iSelect Titans hooker Matt Srama has come through his comeback match with flying colours after joining fellow Titan Sam Irwin (above) and playing a solid 25 minutes for Tweed Seagulls on Sunday, claiming he “felt good” after a physical hit-out against Easts Tigers.
Srama was returning from a shoulder injury and helped the Seagulls to an important 23-14 win over the Easts Tigers.
Srama, who has been out since the 26th round of the 2013 season, has gone through an ankle surgery, a full shoulder reconstruction as well as many months of rehab.
“It went pretty well, only played a few minutes, but it was good to play some footy coming back from injury,” Srama said.
“It was a pretty exciting game and it was good for the boys to get an important win.” Srama came off the bench to replace hooker Matt King, with Titans other NRL hooker of last season (but also a halfback), Sam Irwin, playing five-eighth.
This victory put the Seagulls within two wins of the top five.
The match started off in favour of the Seagulls with tries from Tom Merritt and Blake Anderson, before Easts wingers Jarrod McInally got the Tigers on the board.
Merritt was able to score again before the half ended, giving the Seagulls a 16-4 lead at the break.
The Tigers had a spark to their second half start narrowing the margin to 17-14 with only five minutes left to go in the match.
However, Tweed prop Damian Sironen scored with only a minute remaining to give the Seagulls their first win at home this season.
“The Seagulls haven’t won a game on their home ground yet, this is a good start to win and hopefully the team can build on that,” Srama said. “This weekend will be tough against the Burleigh Bears, who are another Titans team, but it should be a good GC derby this Sunday.”
Titans-contracted players Matt Beddow and Steve Michaels were among some of the try scorers in the Burleigh Bears’ dramatic 26-22 defeat against the PNG Hunters at Pizzey Park.
Both teams delivered an exciting game for the 4000 crowd for the Anzac Day match.
The Bears had a strong first half with Beddow scoring with less than 15 minutes to go to give them a 16-point lead. Gary Lo managed to get the Hunters on the board in the 29th minute, but this was a short lived celebration as Michaels quickly answered back to extend the Bears lead further.
The first half ended with the Bears on top 20-4.
Things drastically changed in the second half as the Hunters came out even harder than the beginning of the game. They were running and tackling harder than the Bears and dominated a majority of the second half, making the crowd get on their feet.
In the 69th minute David Loko gave the Hunters their first lead of the game. With less than five minutes left in the game, Kitching managed to break across the line to give the Bears their 26-22 victory.
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 23 (Tom Merritt 2, Blake Anderson, Damian Sironen tries; Beau Henry 3 goals; Beau Henry field goal) def EASTS TIGERS 14 (Jarrod McInally, Tom Butterfield, Tim Glasby tries; Cody Walker goal) at Piggabeen Sports
BURLEIGH BEARS 26 (Zac Mackay, Khan Ahwang, Matt Beddow, Steve Michaels, Chris Kitching tries Khan Ahwang 3 goals) def PNG HUNTERS 22 (Garry Lo 2, David Loko, Willie Minoga tries Noel Zemming 3 goals) at Pizzey Park.
