The Romano Group Seagulls virtually committed rugby league suicide against a classy Sunshine Coast Falcons at Piggabeen yesterday, being overrun in the second half on the back of first half errors in their worst performance of the season.
The Seagulls were beaten 58-0 by a Falcons side boasting Melbourne Storm players who had played NRL this season in Ryley Jacks, Tui Kamikamica and Vince Leuluai, Kiwi international Tohu Harris who was returning from a foot injury, and promising young Storm squad members Jahrome Hughes and Brandon Smith who had a strong game.
The Seagulls’ NRL experience was limited to one appearance by second-rower Lamar Liolevave (Wests Tigers).
However, that was no reason for the raft of unforced errors that undid some spirited and physical defence by the Gulls in the first 20 minutes which suggested an intense battle would ensue with the Storm leading just 4-0 from a try from close range down the right edge to winger Sam Young, after the Storm had, typically, marched upfield from a Seagulls error with the ball deep in Falcon’s territory then a (debatable) penalty.
That became the template of the match with the home side unable to mount pressure because of fundamental errors, completing at just 43 per cent in the first half, often compounding errors by penalties. It was a pity such a committed defensive effort for most of the first half hour was ruined by an inability to build any pressure with the ball.
The Gulls were unable to generate a repeat set, drop out or even complete a set when it good position, most errors coming from basic dropped balls and twice kicking out on the full.
Inevitably, the floodgates opened.
From another spill near the Falcon’s line, they claimed a 40-20 repeat possession then second-rower Jye Ballinger crossed from a questionable pass on the left edge to make it 8-0 after 26 minutes.
Two minutes Ballinger was in again from a similar play on the left edge after the Falcons had mounted a raid from their own half on the right. Only poor goalkicking from Scott Drinkwater had kept the score to 12-0.
Before half-time the Falcons had crossed twice more. The first try went to right centre Jeremy Hawkins after back-to-back penalties (one for a questionable strip) rolled the Falcons downfield and the next coming a minute before the break when Harris, who had been well contained until then, crashed over from close range also on the right.
Sunshine Coast took eight minutes to add points in the second half with Jake Turpin strolling through a big gap under the posts. By this time, the Gulls’ cause had been eroded by losing two players – co-captain Damian Sironen (HIA) who had stuck it to the big Falcons pack in the first half and fullback Talor Walters (ankle and head knock), a former Storm NYC player, who was impressive in the first half, twice taking bombs under pressure and slicing through the defence.
Left winger Alex Copelin scored a brilliant try (61st minute) from a movement begun near the Falcons’ line as the match turned into a parade with the visitors scoring five tries in the final 19 minutes.
Jacks strolled over from dummy half from close to the line (66th minute), right winger Sam Young crossed for another long-range effort (68th), Copelin brought up the half-century when picked up his second try with a brilliant left-foot step beating the last two defenders from another raid that started from inside the Falcons’ half and Drinkwater rounded off the rout with a chip-and-regather try with 36 second remaining.
Devastated Seagulls coach Aaron Zimmerle, who had been impressed with some committed effort by his inexperienced side in recent weeks until falling away in the second half against the Blackhawks the previous Sunday, lamented his side’s inability to match early effort with smart football against a strong Falcons side that holds third place with a points differential of plus-124 after nine games.
“They were near as strong as they could be but if you don’t challenge them with the ball, you’re just cannon fodder; you’re their bodies in front as they try and execute shape,” Zimmerle said.
“We were 43 per cent (completion) in the first half and we tried really hard to stay in it but we needed every bounce of the ball and every completion in the second half to be a chance and we didn’t.
“We caused it ourselves.
“There were over-riding calls, there were fundamental drops, it’s disappointing when you train and train and train and in the pressure of the game it falls apart.
“We just gave them all the ball and all the field position to practise their shapes.”
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
CLICK HERE for full match details and team lists.
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS 58 (Samuel Young 2, Jye Ballinger 2, Alexander Copelin 2, Jeremy Hawkins, Tohu Harris, Jake Turpin, Ryley Jacks, Scott Drinkwater tries; Guy Hamilton 5, Scott Drinkwater, Samuel Young goals) def TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 0 at Piggabeen Sports Complex.
Related Posts
