Beattie's shock reshuffle

EASTS TIGERS 54 defeat 20 SOUTHS LOGAN 20

Lightweight Steve Beattie became one of the smallest props in senior rugby league history when he led Easts up front through the dying stages of a 54-20 win against rival Souths Logan.

With his 77kg stretched over a 183cm frame, Beattie would look more at home on all fours at Albion Park than packed into a scrum.

Yet in an accordance with an edict to enjoy themselves, Beattie and fellow winger Walter Imo swapped places with the forwards for the last 10 minutes of the Tigers final fixture game.

Not surprisingly 92kg Imo showed more promise in the role, offering a neat offload in traffic which led to a Marty Allen bust.

However Beattie is unlikely to list the game on any highlights package, having traded places on the flank with bustling PNG forward Trevor Exton.

?It has been a trying year and the boys just had a bit of fun there at the end,? Easts president Graham Andersen said.

?They?ve finished the year well and showed a bit of application. Half of the game is getting blokes who want to work together towards the one cause.?

While out of contention in the Queensland Wizard Cup, Easts has finished minor premier in the lower-tier Mixwell Cup, a competition the Tigers have enjoyed great success in.

Since 2000 the club has won four of five premierships in the Mixwell Cup and also tasted success in the Brisbane Second Division.

?We?d gladly swap any of them for a premiership in the Queensland Cup though,? Andersen said.

?I?ll never knock them (Mixwell Cup titles) back, but it is a bit like the consolation prize. We have a proud record there, however it?s not like we?re trying to create a dynasty in reserve grade.?

Players such as Rowan Graham, Aaron Kuskey, Alec Fata, Matt Elley, Shane Neumann and Donald Malone will all be eligible for Mixwell Cup finals.

Although reasonably happy with the end to the season, Andersen said there would be several key additions in coming months, with coach Michael Booth and assistants Chris Fullarton and Alfonso Miranda staying on.

Three games short of 100 appearances for Easts, Darren Smith will be welcomed to return should he so choose.

Souths Logan wrapped up another frustrating season with a patchy performance. The Magpies were best served by Jerry Ahern, Stan Fau, Scott Smith and Eddie Dodd. However the black-and-whites produced telling errors at the same time, including two consecutive kick-offs out on the full.

A player who has featured with both clubs, Matt Lockyer, passed 400 career points with his first two conversion attempts of the afternoon

EASTS 54 (Walter Imo 4, Trevor Exton 2, Donald Malone, Leigh Coghill, Steve Goodhew, Dallas Hood, Alec Fata tries; Matt Lockyer 3, Donald Malone, Steve Goodhew tries)

beat

SOUTHS LOGAN 20 (Darren Glase 2, Eddie Dodd, Scott Smith tries; Craig Chapman 2 goals).