Feeder teams have tough weekend

It was a disappointing weekend for the Titans’ feeder teams as with Burleigh Bears and Tweed Heads Seagulls suffering big losses.

Despite fielding five Titans players, the Seagulls could not stop a rampaging Sunshine Coast side, with the Falcons running out comprehensive winners 49-10.

The signs looked good early for Tweed Heads after young Titan and under-20s Queensland representative Karl Lawton raced away in the just the third minute to open the scoring.

With fellow Titans teammates Leva Li, Ben Ridge, Matt Robinson, Kalifa Faifai Loa in the 17, it looked set to be an easy day for the Seagulls, but that was the only time the Seagulls would be in front all day. The Falcons ran riot after the early Lawton try, scoring six unanswered tries to dominate the first half and lead 32-6 at the break.

Melbourne Storm pair Young Tonumaipea and Kurt Mann were leading the charge for the Sunshine Coast, causing headaches for the Seagulls defence all day. Tonumaipea finished with a hat-trick while five-eighth Mann had a hand in nearly every attacking foray.

Despite fielding young players like Lawton and Li, Tweed Heads coach Aaron Zimmerle refused to make excuses for his side.

“We're at a point where we've got to expect a lot out of ourselves," Zimmerle said.

"There's quite a few young blokes who have come in to fill holes. We're not willing to accept the fact we're not going to be able to compete. Kids with not much experience have got to learn quickly that we need more and the senior guys have to step up to compensate for that."

The win was just the Falcons’ fifth of the year and makes it difficult for Tweed to sneak into the finals.

Burleigh suffered a similar fate to their local rivals, going down 64-6 to the Redcliffe Dolphins. The defeat was the third time this season the Bears have had 50 points scored against them in what coach Jim Lenihan described as an inexcusable performance.

"I've got no excuse for that," Lenihan said. "I don't know why we end up putting up a performance like that. It looks more lackluster than effort.”

The Dolphins ran in 11 tries to one, dominating the Bears for the full 80 minutes. However it was the second half where the real damage was done. Holding a comfortable 22-6 lead at half-time, the Dolphins came out after the break firing.

Five tries in 15 minutes put any chance of a Burleigh comeback to bed and it only got worse for the Bears, Redcliffe dominating the local side 42-0 in the second half alone.

The Dolphins had a host of try-scores with nine individuals crossing the line including doubles to Tom Opacic and Nick Ritter. Titans forward Dave Hala toiled away off the bench against his junior club, but it was a difficult day for any Titans-contracted player to make an impact. In some positive individual news for Hala, he put together some solid minutes in just his second game back from injury.

Despite suffering numerous big defeats this season, the Bears are still in finals contention and will be looking to bounce back when they travel to Mackay this week to take on the Cutters. 

Tweed Heads take on the seventh-placed Northern Pride at Piggabeen Sports on Sunday.

SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS 49 (Young Tonumaipea 3, Sam Young 2, Rowan Klein, Suliasi Vunivalu, Kurt Mann, Johnny Vuetibau tries; Ryan Hansen 5, David Oakes goals; Billy Brittain field goal) def TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 10 (James Wood, Karl Lawton tries; Ali Grant goal) at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Tweed Heads Seagulls:  1. Ali Grant 2. Nathanael Barnes 3. James Wood (c) 4. Shaun Carney 5. Leva Li 6. Ricardo Parata 7. Karl Lawton 14. Ben Ridge 9. Sam Meskell 10. Oliver Percy 11. Matt Robinson 12. Blake Anderson 13. Sam Saville 18. Kalifa Faifai Loa 15. Dane Clarke 16. Jarrod Morfett 17. Ethan Price

REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 64 (Tom Opacic 2, Nick Ritter 2, Tristan Lumley, Marlon Doak, Luke Capewell, Charlie Faingaa, Darcy Etrich, Logan Harris, Harley Aiono tries; Luke Capewell 10 goals) def BURLEIGH BEARS 6 (Jaiden Hawkes try; Khan Ahwang goal) at Pizzey Park.

Burleigh Bears: 1. Khan Ahwang 2. Jaiden Hawkes 3. Connor Broadhurst 4. Dimitri Pelo 5. Jamie Anderson 6. Conner Toia 7. Ryley Jacks 8. Mitch Sharp 9. Tom Rowles 10. Pele Peletelese 11. Ayden Lee 12. Louie Fanene 13. Darren Griffiths (c) 14. Marino Allen 15. Josh Ailaomai 16. Shaun Maloney 21. Dave Hala

INTRUST SUPER CUP

POINTS TABLE AFTER ROUND 18