With the NRL side having the weekend off, 13 Titans players still featured in the Intrust Super Cup with some impressive performances across the two games.
In a weekend of mixed results, the Burleigh Bears battled out a much needed 23-22 one-point victory over the Mackay Cutters while Tweed Heads had a disappointing 32-16 loss to the Ipswich Jets after being level with just 20 minutes to go.
Titans centre Davin Crampton, one of his side’s better players, said the Seagulls were unable to halt the Jets momentum once they got on top.
“They just seemed to have all the momentum swing for them at the right time in the game and that put us under more pressure,” Crampton said.
“Once we fell behind we couldn’t complete our sets and everything seemed to start going their way, our incompletions made it tough to get back in the game.”
Despite having eight Titans players in their team, all of whom put in strong performances, the Seagulls couldn’t halt the fast finishing Jets. Consistent Gold Coast winger Kalifa Faifai Loa and exciting youngster Leva Li were the two standout Titans players but Crampton said it was an even contribution across the park by all the squad.
“Kalifa continued his good form out wide and Leva Li was also really good coming off the bench, he made a real impact whenever he was on the field and scored a good try,” he said.
“But everyone contributed and worked hard, we all did the little things that were asked of us, unfortunately it wasn’t enough.”
All three Tweed Heads tries were scored by Titans players, with Matt Srama and back-rower Matt Robinson joining Leva Li in crossing the line. Unfortunately for the Seagulls three tries were not enough, as Ipswich scored three times in the final 20 minutes to close out the match and dint any hope of a comeback.
Titans players enjoyed the familiar surrounds at Pizzey Park on Sunday as the Burleigh Bears reveled in an important win against the Mackay Cutters.
The Bears had suffered the worst loss in the club’s history in their previous game before the bye against Townsville and coach Jim Lenihan said his side were eager to bounce back after the bad loss.
“We wanted to play another one straight after the Townville game. We were certainly hugely embarrassed by the last effort,” he said.
“It was important to come out here and play better. We still have a lot to work on but we’ve just beaten Mackay who are a top four side, so it’s not like we’ve beaten mugs.
“We can beat the sides at the top of the comp, there’s no doubt about that, we’ve just got to find a more consistent mental approach to the game. I think that’s our biggest hurdle at the moment.”
Although not the classiest win, it was four points the Bears badly needed after the confidence dinting loss to Townsville. The Cutters opened the scoring early, but Titans centre Brad Tighe quickly responded with the first of his two tries for Burleigh.
Mackay asserted their dominance with two tries in quick succession in the 21st and 23rd minute, but the Bears never rolled over and were rewarded just before half-time to go into the break down 16-12.
Titans speedster Kevin Gordon was the most dangerous player on the field, constantly causing havoc for the Mackay defence and provided the highlight of the day, racing 60m to score just after half-time and level the scores.
The two sides exchanged tries before a Mackay error handed Burleigh the ball in dangerous territory. The Bears were able to secure good field position and setup halfback Ryley Jacks to slot the winning field goal.
Local pride, and bragging rights at Titans training, will be on the line in the XXXX Rivalry Round when the Bears and Seagulls clash at Piggabeen this Sunday (3pm).
IPSWICH JETS 32 (Marmin Barba 2, Chris Walker, Nemani Valekapa, Sam Martin, Billy McConnachie tries; Carlin Anderson 4 goals) def TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 16 (Matt Srama, Matt Robinson, Leva Li tries; Jamal Fogarty 2 goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.
Tweed Heads Seagulls: 1. Shaun Carney 2. Nathanael Barnes 3. Jai Ingram 4. Davin Crampton 5. Kalifa Faifai Loa 6. Ricardo Parata 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Damian Sironen (c) 9. Matt Srama 10. Will Bugden 11. Matt Robinson 12. Dane Clarke 13. Sam Saville 14. Sam Meskell 15. Leva Li 16. Agnatius Paasi 17. Josh Harvey
BURLEIGH BEARS 23 (Brad Tighe 2, Kevin Gordon, Tom Rowles tries; Tyler Chadburn 3 goals; Ryley Jacks field goal) def MACKAY CUTTERS 22 (Sam Clune, Tyson Martin, Zack Walker, Aleki Falepaini tries; Liam Taylor 3 goals) at Pizzey Park.
Burleigh Bears: 1. Khan Ahwang 2. Jaiden Hawkes 3. Brad Tighe 4. Dimitri Pelo 5. Kevin Gordon 6. Tyler Chadburn 7. Ryley Jacks 8. Mark Ioane 9. Ayden Lee 10. Mitch Sharp 15. Todd Seymour 12. Jamie Dowling 13. Louie Fanene 14. Tom Rowles 16. Darren Griffiths (c) 17. Pele Peletelese 20. David Hala
