Depleted CQ Comets fall to Souths

Comets hooker Marc Fickling prepares to pass during the match against South Logan.

Murray Ware

IT was another “nearly-but-not-quite” display from the CQ Comets as their re-vamped team put together a spirited display in front of a big crowd at Marley Brown Oval on Saturday.

To lose by 36-22 against the team likely to be crowned the Intrust Super Cup minor premier, Souths Logan Magpies, is no disgrace but once again the Comets did manage to get into a position to get a result but then failed to hold on to the advantage.

Coach Wayne Barnett said a Souths try either side of the interval was the killer.

As has been the case so often this year, the team named by Barnett on the Tuesday turned to be little more than a wish list, not the ultimate combination.

Darren Mapp failed to make it to full fitness and was unable to play, while the Comets began the game with the unusual centres pairing of Tyron Haynes and Dallas Williams after Josh Bishop also pulled out.

Brothers’ Cooper Nobbs came into the team on the wing to replace Williams.

“Damian Major was called in and he never even had the chance to train with us,” he said.

After trailing early in the match by 10-0, the Comets managed two tries through Haynes and Nobbs to be in a healthy position heading towards the break.

“We had a 12-minute period where we didn’t compete,” Barnett said.

“In general I thought the boys played pretty well. We are a team that can match it with the top sides.”

The coach was happy with what Marc Webb did in his first start at half-back with the Comets, saying he did everything asked of him before leaving the action late in the game.

“He got a little fatigued,” Barnett said.

The experiment of playing Dallas Williams was also a success.

“He played really well there. He was really good defensively,” Barnett said.

Williams didn’t come through unscathed, collecting another wound during the match which required sewing up.

“Just call him stitch,” Barnett joked.

Rising star Chris Gesch put together another outstanding display, tackling his way through the full 80 minutes.

Barnett said he’d also asked Guy Williams to add a bit more to his game.

“We asked him to take control of the game and he did that,” he said.

Co-captain Tyron Haynes said he was pretty happy playing in the centres.

“I didn’t mind too much as the game plan was to my side and I saw plenty of ball,” he said.

He said another loss after being in touch with the opposition was a disappointment.

“I think it must be a bit of inexperience. We don’t know how to finish them off,” he said.

The Comets meet Tweed Heads next week for the final home game of the season.