The Campbell Construction Co. Tweed Seagulls were made to work hard to the competition points at Mackay yesterday, having to come from behind at half-time to secure a 24-16 victory against the Cutters at BP Print Stadium.
Again the Seagulls were out of the blocks impressively with centre Treymain Spry crossing after five minutes from a good attacking movement from just inside the Cutters’ half.
A week earlier against Norths Devils, Talor Walters crossed in the fourth minute only for it to be Tweed’s sole points of the first half, and history repeated itself in Mackay.
The Cutters crossed through fullback Matiu Stone-Dunn in the 13th minute and skipper and prop Ross Bella crashed over 10 minutes later. Both tries were converted and the home side controlled the ball well, completing 20 or 22 sets in the first half, and deserved the 12-6 lead at the break.
However, two smart tries by five-eighth Will Brimson gave the Seagulls the momentum and confidence they needed to take hold of the game.
Both times Brimson dummied and slid past the defence – the first after a scrum from a Mackay dropped ball, the second in a short-side raid – after Tweed had built some pressure with a much-improved kicking game than the preview week, a 40-12 drubbing by the Devils.
Lock Braden Robson added Tweed’s fourth try in the 58th minute when he crossed the line on the right edge after Tweed put their opponents on the back foot with some good attacking shape, with Lindon McGrady’s conversion giving the Seagulls a 24-12 lead.
Second-rower Jess Dee scored to brought it back to 24-16 with 14 minutes left to play and the Cutters pressured Tweed’s line relentlessly in the final five minutes but were denied.
It was a much better 80-minute effort by Tweed as they needed to get back on the winning list after the poor effort against Norths. There were some errors with the ball, which has been a feature of the Seagulls’ play this season as they maintain an expansive attacking style, but pleasing was the fact they again had to character to defend their errors.
“The Cutters really took the game to us and controlled the ball really well in the first half,” said Tweed coach Ben Woolf.
“They put up some good towering bombs which we had trouble with and we gave them some cheap ball too.
“But our kicking game was a lot better and once we got into the game more in the second half we took control and it was a good effort.
“They really threw plenty at us in the last few minutes and if they scored a converted try it would have been ‘game on’ but we stuck solid on our line which was really pleasing.”
Jai Whitbread was a late inclusion in the Tweed line-up, only dropping back from the Titans’ extended squad on Friday afternoon, and he was a tireless leader upfront as he has been in most games for the Seagulls this season.
Toby Sexton was back on song with his game management while wingers Walters and Ryland Jacobs, who moved from the bench to the left wing with the withdrawal of Brayden McGrady, were strong in starting possession-sets powerfully while Robson was again faultless.
Woolf started the game with both hookers on the field with the sharp Liam Hampson at dummy half and Brent Woolf, who can hit in defence as good as most 10kg heavier, at lock in a strategy that worked well.
Third-placed Tweed return to Piggabeen Sports Complex next Sunday to take on Redcliffe Dolphins, who stand in fourth place and have won five games since their 28-16 round five loss to the Seagulls in Redcliffe.
TWEED SEAGULLS 24 (W Brimson 2, T Spry, B Robson tries; L McGrady 3 goals) def.
MACKAY CUTTERS 16 (M Stone-Dunn, R Bella, J Dee tries; A Hungano, J Quinn goals) at BP Print Stadium, Mackay.
Media: Neil Cadigan
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