Western Clydesdales show spirit in 13-try showdown with Seagulls

The Western Clydesdales were exciting and dynamic in a 70 point thriller with Hostplus Cup leaders Wynnum Manly Seagulls. Here’s our look at the game’s big talking including why it was one of the team’s best performances this season.

Kaden Buhse has now scored in all three of his Hostplus Cup games for the Western Clydesdales. Picture: Benny Hassum Photography

Taking their home game ‘west’ the Western Clydesdales treated their fans to a 13-try, 72-point thriller on Sunday.

Unfortunately the home team, who played host to Wynnum Manly Seagulls at Chinchilla’s Bulldog Park, finished on the wrong end of the result.

The Seagulls were tested from start to finish by a galloping Clydesdales outfit but did enough to secure a 38-32 win.

Despite the result the performance ranks among the Clydesdales best this season – second only to their breakthrough win against Dolphins in round 8.

Here’s our look at the biggest talking points from the Hostplus Cup team’s round 11 match.

Buhse the Beaut

Kaden Buhse will surely have a target on him when he lines up against Tweed Seagulls in Round 12 this weekend.

The Clydesdales winger has scored a try in all three of his games since making his debut against Redcliffe Dolphins in round 8.

In a quirky twist of fate the Clydesdales have been the first team to score in those games and Buhse has scored all three.

Buhse has clearly adjusted to the pace of the elite game with his tries coming in the fourth (round 8), third (round 9) and sixth minutes (round 11).

The question now is will the Seagulls pay special attention to the Clydesdales young gun on Saturday and can he keep his streak alive?

Quality attack

The Clydesdales attack finally seems to be clicking into gear.
With round three and six bye and a two week Easter break disrupting the start of their season the Clydesdales had just seven tries to their name from four games.

Round seven didn’t get much better with the Clydesdales scoring twice in a 38-12 loss to Norths Devils.

Despite their early season woes the Clydesdales have shown promise only to let themselves down with bad passes and poor fifth tackle decisions.

Blake Lenehan takes the ball up for the Western Clydesdales during a match earlier this year. Picture: Chris Lenehan Sports Photography

Action from the Western Clydesdales and CQ Capras earlier this year. Picture: Chris Lenehan Sports Photography

Fortunately the side have turned promise into performance in their three last matches scoring 15 tries, including two six try efforts against the Dolphins and Seagulls, during those games.

When the Clydesdales gather momentum they are a hard team to stop and when they spread the ball wide quickly they are a real threat.

If the Clydesdales continue to apply scoreboard pressure over the coming weeks they’ll test plenty of teams and rack up a few more wins.

Big moments and control

Both coaches would’ve been a little disappointed with their players’ defensive efforts at the weekend.

While both teams deserve praise for their attacking play, Mat Head (Wynnum Manly Seagulls) and Jason Alchin (Western Clydesdales) would surely have loved to see a little more starch on the tryline from their respective players.

Both teams did step up in defence throughout the game but those moments were few and far between.

Instead the match was decided by which team gained the upper hand in the key moments and the Seagulls were the better side in that regard.

After trailing 4-0 early in the game the Seagulls spread their wings scoring three tries between the 15th and 25th to establish an 18-4 lead.

For the rest of the match every time the Clydesdales fought back to reduce the gap the Seagulls won the next moment – often scoring to widen the gap again.

The Clydesdales capitalised on their chances but the Seagulls were able to capitalise when it mattered most in the context of the game.

Fitness and heart

Early in the season the Clydesdales were guilty of going missing in games.

They were able to match pace with more physical teams for periods only to ‘open up’ when their intensity dropped.

Now with more game time under their belts they’re capable of keeping that pressure on for longer periods.

That lift in fitness and intensity combined with the famed Clydesdales spirit is helping them be more competitive for longer periods.

Proof of this can be found in Fua Schwalger’s 74th minute match winning try against the Dolphins in round 8.

Lopeti Mafi (75th minute) and Schwalger (79th minute) also scored late tries against the Seagulls at the weekend.

Originally published as Western Clydesdales show spirit in 13-try showdown with Seagulls