Tweed make it 11 straight!

It was a successful weekend for iSelect Gold Coast Titans feeder teams with both local Intrust Super Cup teams, Burleigh and Tweed Heads, enjoying important victories.

The Seagulls – without regular players on contract to the Titans in Ryan James, Tom Kingston, Kalifa Faifai Loa and Cody Nelson, won their 11^th match in a row while the Bears moved into the sixth spot on the ladder with a win against Mackay Cutters.

One of the largest crowds seen at the northern NSW ground in a while had an entertaining afternoon filled with plenty of try-scoring action as the Seagulls defeated the PNG Hunters 60-28.

The Hunters, coming off a week’s break, looked strong in the first few plays of the game but it was the Seagulls who took control, leading at half-time 32-0. One try came from a Ricardo Parata intercept, with others scored by the co-captains Matt King and James Wood, forward Pele Peletelese, halfback Michael Burgess and forward Cory Blair.

The Hunters returned to the field strong and eager to score, as Dion Aiye and Noel Zemming scored early on in the second half. 

However, the Seagulls were able to turn defence into attack as iSelect Gold Coast Titan Jamal Fogarty scored after a Blair flick-pass and bounce from a Wood kick ahead. 

An error by Tweed Heads allowed the Hunters to take their first real opportunity as Thompson Teteh crossed the line for the first of his two tries. The two teams then went try for try. 

The Seagulls got on a roll with Luke Dumas scoring, and Parata and Burgess crossing the line again for their second tries of the game. Another Tweed error gave the Hunters a spark, allowing four tries to be scored by Zemming, Aiya, Garry Lo and Teteh.   

Meanwhile Burleigh Bears hang on to their semi-finals hope after losing two key forwards, beating the Cutters 28-20.

“It was a courageous effort, really,” Bears coach Jimmy Lenihan said. “We lost Kyle McConnell half way through the first half (shoulder) and Chris Kitching did a hamstring about five minutes into the second half so we played the rest of the game with two players on the bench and probably had three or four blokes hobbling through the game with injuries as well.”

The Bears, without in-form winger Anthony Don who was 18^th man for the Titans and injured half Matt Beddow, took the first half leading 22-6 with tries by Conner Toia, Kyle McConnell and two from Jamie Anderson.

Due to Burleigh’s injuries the Cutters were able to get back into the game, cutting the margin to just two points in the 58^th minute. However, with less than five minutes to go halfback Tyler Chadburn scored giving the Bears an eight point win over the Cutters.

The Bears return home to Pizzey Park on Sunday to take on the Wynnum Manly Seagulls while the Seagulls will have a bye. Meaning they have one from bye to bye undefeated.

TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 60 (Ricardo Parata 2, Michael Burgess 2, Blake Anderson, Luke Dumas, James Wood, Jamal Fogarty, Matt King, Cory Blair, Pele Peletelese tries; Jamal Fogarty 7, Blake Anderson goals) def PNG HUNTERS 28 (Thompson Teteh 2, Garry Lo, Noel Zemming, Dion Aiye, Willie Minoga tries; Noel Zemming 2 goals) at Piggabeen Sports.

BURLEIGH BEARS 28 (Jamie Anderson 2, Conner Toia, Tyler Chadburn, Kyle McConnell tries; Khan Ahwang 4 goals) def MACKAY CUTTERS 20 (Justin Tavae 2, Zac Santo, Doug Hewitt tries; Liam Taylor 2 goals) at Stadium Mackay.

NEXT WEEK’S GAMES