The Gold Coast Airport Tweed Seagulls played host to the Burleigh Bears at the Piggabeen Sports Complex, Piggabeen in Round 4. Despite an improved second half and fast finish, the Seagulls couldn’t pull the Bears in while going down 24-10.
The Bears made their intentions clear from kickoff by collecting a short one with the very first play of the game. Taking the field position and with the Seagulls caught off guard, the visitors opened the scoring inside 60 seconds through Felice Quinlan.
A ruck infringement on the kickoff set again saw Tweed defending their line. This time, however, they displayed impressive resolve to hold out a downhill-running Bears side before playing themselves into the game out of yardage.
A strong set out of their own end and a good Jetaya Faifua kicking game forced the Bears into some hard work themselves. Rona Peters organised things well to get the Seagulls up the field and into attacking areas.
However, some Zehara Temara magic in the 11th minute created space down the short side for the Bears to extend their lead to 8-0 through Taylor Fenton.
Tweed was presented with an opportunity to answer right back through a Chelase Lenarduzi error. As she has done a few times already this season, Jamie Chapman looked dangerous from a scrum set piece. But after turning the ball over deep in Burleigh territory, Tweed gave the visitors a leg up out of yardage before conceding a third try in the 18th minute. With Lenarduzi bringing four players into the tackle through the middle, Ash Quinlan threw a peach of a pass for Felice Quinlan to score her second.
Just as it looked like the score could blow out, Tweed produced a crucial defensive effort on their own line. A relieving penalty allowed them to travel up field while Faifua’s right-foot step continued to cause havoc on the Bears defence. More Bears ill-discipline allowed the home side to spend some much-needed time with the ball in hand before halftime.
However, Tweed couldn’t turn their period of possession into points. Burleigh, on the other hand, crossed shortly after entering the opposition 20-metre line. Again it was Temara getting deep into the line, straightening off her right foot, and playing short to Sophie Buller for a 16-0 halftime lead.
Tweed’s Jessika Elliston came out from the sheds fired up and desperate to lead her side from the front in the second half. Brutal in her carries, she took the Seagulls up the field and tried to provide the spark required to light up a comeback.
But the home side struggled for territory. Given the chance, Temara produced more points, this time off her boot. A deft chip to the right side found Taylor Fenton and the Burleigh lead jumped out to 20 with 20 minutes to play.
Tweed didn’t see the ball in an attacking position until the Bears had scored another to make it 24-0.
It didn’t last long, though. Chapman is always a threat off the back of a scrum, but rather than take the line on herself, she looked for Daisy Gordon on the edge. Tweed finally made headway towards good ball but a knock-on meant the visit was short-lived and the home side soon found themselves in defence.
A piece of Chapman magic gave the home fans something to cheer about. Taking the ball 15 metres from her own line, she split the kick chasers to break into the backfield before winding up and around the cover defence to score a superb solo try.
A Kolara Lomani try shortly before full-time only added to the idea of what could have been for the Seagulls. They didn’t look short of points when attacking the Bears line. However, they weren’t able to get up the field often enough and were forced to spend a lot of time defending their own. Despite the final 24-10 scoreline in favour of the visitors, the Seagulls can take plenty of positives out of the 70 minutes.
Key Takeaways
Give Jetaya Faifua enough chances close to the line and things will happen. Tweed wasn’t able to provide their half with enough chances to take the line on in good ball, but on the occasions they did, Faifua threatened. She possesses a lethal right foot step. With Chapman such a threat out the back of shape on the outside, there are opportunities there for Faifua to beat the defence back on the inside.
Peters is going to send Tamika Smith over the line at some stage this season. A strong runner herself, Peters can shrink the defence in the middle before sending the ball one pass wider to Smith isolated onto a smaller defender. Smith cast aside one Bears defender before going close to scoring in the first half.
It’s only a matter of time before the pair link up close to the line for points.
Tweed looked dangerous in good ball through Faifua and Peters. If the pack can get the spine into good attacking positions, like last week with Chapman crossing on the end of a planned move, the Seagulls have points in them.
Written by Rugby League Writers for Tweed Seagulls Media
Our aim at Rugby League Writers:
The Pub Test is a classic rugby league reference. Heck, the NRL have changed rules based on what they think does and doesn’t pass The Pub Test. We want YOU to be the most informed person at that pub. By digging into the best players, teams, shapes and schemes, we observe the game through an analytical lense and piece it all together through weekly previews, reviews, newsletters and features.
Related Posts
