The Luv Coffee Burleigh Bears have moved into a share of the Intrust Super Cup competition lead working hard for a 32-10 win against Wynnum Manly Seagulls without key players Cameron Cullen, Tyler Chadburn, Nathaniel Peteru and Sami Sauiluma.
It was a tough match against a Wynnum side that was desperate to win to stay in touch with the finals contenders. The Bears only ran away in the last 20 minutes for a valuable win.
“I’m just really happy with everyone’s contribution,” Bears coach Jim Lenihan said.
“We’re all realising how important everyone’s effort is to making the whole team’s effort really good. We’re competing well in all the effort areas.
“If we have one person start taking shortcuts the whole team starts falling apart and at the moment everyone is realising how important their role is and how important that is to everyone in the team.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game. (Wynnum) are a big, heavy team in the middle and we knew if we stuck at it long enough that the rewards would come in the last 20 minutes.”
Burleigh got away to a good start as Waka Wanahi came from the far wing to charge on to an inside ball from Jamal Fogarty on the right side of the field. Wanahi (pictured) found space and crossed for the opening try in the 13th minute.
Wynnum worked their way into the contest soon after when fullback Daniel Ogden produced a brilliant 70m kick-return in the 30th minute. From the next play Hayden Crowley scored.
Bears hooker Pat Politoni produced some fantastic sleight of hand as the half-time siren sounded, catching the defence by surprise when he ducked down the short side, breaking the front line and throwing the pass to Wanahi who scored his second to make it 14-6 at the break.
Wynnum broke through in the 53rd minute when, after some handy lead-up work, Mitch Cronin grubbered to the corner for a flying Crowley to score his second and cut the margin to four.
That was as close as the Seagulls would get, however, as Burleigh pulled away in the final 20.
In the 64th minute fullback Kurtis Rowe linked up with Jamie Dowling and showed great footwork to score a vital try which took the margin out to 10, while Hayden Schwass powered his way to the line shortly after to put the result beyond doubt.
A long-range intercept from Connor Broadhurst in the 78th minute saw the margin blow out.
The Tweed Head Seagulls went down to Easts Tigers 28-10 to make their finals hopes tougher as they get ready for this weekend’s derby with the Bears at Piggabeen (which will be televised by Channel 9).
Tweed were behind 18-0 at half-time after conceding four tries but an 80-metre intercept try by Titans player Leva Li, and the next try of the match 20 minutes later by centre Shannon Walker, put the Seagulls back in the match at 18-10.
However, the Tigers recovered and ran away with two late tries to Javarn White.
BURLEIGH BEARS 32 (Waka Wanahi 2, Kurtis Rowe, Hayden Schwass, Connor Broadhurst tries; Jamal Fogarty 6 goals) def WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS 10 (Hayden Crowley 2 tries; Mathew Seamark goal) at Pizzey Park.
BURLEIGH BEARS: Kurtis Rowe, Waka
Wanahi, Jarrod Tua, Connor Broadhurst, Oliver Regan, Daniel Schwass, Jamal Fogarty, Luke Page, Pat Politoni, Josh Ailaomai, Jamie Dowling, Hayden Schwass, Jeff Lynch. Interchange: Paterika Vaivai, Tom Rowles, Lachlan Burr, Louis Fanene.
For match highlights click this link: http://bit.ly/24Naykv
EASTS TIGERS 28 (Javarn White 2, Leon Ellia-Niukore, Dean Britt, Young Tonumaipe’a, Dane Chang tries; Guy Hamilton, Brent Warr goals) def TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 10 (Leva Li, Shannon Walker tries; Doug Hewitt goal) at Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park.
TWEED SEAGULLS: Alex Grant, Tevita Folau, Shannon Walker, Karl Lawton, Leva Li, Sam Irwin, Doug Hewitt, Josh Hoyle, Kierran Moseley, Oshae Tuiasau, Matt Robinson, Cory Blair, Matthew Hundy. Interchange: Sam Saville, Sam Meskell, Mitch Sharp, Ethan Price.
For match highlights click this link: http://bit.ly/1U5VQQP
POINTS TABLE AFTER ROUND 14
Team |
Played |
Won |
Draw |
Lost |
Bye |
For |
Agnst |
Total |
Townsville Blackhawks |
14 |
10 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
444 |
223 |
21 |
Burleigh Bears |
14 |
10 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
394 |
310 |
21 |
Redcliffe Dolphins |
13 |
9 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
356 |
204 |
20 |
PNG Hunters |
13 |
9 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
299 |
247 |
20 |
Easts Tigers |
13 |
8 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
349 |
258 |
19 |
Sunshine Coast Falcons |
13 |
6 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
249 |
264 |
15 |
Northern Pride |
13 |
6 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
301 |
275 |
14 |
CQ Capras |
13 |
6 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
272 |
374 |
14 |
Souths Logan Magpies |
14 |
5 |
2 |
7 |
0 |
337 |
356 |
12 |
Wynnum Manly Seagulls |
13 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
1 |
312 |
343 |
12 |
Tweed Heads Seagulls |
13 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
1 |
253 |
358 |
12 |
Norths Devils |
13 |
4 |
1 |
8 |
1 |
264 |
364 |
11 |
Ipswich Jets |
14 |
5 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
308 |
365 |
10 |
Mackay Cutters |
13 |
1 |
1 |
11 |
1 |
254 |
451 |
5 |
THIS WEEKEND
Saturday 18 June
Sunshine Coast Falcons v Easts Tigers at Sunshine Coast Stadium 3:00pm
Townsville Blackhawks v Ipswich Jets at Jack Manski Oval 4:00pm
Norths Devils v CQ Capras at Salter Oval, Bundaberg 6:00pm
Mackay Cutters v Northern Pride at BB Print Stadium, Mackay 6:00pm
Sunday 19 June
Tweed Heads Seagulls v Burleigh Bears at Piggabeen Sports 1:40pm (Channel 9)
PNG Hunters v Wynnum Manly Seagulls at National Football Stadium, Port Moresby 3:05pm
Bye: Souths Logan Magpies, Redcliffe Dolphins.
