Francis scores double as Bears topple Seagulls

Deine Mariner put on a try-scoring blitz on debut for Wynnum Manly Seagulls, however mistakes and an inability to match the commitment of the Burleigh Bears in general play cost the boys from the bay dearly.

The first 15 minutes of the game were riddled with errors and penalties from both sides and it was obvious both teams were struggling to get into a rhythm in the first game of the year.

Defence however was hard from both sides and the clash of bodies could be heard in the stands.

Both sides also boasted plenty of NRL-experienced talent, including Te Maire Martin making his return to the game with Wynnum Manly and Jarrod Wallace starting as prop for the Bears.

An Aaron Rockley penalty led to a Tony Francis opening the scoring in on the five-minute and Burleigh were up 4-0.

Josh Rogers missed the conversion and struggled with the boot on the day, booting two from five conversion attempts, plus one penalty, flattering the Seagulls in the final score.

As the game settled, defence was a battle until two tries in the space of five minutes, both from Wynnum Manly penalties, pushed the Bears out to a 14-point lead, causing the crowd in the stands and in the Chook Pen to fall silent.

Fortunately for the Gulls, a Herman Ese'ese penalty led to a David Mead line break and the first of Mariner’s quartet of tries.

Just before halftime, Hastings Deering player of the match Mariner pounced on a Burleigh ball and sprinted over the line for a try against the run of play and the teams headed to the shed at 14-8 in favour of the visitors.

The Bears scored two tries in the first 10 mins of the second half to extend their lead to 24-8 and the Gulls heads were dropping. 

However, two Burleigh errors in two minutes shifted momentum and Wynnum Manly quickly capitalised with a runaway try to Mariner, his third and Bailey Hartwig converted, closing the gap 24-18.

It seemed Burleigh were running out of gas late in the game and the Gulls were finishing with a wet sail. 

The crowd and Chook Pen were more vocal as they willed their team to run over the top of a visibly tiring Burleigh outfit.

Unfortunately, the Gulls gave away a penalty in the 79th minute right in front and allowed Burleigh to push out to an eight-point lead with two minutes to play.

That is where the scored remained, with both coaches saying after the match that the commitment from their teams needed to improve significantly.