Neil Cadigan
A controversial no-try decision by the video referee cost a much-improved Romano Group Tweed Heads Seagulls a chance to storm home over local rivals Burleigh Bears in Sunday’s Rivalry Round clash at Pizzey Park.
Down 20-10 with 10 minutes remaining, Seagulls fullback Talor Walters ran onto a neat inside pass from halfback Michael Burgess in a set-move started by co-skipper Damian Sironen going to the line hard just inside the Bears’ half.
Pictured: Bears prop Matt White is confronted by Seagulls defenders Sam Meskell and Sam Saville.
Decoy runner Shane Gillham slightly brushed a Burleigh defender who had ample time to still get across. Referee Michael Gordon ruled try on-field but sent it up to the video box for review … and was overruled.
The Seagulls had three more scoring opportunities as they dominated the final 10 minutes, converting one, but went down 22-16 after Sironen was rightly sin-binned for a professional foul soon after the Walters’ try decision.
Channel 9 commentator Scott Sattler described the no-try decision, after declaring “I see no problem with that at all”, this way”: “This is disgraceful. Another disgusting decision by a video ref in the Intrust Super Cup.”
Certainly, it was 50-50 call as, technically, Gillham brushed the defender’s outside shoulder but the extend of ‘obstruction’ was minimal and that technicality is what makes the interpretation of the rule so frustrating.
After defending much better in the three-tries-apiece clash, the Seagulls toughed it out to be in the game at that stage.
Yet they compacted the turning point even more when Sironen was penalised in the next set for a dubious ‘holding down’ call then being binned.
However, a man down, the Mc Grady cousins – five-eighth Lindon and right winger Brayden – three times caused havoc with Lindon’s kicks to the touchline and almost pulled off an incredible first victory of the season.
The first came when Brayden got outside the defence to get to a Lindon chip kick first only to spill the ball as he tried to snatch it two metres from the line with five minutes remaining.
Two minutes later Lindon again kicked for his cousin and this time Brayden was first to the ball in the in-goal and pinned it for a try that was brilliantly converted by Michael Burgess for 22-16.
The Gulls had one more shot at saving the when Brayden again latched onto a Lindon kick but his pass inside to the supporting Adam Toole missed its mark and Burleigh came up with possession.
“It was certainly a better effort and tactically we stuck to what we’d practised during the week, like kicking early in the tackle count in the first half into the wind to keep a bigger side away from our try-line,” said coach Aron Zimmerle.
“So, at 14-10 we were happy and we didn’t let it get away from us. In the second half, we wanted to drop some players underneath and use footwork to get quick play the balls and we did create opportunities.
“Our error count was better too although they scored some points early from our errors, which was crucial.
“But generally, I was really proud of their effort and enthusiasm and the guys should walk away encouraged by that.
“Sure, Burleigh were decimated by injury but they still had Matt White with 150 NRL games, Jamie Dowling, Sami Sauiluma, Kurtis Rowe and Luke Page who have played NRL compared to our combined one NRL game to Lamare Liolevave.
“Our guys are still learning, but you have to be pleased with that effort.”
The Bears had scored first through co-captain Jamie Dowling from short range in the fourth minute for 6-0 and a penalty goal soon after made it 8-0.
However, a powerful burst close to the line by one of the Seagulls’ best, Lamare Liolevave, saw the second-rower score for 8-4.
The Bears struck again in the 26th minute through winger Henare Wells on the left but in the 34th minute Brayden McGrady stole the ball out of Kurtis Rowe’s hands from a bomb and ran over to make the half-time score to 14-10.
It took 20 minutes for next points to be scored, to Burleigh via Wells, for 20-10 before the frantic finish by the Seagulls almost stole a last-ditch victory.
It was yet another toughly-contested local derby, however played in good spirit, with plenty of highlights and good performances.
For full match details CLICK HERE:
BURLEIGH BEARS 22 (Henare Wells 2, Jamie Dowling tries; Keanu Te Kiri 5 goals) def TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 16 (Brayden McGrady 2, Lamar Manuel-Liolevave tries; Michael Burgess 2 goals) at Pizzey Park.
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