Round 1
Burleigh Bears 38 d. Ipswich Jets 12

2007 Wizard Queensland Cup Index [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Australia > Queensland > State/Metropolitan Level Competition: Wizard Queensland Cup

Burleigh gets a little help from their Glen
Mon March 19, 2007
Source: www.qrl.com.au

After missing the finals last year for the first time in eight seasons, the Burleigh Bears have suggested they will once more be a force, smashing Ipswich 38-12 at Pizzey Park on Saturday.

Without key man Adam Hayden (eye injury) for three quarters of the match, Burleigh produced a confident and convincing display with rookie Alex Glen filling in at pivot.

Originally named to start the game at centre, Glen continued to be a great example of what self-belief and dedication can achieve.

"Alex is a Burleigh junior, but a year ago we didn't pick him in our Colts team. We kept him in our second under 19s team in the local Gold Coast comp," revealed Burleigh boss Adrian Vowles.

"But he had a really good offseason and put in a lot of hard yards, so (head coach) Jimmy Lenihan decided to train him with the top squad.

"Things have kept happening from there. He's a nice tough kid and the kind of person you want in a team."

Glen was recently named in the Australian Under 20s national touch football development squad, having represented at a national level throughout his teens.

However, coach Lenihan says part of the reason for the youngster's 'meteoric rise' is due to a shift in priorities, deciding he would become more committed to the full-contact code.

Although hopes are that veteran Hayden has only soft tissue damage and no facial fracture, Glen has provided a viable back-up should he be ruled out for this coming Saturday's match against Central.

Another player the Bears would like to have on hand again is Gold Coast Titans hitman Josh Graham, a try scorer against Ipswich after being named as a late inclusion.

For its part, Ipswich was buoyed by the addition of rising NRL talent Smith Samau, but played minus the likes of Ricky Bird, Jason Bulgarelli and Donald Malone.

Bird's replacement at halfback Josh Costello continued to fire as he has throughout the pre-season. Yet the Jets were given minimal opportunities to attack via the rugged Burleigh defence and by halftime the score was 18-0 to the home team.

Ipswich fought back momentarily at the start of the second half with four-pointers to Luke Walker and Trevor Exton until Burleigh again asserted its dominance with three successive tries to end the match. Backrowere Martin Griese was a clear man-of-the-match, getting through a mountain of work.

Round Two of the Wizard Cup sees Burleigh travel to Rockhampton for the 7.30pm Saturday night game against Central. Ipswich hosts Easts at North Ipswich Reserve the following day at 3pm.

BURLEIGH 38 (Trent Purdon 2, Martin Griese 2, Josh Graham, Nick Parfitt, Jordan Atkins tries; Nick Parfitt 5 goals) d IPSWICH 12 (Trevor Exton, Luke Walker tries; Geoff Chalk 2 goals) at Pizzey Park.

Report sent by: www.qrl.com.au

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