Slammin' Sam overshadows Carlaw
and Mapp

TOOWOOMBA CLYDESDALES v SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES

Sam Thaiday has outshone more experienced teammates Dane Carlaw and Darren Mapp, unanimously voted Man of the Match in Toowoomba?s 64-24 triumph against Souths Logan.

In the first Wizard Cup fixture held on the D?Aguilar Range this season, local products Tony Duggan and Jordan Atkins both scored doubles, while Derricke Watkins posted a hat-trick.

Duggan became only the second player to reach 100 State League games for the Clydesdales, following Darren Ingram, while winger Atkins was making his debut.

The tone for the afternoon however, was largely the work of Thaiday, recently back from a shoulder injury and keen to stake a claim for a return to the NRL.

With hooker Michael Ryan also outstanding, Toowoomba starved the visiting Magpies of the ball and raced to a 48-0 halftime lead.

Coach John Dixon called it ?wonderful footy? from his side, stung by a last-up flogging at the hands of Burleigh.

?Burleigh will sit in the players? brains for a little while yet,? Dixon said.

?I don?t think you can just forget it. The thing is to remember it, but get on with the job at the same time.?

There was a thin silver lining for Souths Logan from the afternoon, winning the second half 24-16 on the back of cleverly completed sets and a swing in possession. Stan Fau offloaded with sublime skill at stages, while Scott Smith, Shaun Nipperess and Bob Blair were also strong.

In a joint venture between the Clydesdales and the local Toowoomba Rugby League competition.

The Wizard Cup match was played alongside the Toowoomba Valleys v Warwick game.

Dixon said he had noticed an encouraging growth in support for his team and said the feats of Duggan and Atkins would only help the club?s cause in winning back followers.

Next week sees Toowoomba battle Redcliffe at Dolphin Oval on Sunday, while Souths Logan hosts Norths the same day at Davies Park.

TOOWOOMBA 64 (Derricke Watkins 3, Jordan Atkins 2, Tony Duggan 2, Tame Tupou, Neale Wyatt, Dane Carlaw, Sam Thaiday, Michael Bond tries; Nick Parfitt 8 goals)

beat

SOUTHS LOGAN 24 (Nathaniel Bowman, Cameron Joyce, Matt Bell, Graham Levu tries; Nathaniel Bowman 4 goals

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