Round 13
Wynnum Manly Seagulls 20 l. Norths Devils 25

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

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

Depleted Devils Ignore Distractions
Sun June 10, 2007
Source: www.qrl.com.au

Norths has stuck strong for a gutsy 25-20 win against Wynnum Manly, coming in a week when the club was decimated by NRL call-ups and another mid season transfer.

As in the days before their Melbourne Storm affiliation, the Devils were forced to field a side largely consisting of local players.

It didn't appear to hamper the fortunes of the Nundah-based club however and by halftime it had jumped to a 14-0 lead at BMD Kougari Oval.

Growing with each performance, five-eighth Jason Poppi was again prominent, scoring an 80m try from a thwarted Albert Talipeau grubber kick.

The youngster from Babinda also threw a great long ball for winger Georg Kepa to cross, only for it to be ruled marginally forward.

Kepa had earlier scored the opening try of the game in the second minute, followed by another to Luke Samoa to make for a 10-0 advantage after a quarter-hour.

The quickfire start came despite missing regulars Will Chambers, Matt Rua, Sam Tagataese, Sika Manu, Adam Blair and Scott Anderson, all of whom were on duty with the Storm.

Furthermore, Ian Donnelly left the club midweek for the Gold Coast Titans, joining Matthew Bartlett, Smith Samau and Daniel Isaac as players to depart unexpectedly.

Among those called upon to fill a hole for the Devils was Aaron Morgan, only one game back after fulfilling work commitments in the State's north.

While it was certainly a defiant and proud effort from Norths, Wynnum also showed plenty of fight to drag itself off its knees and make the match a contest.

Having allowed Norths the first try of the second half and an 18-0 advantage, the Baysiders then staged a stirring turnaround.

Luke Dalziel Don powered over to open Wynnum's account, not long before Paoa Faamita followed suit and closed the score to 18-12.

A penalty goal to Norths' Liam Foran made the task that much harder, but again the Seagulls picked themselves up off the deck and scored via Kerry Smith for a nail-biting 20-16.

With North Queensland coming from behind to beat Souths Logan across town in the other Sunday afternoon match, it appeared it was an afternoon for raising the dead.

That line of thinking took a big hit however, as Norths landed the next two blows, Foran slotting over a field goal and then Kieran Turner crossing in the 70th minute.

With 10 minutes to bridge a nine-point gap, Wynnum was caught short and not even a length-of-the-field try to Chris Birch in the final minute could alter the result.

NORTHS 25 (Georg Kepa, Kieran Turner, Luke Samoa, Marc Brentnall, Jason Poppi tries; Liam Foran 2 goals; Liam Foran field goal) d WYNNUM MANLY 20 (Paoa Faamita, Luke Dalziel Don, Chris Birch, Kerry Smith tries; Chris Birch 2 goals) at BMD Kougari Oval.

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