QCUP Round 3: Tweed Heads Seagulls vs Mackay Cutters [Archive]

TITAN PETE

04-04-11, 10:02 AM

Seagulls stamp themselves a threat
Luke Turgeon | April 4th, 2011

THE Tweed Heads Seagulls yesterday celebrated their return to Piggabeen by steamrolling the Mackay Cutters 46-20 and stamping themselves as a genuine premiership threat.

Hosting the first game back at their traditional home since 2007, the Seagulls flexed their muscle and sent an ominous warning to the rest of the Intrust Super Cup.

The imposing Tweed forward pack manhandled the Cutters, who were previously unbeaten, bashing them out of the contest early with some brutal defence.

If anything the scoreline flattered Mackay, who crossed for most of their points when Tweed were reduced to 12 men after prop Aaron Cannings was sin-binned for back chat late in the second half.

"We were very dominant in the first half and I thought we played some good football off the back of our strong defence," Seagulls coach Ben Anderson said.

"We really broke their back with the effort.

"It is great to be back at Piggabeen.

"We had good crowd and there is a really good future for us here at the ground once we do the improvements to it and we hope the crowd builds more and more."

Five-eighth Matt King bagged the best of Tweed's eight tries in the lead up to half-time.

Deep in their own territory, lock Ryan Simpkins put winger Nat Barnes into space down the sideline.

Barnes kicked back in field and King toed it ahead, the ball bouncing off the upright pad and back into his arms to score.

"Ryan Simpkins was fantastic in a good side," Anderson said.

"He was a workhorse as always, really strong in defence and threatened in attack too, making a couple good busts.

"Our forwards in general were really good, Rod Griffin was strong and all four front rowers were solid for us."

The Seagulls are now undefeated after three rounds and share the competition lead with the Northern Pride and Redcliffe, although they a first on for and against.

Meanwhile Bears coach Paul Bramley's Dolphin Oval curse continues after his side was overrun by Redcliffe 28-4 yesterday.

Titans centre Joseph Tomane scored a double as the Ipswich Jets dominated the Sunshine Coast 44-6.