Round 8
Burleigh Bears 36 d. Easts Tigers 14

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

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

Bears Need To Stay On Toes
Sun May 6, 2007
Source: www.qrl.com.au

Burleigh coach Jim Lenihan has warned his team against complacency, after the Bears jumped to third on the Wizard Cup ladder with a convincing 36-14 win against fellow top five contender Easts.

While on paper the match looked to be the toughest of Round Eight to predict, it eventuated in the biggest winning margin of the weekend as the Bears ran away with the result.

Burleigh led 24-10 at halftime and could have boasted an even greater advantage had it not gone to sleep for 10-minute periods either side of halfway.

"All year so far we've been doing that. In particular we've been coming out of the blocks slow in the second half," Lenihan assessed.

"I thought we were very clinical in attack and scored most times we got in good field position. But defensively we were brittle whenever Easts had good ball."

'Brittle' is a rare term used in conjuction with the Bear's tackling, more commonly described around the league as 'brutal'.

But Lenihan believes it is an area where his team must step up, particularly with Burleigh set to tackle Norths in next weekend's ABC TV Match of the Round at Bishop Park.

Norths may sit third-last on the ladder, but the Devils have a better attacking record than most teams presently in the top five.

"They are a quality side. Norths is a traditionally strong team in this competition," Lenihan said.

"It should not be hard to get my boys up for the challenge. The Devils probably aren't going as well as they'd like, but they're always a threat.

"As soon as you relax with a team like that, they'll come back and bite you on the bum."

One player in doubt for the trip to Nundah is Gold Coast Titans recruit Lelea Paea, who played centre for Burleigh against Easts. While impressive in his Wizard Cup debut, the noted attacker finished the match with a suspected broken hand.

Best for the Bears in the important win against the Tigers was backrower Martin Griese, who continues to lead the forward pack in the absence of injured Adam Hutchison.

Ben Black recovered sufficiently from a hernia complaint to take his place at halfback, with Richie Mathers set to play NRL on Monday for the Gold Coast.

For Easts it was the club's second loss in a row, dropping the Tigers from first to fourth in a matter of a fortnight. Winger John Tamanika still remains the leading try-scorer in the Wizard Cup however, earning two more to take his season total to 12 in eight games.

The Tigers have the bye in Round Eight, while Burleigh's match-up against Norths comes at 2pm this Saturday at Bishop Park.

BURLEIGH 36 (Leigh Coghill 2, Nick Parfitt, Ben Black, Martin Greise, Ryan Gundry tries; Nick Parfitt 6 goals) d EASTS 14 (John Tamanika 2, Dane Campbell tries; Matt Lockyer goal) at Pizzey Park.

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