New Bears add energy

The decision to give Gold Training under-20s players Hayden and Daniel Schwass experience in Burleigh Bears’ Intrust Super Cup team has paid dividends with the twins providing enthusiasm to the Bears in their win at Stanthorpe on Sunday.

They were among six Gold Coast Titans players who contributed towards the 18-16 victory with hooker Chad Redman scoring the match-winning try through a fair bit of luck.

Burleigh coach Jim Lenihan was full of praise for his young side, singling out the Schwass brothers for special praise.

“Their optimism and energy has been a bit contagious for us of late,” Lenihan said.

“We may not have gotten the best results over the last four or five weeks, but blooding these young blokes this year has been good for us and holds us in good stead for next year.

“I thought the Schwass boys went well and I thought Tyler Sparkes played well today. He came on in the second half and gave us that little bit of aggression and a bit of effort which is what we really needed.”

Trailing by four points with only three minutes remaining, Bears halfback Ryley Jacks put up a cross-field bomb, only for the ball to miraculously rebound off the upright and fall into the hands of Redman to score the winning try.

The finale was a fitting way to cap off an eventful day. Despite dominating the first half with 60 per cent of possession, Burleigh defended well enough for the Falcons to lead just 10-0 at half-time.

It was back-rower Hayden Schwass who got the Bears back in the game, scoring shortly after half-time. Burleigh scored again soon after to gain a two-point lead with just 15 minutes left on the clock but the Falcons bounced back, scoring through a dummy-half run to regain the lead until the amazing last minute try to Redman sealed the game for the Bears.

Kevin Gordon and Jamie Dowling continued their dangerous partnership out wide while Nathaniel Peteru put in an impressive performance in the Bears front row.

Meanwhile in Bundaberg, Tweed Heads notched up a win against the last-placed Capras, with Titans players Jamal Fogarty, Anthony Colman and Jai Ingram all featuring.

The Capras fought hard throughout the match, with the Seagulls only putting the game away late through two pieces of individual brilliance from fullback Ali Grant.

Tweed coach Aaron Zimmerle said he was pleased his side finally notched up a close win.

“We have lost six games this season (by) six points or under and we haven’t been able to come from behind and win like we did against the Capras,” Zimmerle said.

“The Capras were a really good physical side and was a quick moving game like Townsville. We missed a few opportunities to break clear, but full credit to the Capras.”

Titans playmaker Fogarty was creative as always at five-eighth, while young back-rower Colman – also moved from the under-20s dquad to gain experience in the open age Queensland Cup - made an impact off the bench alongside Ingram. 

The Seagulls come up against the fourth placed Ipswich Jets this Sunday at Piggabeen Sports and are looking to take confidence from the weekend’s win.

“We won’t get to play finals this season, but we just need to keep moving forward,” Zimmerle said.

“We play Ipswich this weekend, they are playing some great footy and we will have to work out a method to beat them.”

Burleigh have a bye.

TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 20 (Ali Grant 2, Nathanael Barnes, Blake Anderson tries; Jamal Fogarty 2 goals) def. CQ CAPRAS 16 (Jake Ainsworth, Marco Delapena, Dan Randall tries; Matt Minto, Ian Webster goals) at Salter Oval, Bundaberg.

Seagulls: Ali Grant 2. Nathanael Barnes 3. James Wood (c) 4. Shaun Carney 5. David Sheridan 6. Jamal Fogarty 7. Sam Foster 8. Will Bugden 9. Sam Meskell 10. Ethan Price 11. Shawn Anderson 12. Blake Anderson 13. Sam Saville 14. Ricardo Parata 15. Anthony Colman 16. Dane Clarke 17. Jai Ingram

BURLEIGH BEARS 18 (Chad Redman, Hayden Schwass, Ayden Lee tries; Kevin Gordon 3 goals) def. SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS 16 (Rowan Klein, David Oakes, Billy Brittain tries; David Oakes, Ryan Hansen goals) at Sullivan Oval, Stanthorpe

Bears: 1. Talor Walters 2. Kevin Gordon 3. Jamie Dowling 4. Connor Broadhurst 5. Corbin Kiernan (for Dimitri Pelo) 6. Daniel Schwass 7. Ryley Jacks 8. Nathaniel Peteru 9. Chad Redman 10. Pele Peletelese 11. Hayden Schwass 12. Ayden Lee 13. Darren Griffiths (c) 14. Nafe Seluini 15. Louie Fanene 16. Tyler Sparkes 17. Josh Ailaomai

INTRUST SUPER CUP

POINTS TABLE AFTER ROUND 23