring again, but had a try disallowed in the 55th minute due to offside.
That disallowed try was as close as Souths would get to the line throughout the remainder of the match, as this moment would trigger Wynnum Manly's comeback.
Against the run of play, Seagulls lock Mitch Frei ran into a hole on the left-edge and managed to improve the position allowing Seamark an easy conversion to narrow the deficit to four-points with 14 minutes remaining.
Moments later, Souths sent a bomb sky-high in the direction of Wynnum's Krause, who took the ball under pressure 15 metres out from the line. He then remarkably evaded half-a-dozen defenders and then raced the remaining 85 metres down the sideline to score a stunning solo try. Seamark added the extras from out wide to hand Wynnum Manly the lead for the first time at 16-14.
With five minutes left on the clock and an ominous storm brewing in the background due to the humid conditions, Wynnum completed a spectacular comeback with another try to wrap-up the contest. Mitchell Buckett latched onto a Seamark bomb to hand the Seagulls a match-winning lead at 22-14, which they held until full-time.
Wynnum Manly Seagulls 22 (Mitchell Krause 2, Mitchell Buckett, Mitchell Frei tries; Matt Seamark 3 goals) def. Souths Logan Magpies 14 (David Faamita 2, Kurt Baptiste tries; Luke Archer 1 goal) at Davies Park, Brisbane. Half-time: Magpies 10-4. XXXX Man of the Match: Matt Seamark.
For all the Round 6 results click here.
