Round 13 Details
MATCH DETAILS June 10/11 2006
East Tigers 28 (Pueki Ofahengaue 2, Todd Hair, Joe Richards, Todd Funch, John Helu tries; Todd Hair 2 goals) def Burleigh Bears 12 (Justin Hunt, Ren Greentree tries; Matthew Parata, Justin Hunt goals)
MATCH REPORT (from the WEBMASTER):
Wet weather for the first time in quite a while greeted the players to Langlands Park for the first match of the weekend. Burleigh looked to be a team on a mission when they drove Easts back 20 metres in the first tackle of the match and forced the Tigers to kick from only 15 metres oyut from their own line, but a late charge from the kick gave the Tigers a penalty downfield, and after forcing a goal line drop out a good short ball from replacement 5/8 Reece Purcell put Pueki Ofehengaue over for a try and a 4-0 lead after 4 minutes. Burleigh had a number of opportunities in the next 15 minutes but were let down by poor handling till eventually Justin Hunt exploited some poor defence from a scrum 35 metres out to score untouched with Matthew Parata's conversion from wide out giving them a 6-4 lead. Easts struck back quickly however with their halfback Todd Hair also exploiting some poor defence close to the line to score beside the posts after he had got them into position with a 40/20, his conversion giving them a 4 point lead with 10 minutes till halftime. He looked to have extended Easts leads two minutes before the break with an almost identical run but to the visitor's relief he dropped the ball, but their relief was to be short-lived with their clearing kick being charged down and Easts taking advantage, winger Joe Richards being awarded a try after the ball was spun wide, despite appearing to lose the ball over the line.The home side went to the break leading 14-6 which flattered the visitors given their poor completion rate, and indiscipline which saw Easts lead the penalty count 4-0.
Burleigh were lucky not to go further behind early in the second hlaf, dropping the ball early in the tackle count the first three times they handled, however their defence held, and after their first two penalties of the match they had an opportunity to score at the other end, but Ryan WIlson was ruled to have dropped the ball over the line. Easts eventually extended their lead 12 minutes into the second half, when a good offload from halfback Hair on the fifth tackle and some quick thinking from hooker Trent Johnson saw Todd Funch score out wide for an 18-6 lead. Burleigh's handling went from bad to worse, and Easts put the match beyond doubt when, after a sensational bust by big prop John Helu, Pueki Ofahengaue powered his way over for his second try and the Tigers led by 16 with 15 minutes remaining. John Helu powered over from a tap, Hair's conversion taking the lead to 22, with a late consolation try to interchange player Ren Greentree making the final score 28-12.
For the Tigers, big prop John Helu was outstanding, well supported by the entire forward pack, with lock Chris Woods and hooker Trent Johnson prominent, whilst halfback and stand-in captain Todd Hair shone in the backs. Reece Purcell did a great job filling in for David Georgiou at 5/8 whilst centre Pueki Ofahengaue was also prominent. Burleigh unfortunately were, in a word, dreadful, their competion rate of 45% a testament to their dreadful handling. Justin Hunt showed some flashes of brilliance, and centre Tim Matenga tried hard in the backs. Second rower Bodine Thompson was probably best of the forwards with hooker Matt Francis doing a lot of work in defence. It was an important win for the understrength Tigers who regain the lead in the competition, at least temporarily.
STATS: Penalties: Easts 6 - 2; Scrums: Easts 10 - 6; Comp.Rate: Easts 29/40, Burleigh 14/31
Redcliffe Dolphins 36 (Matt Gillett 2, Andrew Rickertts, Michael Wilson, Logan Sullivan, Sam Schull, Jordan Brown tries; Phil Daisy 4 goals) def Western District Panthers 14 (Tino Vaasa, James Adamson, Curtis Purssell tries; Ryan Corrie goal)
IN BRIEF:
Despite the disruption of losing their coach mid-week and with 9 regulasr unavailable, Redcliffe proved far too strong for a dismal Western Districts side, leading 20-4 at halftime and going on to triumph 36-14 and regain the competition lead they had lost earlier in the day to Easts.
Wynnum-Manly Seagulls 22 (Robbie Congo 2, Ryan Brown, Aaron Brown tries; Luke Menhinnitt 3 goals) def Ipswich Jets 16 (Tyson Lofipo, Daniel Frank, Mananui Te Heu Heu tries; Wade Watson 2 goals)
IN BRIEF: A last minute converted try to the Seagulls condemned Ipswich to their sixth loss by a converted try or less this season. In what was a tight hard fought match all day, the visitors led 12-10 at the break, and the win was a critical one without captain Matt Smith.
