Seagulls’ stunning win built on grit
TWEED Heads have established themselves as genuine giant-killers after knocking off the Queensland Cup’s leading team for the second time in a month.
Shaking off a heavy laststart defeat and the loss of three Titans players, the Seagulls joined an exclusive club to have defeated PNG in Port Moresby with a shock 14-10 win on Saturday night. It’s a feat Tweed almost pulled off last year – losing 20-18 – and they threw everything at avoiding a repeat of that heartbreak.
Five-eighth Lindon McGrady, not known for his defence, exemplified that desperation with an extraordinary effort on Hunters second-rower David Loko in the closing minutes.
“They crashed through Lindo and went 80m. He got knocked over, they ran through him and then somehow he picked himself up and chased and he ended up tackling the bloke over the sideline with a metre before the tryline,” proud coach Aaron Zimmerle said.
“It could have been a very sad ending which is what they did to us last year.”
Recalled youngster Jackson Clarke was awarded players’ player in his first game back and led a heavy-hitting defensive display by the back-row.
“He just made some monumental tackles there that really turned the tide for us and he was really threatening with the ball,” Zimmerle said.
Winger Pete Lee won a new brigade of fans by taking over three bags of football boots to give to the local kids.
Only three weeks ago Tweed stunned then-leaders Redcliffe 21-4. QUEENSLAND CUP ROUND 15 P W 14 11 15 11 14 10 14 9 14 8 15 8 14 7 14 6 14 5 15 6 14 4 14 4 14 4
15 4 PNG Sun. Coast Redcliffe Magpies Easts Tigers Townsville Ipswich Jets Wynnum Mackay Norths Devils CQ Capras Northern Pride Burleigh Tweed Heads D 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 L 3 3 4 5 5 5 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 PD 134 184 132 66 35 60 -15 17 -73 -11 -101 -93 -112 -223 Pts 24 23 22 20 19 18 16 14 13 12 11 10 10 8