IT was a mixed day on Sunday for the Titans’ feeder team with last year’s finalists, Tweed Heads Seagulls, fighting back from 16-0 for a convincing win against Redcliffe while Burleigh Bears went down 22-14 against Central Queensland Capras at a hot and humid Rockhampton.
Plenty of Titans contracted players were in the thick of the action and all got through injury-free except Bears centre Brad Tighe who picked up a rib cartilage injury and could be sidelined for a few weeks.
The Seagulls won 42-28 at Dolphin Oval after a terrible start that saw them concede three tries in the opening quarter of an hour before three quick tries of their own saw them lead 16-14 at the break.
Fullback Shaun Carney, who returned from a stint with Norths last season, scored a hat-trick while halfback Kane Elgey was impressive in his Intrust Super Cup debut and Davin Crampton, a premiership winner last year with Northern Pride, also impressed.
The lead changed hands twice more in the second half before the Seagulls ran away in the latter stages. Titans Ryan Simpkins and Leva Li were among the try scorers.
The Bears went down in a scrappy game that featured plenty of dropped ball in the sultry conditions.
Tighe was among the try-scorers in the first half (the other was fellow centre Dimitri Pelo). The scores were locked 10-all at the break.
Christian Hazard returned from injury to play 50 minutes off the bench as hooker while Anthony Don enjoyed the extra space at fullback.
“It was a close game all the way through, but during the middle and back end of the second half we just turned the ball over too many times to give ourselves a chance,” Bears coach Jim Lenihan said. “We did a lot right, we just didn’t hold the ball when we needed to.
“At times we were well and truly over the top of them, but too many times we’d try to push a pass that didn’t need to be thrown and we were a little bit impatient with controlling the ends of our sets.
“The Capras I think have improved a bit since last year with some good off-season signings and credit to them.
“For us, we weren’t up to it on the day and we’ve got some things to work on after round one, that’s for sure.”
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 42 (Shaun Carney 3, Nathanael Barnes 2, Kane Elgey, Leva Li, Ryan Simpkins tries; Jamal Fogarty 3, Blake Anderson 2 goals) def REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 28 (Evander Cummins, Oliver Regan, Charlie Faingaa, Tristan Lumley, Reggie Saunders tries; Luke Capewell 4 goals) at Dolphin Oval.
Redcliffe Dolphins: 1. Evander Cummins 2. Oliver Regan 3. Nick Ritter 4. Tom Opacic 5. Marty Hatfield 6. Bobbie Goulding 7. Luke Capewell (c) 8. Charlie Faingaa 21. Shane Pumipi 10. Harley Aiono 11. Ajuma Adams 12. Tristan Lumley 13. Trent Richardson 14. Logan Harris 15. Martin Cordwell 16. Tom Gerharty 17. Reggie Saunders
Tweed Heads Seagulls: 1. Shaun Carney 2. Nathanael Barnes 3. James Wood (c) 4. Davin Crampton 5. Blake Anderson 6. Jamal Fogarty 7. Kane Elgey 8. Damian Sironen 9. Sam Meskell 10. Mark Offerdahl 11. Sam Saville 12. Jai Ingram 13. Jake Leary 14. Ricardo Parata 15. Dane Clarke 16. Leva Li 17. Ryan Simpkins
CQ CAPRAS 22 (Javarn White, Tarrant Mariner, Russ Aitken, Chris Stolk tries; Matt Minto 3 goals) def BURLEIGH BEARS 14 (Siuatonga Likiliki, Dimitri Pelo, Brad Tighe tries; Connor Toia goal) at Browne Park.
CQ Capras: 1. Javarn White 20. Ray Ebsworth 3. Russell Webber 4. Ian Webster 5. Tarrant Mariner 6. Matt Minto 7. Russ Aitken 8. Peter Gallen 9. Josh Mitchell 10. Fabian Souter 11. Corey Oates 12. Guy Williams 13. Gavin Hiscox 14. Aaron Watson 19. Gerard Tema 17. Andrew Dale 18. Chris Stolk 19. Gerard Tema 20. RJ Halls
Burleigh Bears: 1. Anthony Don 21. Siuatonga Likiliki 3. Dimitri Pelo 4. Brad Tighe 5. Jared Teo 6. Connor Toia 7. Ryley Jacks 8. Josh Ailaomai 9. Nafe Seluini 10. Pele Peletelese 11. Ayden Lee 12. Jason Chan 13. Darren Griffiths (c) 14. Christian Hazard 15. Louis Fanene 16. Kyle McConnell 17. James Dunley 18. Shaun Maloney
