Titans feeder team Burleigh Bears have moved to second on the Intrust Super Cup after a committed defence led to a 20-12 victory over Easts Tigers at Pizzey Park.
In what was a high-quality game between two of the competition heavyweights, the Bears finished stronger with an outstanding second half defensive effort.
Bears coach Jim Lenihan was extremely pleased with his side’s performance after a disappointing 32-16 loss to Redcliffe the previous week..
“Last week we didn’t give ourselves much opportunity early in the game because we gave away a lot of penalties and repeat sets to Redcliffe, where this week we were able to be a bit more disciplined,” he said.
“In the middle of the second half, the game was on a bit of a knife’s edge as to who would fight it out the best and I thought we got to the line stronger than they did, so it was a really good win.
“We’ve really worked hard on trying to build our game around defence. We’ve had some lapses but we’re certainly moving in the right direction with that sort of thing.
“It was just pleasing for the team after last week’s disappointment to come out and have a win against quality opposition at home.”
The Bears led 12-6 at half-time from two tries scored by centre Sami Sauiluma, the second set up by Titans player Cameron Cullen who broke several attempted tackles before getting the ball to Sauiluma.
After Easts struck back with a converted try before Bears prop Luke Page sealed the match with a determined try.
The big front rower lined up for a typically direct charge and stepped his way through the front line, accelerated through the gap and ran over the fullback to score a special try next to the posts.
Lenihan said Page’s try was “amazing” and also praised the defensive efforts of co-captain Jamie Dowling and man of the match Oliver Regan.
The Titans other feeder team, Tweed Seagulls, were also victorious on the weekend after the terrible Gold Cast whether forced the match to be switched away from Piggabeen to Ipswich.
They handled the extra challenge well, winning 22-12 against a Jets side that had beaten PNG Hunters the week before.
Ballina Seagulls junior Alex Grant scored three first half tries from fullback to help the Seagulls dominate early and leap to a 16-0 lead after just 15 minutes.
The Seagulls got away to a flying start when Grant joined the backline and was over in the fifth minute on the Jets’ right hand side.
After earning a repeat set through a line-drop-out, Titans player Matt Robinson scored to make it 10-0. The Jets missed the regather from a short kick-off and Grant ran 70 metres to score untouched for his second try.
The Jets scored a converted try to bring the score back to 16-6.before Grant picked up his third try to give his side a 22-6 lead.
It took 30 minutes into the second half for the Jets to change that score when the big international David Fa’alogo offloaded to a flying Carlin Anderson who went over and converted for a 22-12 scoreline. .
BURLEIGH BEARS 20 (Sami Sauiluma 2, Luke Page tries; Jamal Fogarty 4 goals) def EASTS TIGERS 12 (Shane Neumann, Brodie Croft tries; Billy Walters 2 goals) at Pizzey Park.
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 22 (Alexander Grant 3, Matthew Robinson tries; Doug Hewitt 3 goals) def IPSWICH JETS 12 (Nat Neale, Carlin Anderson tries; Carlin Anderson 2 goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.
