The Romano Group Seagulls were soundly beaten 30-4 by second-placed Redcliffe Dolphins on Saturday night but even the Dolphins conceded the contest was a lot closer the in the contest than on the scoreboard.
The Seagulls kept the Dolphins to 6-0 at half-time -29 minutes of the half was scoreless – after weathering an incredible dearth of possession early in the game that saw Redcliffe have the ball for six of the first seven sets.
In the end, with the team own to 15 fit players with centre Kurtis McDonald and middle forward Keegan Hipgrave off the field injured, the Seagulls could not keep out the Dolphins, who scored two of their five tries from kicks.
Both sides started the game strongly in defence and attack, setting fans up for an intriguing night of football.
While it only took 11 minutes before the first points were scored – with Dolphins lock Nathan Watts crashing over the line – they were not able to find the line again in the first half.
That was a turning point in more ways than one. As Watts crossed, McDonald limped off with a hamstring injury, causing Tristan Lumley from the back row to the centres and leaving the Gulls with a three-man interchange.
And in the 53rd minute forward Hipgrave bowed to a head knock which had seen him in the head bin, meaning the Seagulls were down to 15 players for the final 27 minutes. At that stage, the score was 18-0.
Despite the Seagulls not being able to get any points on the board during the first half, some uncharacteristic Redcliffe errors and some good football from the visitors gave the away side some hope going into half-time.
After the break, both sides appeared rejuvenated, with Dolphins winger Curtis Johnston taking a high mark over the line in the 44th minute to start the second half scoring action.
A well-placed kick from five-eighth Tyson Gamble sent second-rower Troy Giess over the line in the 51st minute for their second of the half; while winger Joshua Beehag continued the home side’s strong second half performance adding a try in the 61st minute.
The Seagulls weren’t able to break the Redcliffe defence until the 71st minute when Lamar Liolevave put the ball down comfortably in the corner after a great cut-out ball from five-eighth Lindon McGrady.
The result was sealed when forwards Tyson Cleal and Matthew Lodge combined in the centre of the field to give the home side the last say in the 74th minute.
Seagulls coach Aaron Zimmerle, without several key players, says he was proud of the effort from his side who competed right to the end against quality opposition.
“We stayed in the battle well consiering the size we gave away,” he said. “We got whacked a few times and took our licks and they just kept turning up for each other.
“It’s a pity we conceded two tries from kicks on the last that we probably should have defused; we stay in the contest longer if we were a bit better there. But I can’t ceiticise our efort at all; I was really proud of the boys.”
“I thought it was a really good contest from both sides; Tweed came to play and they played some really good footy,” Dolphins coach Adam Mogg said.
“It was a nice physical match between both sides, which was great to see, both sides were really giving it to each other throughout the game.
“Defensively, again I thought the boys were great; I couldn’t have asked for any more from them in that respect.”
Next week, the Seagulls be the ones facing the Pride at Piggabeen Complex this Sunday afternoon, in the Channel 9 TV game.
Click here for full match details
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 30 (Nathan Watts, Curtis Johnston, Troy Giess, Joshua Beehag, Matthew Lodge tries; Tyson Gamble 5 goals) def TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 4 (Brayden McGrady try) at Dolphin
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