MATCH OF THE ROUND: Tweed Heads Seagulls 32 (Michael Keating 2, Jay Mariconte 2, Nicholas Daley, Tom Kingsto tries; Michael Keating 4 goals) def Souths-Logan Magpies 8 (Antonio Winterstein, Louis Makuare tries)
IN BRIEF: Without Mase Laulu-Togagae and Chris Sandow, the Magpies continued their inconsistent form trailing 10-0 at the break before eventually going down 32-8. aloowing Tweed to draw level with them on 12 poiints although Souths-Logan keep their spot in the top five on for-and-against.
Norths Devils 62 (Kieran Turner 4, Blayne Harling 2, David Kramer 2, Jacob Samoa 2, Jarrad Stack, Lachan Hompes tries; Luke Samoa 5, Jacob Samoa 2 goals) def Sunshine Coast Falcons 0
IN BRIEF: Norths, despite having a heap of regular players out, were far too strong for the Falcons winning 62-0, after leading 36-0 at the break. Kieran Turner grabbed 4 tries, whilst Blayne Harling, David Kramer and Jacob Samoa all scored 2.
Aspley Devils BYE
MATCH PREVIEWS: June 10/11 2006
Most clubs depleted with U19 Maroons and Qld U17 players missing making tipping a nightmare!!
Easts Tigers v Burleigh Bears Sat 10:45am Langlands Park
Previous Game: Easts 36 def Burleigh 10
Easts look particularly vulnerable with key playmakers hooker Brent Kuskey and 5/8 David Georgiou missing in the Qld U19 Maroons, whilst Burleigh will also be weakened with fullback Marty Paulson and forward Brendan Hoare also out. Both teams are coming off good wins, with Easts jumping out of the blocks well and holding off Easts, whilst Burleigh came home strongly against Wests. Burleigh desperately need a win to stay in touch with the top 5 and this could be their best chance to topple the Tigers. Hooker Matt Francis, halfback Justin Hunt and fill-in fullback Matt Parata could make the difference for the Bears "THE COMPUTER" tips Burleigh by 6.
Western Districts Panthers v Redcliffe Dolphins Sat 4:00pm Kev McKell Oval
Previous Game: Redcliffe 42 def Western Districts 16
What a tumultuous week for the Dolphins with the sacking of coach Craig Ingebrigsten adding to the disruption of 9 missing key players in the Qld U17s, A Grade and Qld Cup, and to suspension. Western Districts will be close to full strength with James Adamson escaping suspension during the week, and if ever they are to beat the Dolphins, this could be the day. In the first round match the teams went to the break locked at 16 all, but the Panthers discipline disintegrated in the second half allowing Redcliffe an easy victory. Redcliffe have proved however they can take adversity in their stride, their impressive victory against Tweed two weeks ago being evidence of that, and they continur to win the close ones. "THE COMPUTER" tips Western Districts by 8.
Ipswich Jets v Wynnum Manly Seagulls Sun 11:45am QLD Group Stadium
Previous Game: Wynnum Manly 38 def Ipswich Jets 12
The Seagulls will be missing U17 pair Ben Cronin and Shaun Cotter and U19 Maroons Matt Smith and Bruce Kolio, whilst Ipswich should be close to sfull strength except for Geoff Holcombe who has retained his spot in the Qld Cup side and Lachlan Sippel who is in the U19 Maroons. Ipswich have gone close to beating Easts, Redcliffe and Aspley at QLD Group Stadium this season, just failing in the final minutes. Wynnum will definitely miss the leadership of Matt Snith and like Burleigh and Wests this could very well be a great chance for them to rack up a win against a team higher up the ladder. "THE COMPUTER" tips Ipswich by 6
MATCH OF THE ROUND: Tweed Heads Seagulls v Souths-Logan Magpies Sun 11.45am Piggabeen
Previous Game: Souths Logan 38 def Tweed Heads 22
A win in this game could see Tweed move into the top 5 for the first time this year, whilst a loss could see them 4 points adrift of it so it is a critical game for the home side. Tweed will be close to full strength whilst Souths-Logan will be missing the attacking brilliance of Qld U17 fullback Chris Sandow and centre Mase Laulu has been retained in Qld Cup after an impressive debut last week. This should be a great clash in the forward with the big Souths forwards taking on the mobile Tweed pack. Tweed bounced back from a disappointing loss to Redcliffe to beat Aspley at home last week and will want to make it two wins from three successive home games. "THE COMPUTER" tips Tweed Heads by 10.
Norths Devils v Sunshine Coast Falcons 11.45am at Piggabeen
Previous Game: Norths 32 def Sunshine Coast 22
Norths have players of the calibre of Will Chambers (QCup), Daniel Isacc, Rohan Ahern and Aiden Guerra (U19 Maroons) and Israel Folau and Luke Capewell (Qld U17) unavailable, whilst the Sunshine Coast side should be close to full strength. The Falcons really took it to a much stronger Norths side at Quad Park in the first round, only going down by ten points and would be looking to pick up a win in this one, alyhough they have not played nearly as well away from Kawana this year. "THE COMPUTER" tips Norths by 14
Aspley Devils BYE
