Published On: 28 August, 2017Categories: General

As ‘Zimmo’ said after the match: “We didn’t have a bad player, in fact we had 17 outstanding players who wouldn’t give in and somehow found a way to win.

“The Hunters threw everything out us in the last 10 minutes and I couldn’t be prouder of the way we scrambled and just lifted and kept lifting to hold them out.

“These boys didn’t deserve to win the wooden spoon, so I’m grateful they didn’t.

“It’s been a tough season but, strangely, in my five years as ISC coach, three of the most rewarding victories all came this season – against Redcliffe the day we celebrated the 10th anniversary of our grand final win against them in ‘07, then the rare feat of winning in PNG and now this when we had so many players out injured.

“It’s a great way to bow out; and I’m so proud and thankful of these guys.”

The Seagulls’ enthusiasm and commitment, on what could be the last match of club stalwart James Wood too who set the example with his enthusiasm and involvement, never waned.

After leading Northern Pride for most of the first 75 minutes the previous weekend only to conceded two tries in the last 10 and go down 18-16, they kept turning up this time – and throwing attacking shots – at the Hunters until the end.

Skipper and hooker Sam Meskell, who Zimmerle coached seven years ago in the Tweed Colts side, opened the scoring in the ninth minute when he latched onto a break down the right side by classy five-eighth Lindon McGrady for a 6-0 lead.

Back-rower Nick Harrold, who was also outstanding, scored nine minutes later to give the home side a 12-0 lead after he charged onto a switch-pass from Meskell at dummy-half close to the line. The Gulls were put in an attacking position from a brilliant 90m run from slightly built fullback Jayden Baker, a superb performer in just his third ISC appearance.

Baker made it 18-0 when he slipped over in the left corner for a converted try after two good hit-ups by prop Carne Doyle-Manga and 20-year-old Titans-contracted lock Keegan Hipgrave (who Zimmerle coached as a schoolboy at Palm Beach Currumbin).

The Hunters scored two converted tries in the last seven minutes of the first half when Ase Boas found space on the left edge from close range then Stargroth Amean outjumped Baker brilliantly to snatch the ball on the try-line; both converted by Boas for an 18-12 half-time lead for the Seagulls.

Then came the danger period; if the Hunters scored next they would have, as they have done so often this season, been expected to grow from the confidence and get on top.

However, Tristan Lumley, another of the Gulls’ best, powered over from 20 metres just three minutes into the second half to give Tweed the ascendancy once more for 24-12 and a McGrady penalty goal made it 26-12 with 24 minutes left.

Wartovo Puara scored after a Seagulls; error for 26-18 and from then Tweed spent much of the remaining time digging in on their line.

Three times they scrambled brilliantly to save what looked certain tries – once on the right when Baker held up a Hunters attacker then twice on the left when Brayden McGrady and Wood forced Butler Morris into touch and soon after to lose the ball over the line.

Lamar Liolevave, the Seagulls’ best forward over the season, was tireless and understandably exhausted at full-time while Hipgrave came of age against the physical Papuans, but every one of the Seagulls’ 17 should be commended for another giant-killing effort.

TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 26 (Sam Meskell, Nick Harrold, Jayden Baker, Tristan Lumley tries; Lindon McGrady 5 goals) def PNG HUNTERS 18 (Ase Boas, Stargroth Amean, Wartovo Puara tries; Ase Boas 3 goals) at Piggabeen Sports Complex.

Full match details

FINAL LADDER

Team Played Won Draw Lost Bye For Agnst Total
PNG Hunters 23 17 1 5 2 550 378 39
Redcliffe Dolphins 23 17 0 6 2 604 332 38
Easts Tigers 23 16 1 6 2 596 422 37
Sunshine Coast Falcons 23 15 1 7 2 647 416 35
Souths Logan Magpies 23 15 0 8 2 580 484 34
Townsville Blackhawks 23 12 2 9 2 573 473 30
Ipswich Jets 23 12 0 11 2 536 539 28
Mackay Cutters 23 10 2 11 2 531 566 26
Burleigh Bears 23 10 0 13 2 446 510 24
Wynnum Manly Seagulls 23 9 0 14 2 433 465 22
Norths Devils 23 9 0 14 2 502 572 22
Northern Pride 23 6 0 17 2 400 555 16
Tweed Heads Seagulls 23 5 0 18 2 337 710 14
CQ Capras 23 4 1 18 2 416 729 12

THIS WEEKEND

Elimination Final 1: Sunshine Coast Falcons (4) v Souths Logan Magpies (5) venue TBC

Elimination Final 2: Easts Tigers (3) v Townsville Blackhawks (6) venue TBC

 

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