Tugun reels in a draw
TUGUN have fought back to salvage a 14-14 draw against a gastro-hit Runaway Bay outfit in a Round 17 Rugby League Gold Coast cliffhanger.
Bay burst out of the blocks to take a 12-0 lead into halftime and extended their buffer by another two points courtesy of a penalty goal.
But the Seahawks gradually reeled them in, continuing their trend of taking games down to the wire.
Of Tugun’s 14 matches this year, 10 have been settled by eight points or less – four wins, four losses and two draws.
It also continues a sense of unpredictability about the Seahawks, who have in their past three starts lost to last-placed Ormeau, toppled previously unbeaten Burleigh and drawn with fifth-placed Bay.
Coach Clint Barends though was satisfied with his side’s defence and believes that unpredictability will lessen as their top-line players return.
Kurtis McDonald, Wyndham Peachey, Isaac Worboys and Rory Lillis were all late withdrawals this week, the latter being called up for Tweed’s Intrust Super Cup side.
“Once we get everyone on the paddock we’ll appear to be more consistent,” Barends said. “The bye probably hurt us a little bit I think, you get that bit of momentum when you knock the top team off and everyone is excited.
“They had a really good attitude going into the game, the boys, but probably the execution was down a little bit. That just comes from not playing week to week.”
Having struggled through the opening couple of months, Tugun are right in the hunt for a top-three finish.
“Just the attitude has changed,” Barends added.
“We have had a bad run with injuries all year and we have always sort of talked about that once we get everyone back on the paddock, then we’re a chance. I think the game against Burleigh has given us the confidence that we can do it.”
Bay coach Nick Gleeson felt his side let an opportunity slip but was relatively pleased on the whole.
“It was a really tight game, we had two field goal chances and missed,” he said.
“Big Doryaan (Hape Apiata) was unreal but it looks like he has got a broken hand.
“Overall I was pretty happy given how sick the boys were: Jenan (Parrish) and (Jack) Mackin threw up on the field. We had three play who had the gastro and two pull out so I was pretty happy.”
Bay five-eighth Jimmy Poland could find himself in hot water after being placed on report for a spear tackle on Tugun stalwart Corey Morris.
In yesterday’s action, ladder leaders Burleigh held off Currumbin to claim a crucial 18-10 win. Bilambil beat Ormeau 40-14.