Back-to-back wins for Bears

It was a mixed weekend for the Titans’ feeder teams with Burleigh Bears making it successive victories with an 18-10 defeat of defending champions Northern Pride at Pizzey Park but an under-strength Tweed Heads Seagulls beaten comprehensively to equal competition leaders PNG Hunters.

Similar to last week’s 28-12 win over Sunshine Coast, the Bears’ defence and ball control in the middle were the key factors which pleased coach Jim Lenihan in his 100th match at the helm.

“I thought our defence on our line put them under a lot of pressure,” he said. “They had a lot of ball on our line in that second half but they were coming up with a lot of forced errors thanks to our defence.

“They had a lot of opportunities to win that game too, but the boys didn’t let them do it.” 

Debutant five-eighth Todd Seymour set up two first-half tries, the first with a mid-field kick hit the upright and ricocheted to chasing fullback Tyler Chadburn in the 27^th minutes and a cross-field bomb in the 37^th minute found its way into the hands of Ryley Jacks, giving the Bears a 12-6 half-time lead.

Ten minutes into the second half interchange prop Mitch Sharp stormed over from close range to make it 18-6.

A consolation try to Semi Tadulala in the 78^th minute brought the final score to 18-10. Back-rower Jason Chan was man-of-the-match.

The Seagulls, who were missing several players including Titans-contracted Leva Li, Jai Ingram and Kane Elgey who had been promoted to the NRL side, were comprehensively beaten 38-10 victory over Tweed Heads Seagulls in Kokopo after being behind 34-0 at half-time.

The points eased off in the second half, with the Hunters restricted to the one try from man of the match Ase Boas in the 70^th minute.

Tweed put up a much better fight in the second half, posting tries to Kalifa Faifai Loa and Oliver Percy.

The Seagulls have a bye in Round 5, while the Bears play Redcliffe on Sunday at Dolphin Oval.

BURLEIGH BEARS 18 (Tyler Chadburn, Ryley Jacks, Mitch Sharp tries; Tyler Chadburn 3 goals) def NORTHERN PRIDE 10 (Luke George, Semi Tadulala tries; Cameron King goal) at Pizzey Park.

Burleigh Bears: 1. Tyler Chadburn 2. Kevin Gordon 3. Jamie Dowling 4. Connor Broadhurst 5. Dimitri Pelo 6. Todd Seymour 7. Ryley Jacks 8. Mark Ioane 9. Nafe Seluini 10. Pele Peletelese 11. Lachlan Burr 12. Jason Chan 13. Darren Griffiths (c) 14. Tom Rowles 15. Louis Fanene 16. Josh Ailaomai 19. Mitch Sharp 

Northern Pride: 1. Hezron Murgha 2. Linc Port 3. Brett Anderson (c) 4. Luke George 19. Semi Tadulala 6. Ryan Ghietti 7. Sam Obst 8. Jack Svendsen 9. Jason Roos (c) 10. Patrick Kaufusi 11. Ben Spina 12. Graham Clark 13. Tom Hancock 14. Cameron King 15. Nathan Wales 16. Sheldon Powe-Hobbs 17. David Murphy

PNG HUNTERS 38 (Ase Boas 3, Stargroth Amean, Oti Bland Tony, Kato Ottio, Wartovo Puara tries; Roger Laka 5 goals) def TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 10 (Kalifa Faifai Loa, Oliver Percy tries; Jamal Fogarty goal) at Kalabond Oval, Kokopo.

PNG Hunters: 1. Stargroth Amean 2. Oti Bland Tony 3. Ase Boas 4. Kato Ottio 5. Edward Goma 6. Israel Eliab (c) 7. Roger Laka 10.Esau Siune 9. Wartovo Puara 8. Henry Noki 11. Willie Minoga 12. Brandy Peter 13. Adam Korave 14. Warren Glare 15. Atte Bina 17. Jay Jay Garrison 18. Nickson Borana

Tweed Heads Seagulls: 1. Shaun Carney 2. Kalifa Faifai Loa 3. James Wood (c) 4. Davin Crampton 5. Matt Parata 6. Ricardo Parata 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Damian Sironen 9. Dom Speakman 10. Hemi Mullen 11. Matt Robinson 12. Dane Clarke 13. Luke Dumas 14. Blake Anderson 15. Sam Saville 16. Mark Offerdahl 17. Oliver Percy