QCUP Round 21: Easts Tigers v Burleigh Bears

Easts Tigers v Burleigh Bears
Langlands Park Saturday, August 27 - 3pm

Easts Tigers

1. Adam Breen 2. Dane Chisholm 3. Shane Neumann 4. Junior Ahio 5. Elijah Niko 6. Leon Panapa 7. Luke Kelly 8. James Stosic 9. Geoff Holcombe 10. Mark Offerdahl 11. Lance Morris 12. Steven Thorpe 13. Matthew Zgrajewski 14. Brett Zgrajewski 15. Liufau Hala 16. McKanah Gibson 17. Ben Henaway

Coach: Troy McCarthy

Burleigh Bears

1. Anthony Don 2. James Cameron 3. Marty Mitchell 4. Ayden Lee 5. Dan Kerr 6. Jamie Dowling 7. Luke Keary 8. Josh Coyle 9. Scott Smith (c) 10. Liam McDonald 11. Seb Davies 12. Matt Pow 13. Martin Griese 14. Josh White 15. Robert Apanui 16. Kurt Sorensen 17. Riley Brown

Coach: Paul Bramley

Big Wet No Problem For Tigers

A RESURGENT Easts Tigers rained on the Burleigh Bears? slim hopes of a semi-finals appearance with a 10-6 victory at a drenched Langlands Park on Saturday.

The Tigers continued their impressive late season form to register their third win in a row against a Burleigh side that needed the two points to stay in touch with the top six.

However, the big talking point was the torrential downpour which hit midway through the match ? Easts' coach Troy McCarthy said he struggled to remember wetter conditions.

"(The last time was) in Under 10s maybe but not Queensland Cup ? in that second half we just had to throw all the game plans out," an animated McCarthy said.

With the razzle-dazzle placed firmly in the back pocket, the muddy slog was a battle that would be decided by sheer determination and resolve.
And according to McCarthy, the Tigers' rock solid pack won the battle of the wills.

"They were great, they (Burleigh) kept coming up the ruck, that's where they thought we were vulnerable but our middle held up," he said.

"We've learnt that if we hang in there defensively, sides can crack."

Trailing 6-4 at the break, the Tigers eventually breached Burleigh?s line when Melbourne Storm contracted winger Elijah Niko's sheer size and strength saw him power over out wide in the 60th minute.

"Not many players could have scored that, he pulled us out of trouble," McCarthy said.

A calm conversion from the sideline in the torrential rain from fellow Storm flanker Dane Chisholm allowed the Tigers to take a 10-6 advantage.

The remaining quarter then finished much as the match began, with a resolute Easts' defensive line holding the Bears at bay.

Earlier, after absorbing some initial pressure, Tigers' skipper Shane Neumann opened the scoring when he pounced on a smart wet weather footy kick from Kev Stephensen after 18 minutes of play.

However, Burleigh hit back almost instantly through Dave Sheehan, who finished off a backline movement in the 22nd minute ? a pinpoint conversion from Dan Kerr helped the visitors to a 6-4 lead at halftime.

As the players returned to the field, the heavens opened before Niko slipped through the Bears? defence.

Easts will look to end 2011 on a positive against the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles next weekend.

?It'd be good to finish with one more (win), we can bounce into next week,? McCarthy said.

http://www.qrl.com.au