The Ben Campbell Building Group Tweed Seagulls have kept in touch with the leading Intrust Super Cup leading teams with an invaluable come-from-behind 32-24 victory against Ipswich Jets at Piggabeen Sports Ground on Sunday.
The Seagulls were behind 4-0 after just four minutes and 10-0 after 18 minutes yet led by half-time and a try by Lamar Liolevave with six minutes remaining sealed a gritty victory that keeps the Gulls in seventh position on the ladder but only two competition points behind third.
The victory came with three players making their debuts for Tweed in winger John Mackin and bench players Stuart Mason and Liam Hampson who all performed well.
“It was a good win and really important win in terms of our position on the ladder,” said coach Ben Woolf. “Ipswich would have been equal with us on the ladder if they’d won but we now have a four-point gap with them and the rest of the teams and we’re only one win behind this spot.
“It’s always good to beat the Jets who have a good record at Piggabeen. We did a good job defending what they threw at us, including the short kick-off, and while they scored a couple of tries off kicks as well, overall did a good job hanging in there.”
Ipswich scored from one of those kicks in the fourth minute with five-eighth Josh Cleeland grubbering behind the line for winger Shar Walden. The Jets scored the second try of the game too when Cleeland found his other winger Peter Gubb with a good pass for the visitors to lead 10-0 with Cleeland’s conversion.
However, the Seagulls gathered momentum from then and crossed three times before the break to lead 18-10. Jack Cook burrowed over from dummy half in the 27th minute, Kalani Going crossed on the edge six minutes later then fullback Talor Walters was in after the Gulls worked their way upfield well from the kick off. Lindon McGrady converted all three tries.
Unfortunately, Tweed started the second half like the first – conceding two tries in the first six minutes of the half to go behind 22-18.
Treymain Spry levelled the scores at 22-all when he latched onto a neat Christian Hazard grubber before penalty goals were exchanged to take the score to 24-all then Tweed led 26-24 with a second McGrady penalty goal in the 64th minute.
Liolevave, who had a handy game, confirmed the victory when he crashed through the defence from short range in the 74th minute, with McGrady converting.
Hazard, who was set to play hooker but reverted to halfback with the withdrawal of Ryley Jacks, had his best game of the season with greater involvement. John Palavi played the first 40 minutes without a break and was strong in a pack that worked hard, with Cook also impressive.
The Gulls are at home next Sunday against North Devils who fourth on the ladder two points ahead of Tweed in another crucial clash before the bye weekend.
TWEED SEAGULLS 32 (Jack Cook, Kalani Going, Talor Walters, Treymain Spry, Lamar Liolevave tries; Lindon McGrady 6 goals) def IPSWICH JETS 24 (Shar Walden, Peter Gubb, Jayden Connors, Julian Christian tries; Josh Cleeland 4 goals) at Piggabeen Sports Complex.
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