SUPER sub Scott Perrin came off the bench to score two second half tries and get Keas over the line against Warrigals in the Mount Isa Irish Club Rugby Union Premiership at the weekend.
Keas prevailed 18-17 in a thrilling game that belied the fact it had been six weeks since both sides had last taken the field.
Trailing by six points with eight minutes to play, Perrin popped up on the outside shoulder of centre John Monu who drew the last defender to send the loose forward over unopposed.
Monu calmly stepped up and guided home the conversion to give his side a one-point win.
Acting Keas coach Asher Jeffrey said the win was a boost for the club and a great way to start the second half of the season.
"It's an awesome feeling. It's about time, that's our first win over Warrigals this season," Jeffery said.
Jeffrey said the difference in the end came down to the committment shown by the team who had a healthy turnout for the first game back after the break.
"Warrigals had a short bench while we had a lot of players and they all stood up," he said.
"There a lot of new fellas at the club so a new half season for Keas I think."
Both sides relished the physical contact at the breakdown with Warrigals breakaway Stacie Campbell making a nuisance of himself and Keas No 8 Malaki Latu driving off the back of the rucks.
Keas direct running in the backline saw centres John Tamati and Monu, who had been shifted from the five-eighth position, bend the Warrigals defence. However the Warrigals defence held firm and neither side could make a decisive break.
It took an infringement in the ruck for Keas to edge ahead when Tamati kicked a penalty goal with a quarter of the match gone.
Warrigals levelled the match on the stroke of half-time. Fullback Gian Guerra and winger Travis Willetts combined to launch an attack deep into Keas territory.
Keas were caught off-side and Guerra was called upon to take the three points.
A bright start to the second half saw Keas winger Stephen Batty pounce on an astute kick from Nick Ngatai. Warrigals failed to re-group and were penalised for being off-side.
Monu resumed the kicking duties and made no mistake from 35 metres out to give Keas a 6-3 lead.
Keas numerical advantage on the bench appeared to be having an effect on the game with Warrigals finding themselves camped inside their own half.
Resolute defence from Warrigals kept Keas at bay and it was the men in yellow and gold who took the lead against the run of play.
Busy five-eighth Brendan Ballie showed the ball before stepping inside a Keas defender and slicing through to race in under the posts for a 10-6 advantage with 15 minutes to play.
After more than three quarters of the match gone before a try, the game came to life with three tries in the final 10 minutes.
Keas finally turned their territorial dominance into points when their forwards won a line-out inside the Warrigals 22-metre line.
Front-rower Chris Smart took the ball forward before flicking an inside ball to Perrin who plunged over to reclaim the lead 11-10 for Keas.
The lead was short lived as Warrigals hit right back through some skilful and bold play from their back men.
Willets fielded a kick in mid-field and used his pace to create space before setting Guerra up for a run to the line.
The elusive fullback stepped past a couple of would-be tacklers to touch down adjacent to the uprights and put Warrigals ahead by six points.
Unfortunately a brave Warrigals could not hold out and when Perrin scored his second and Monu held his nerve to convert, Keas could celebrate a happy new year.
Scotney who made a return from injury and captained Warrigals in the absence of the sidelined Darren Rogers said he was extremely proud of his team despite the loss.
"They had a lot more fresh bodies to call on and we were missing a few key players but we took it to them and that bodes well for the rest of the season," he said.
KEAS 18 (Scott Perrin 2 tries John Tamati pen John Monu con pen) bt WARRIGALS 17 (Brendan Ballie, Gian Guerra tries Gian Guerra 2 cons pen)
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