Tweed Heads v Aspley Broncos

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

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

Mad Scramble For Five Continues
Sun July 29, 2007
Source: www.qrl.com.au

Tweed Heads has stolen a march in the scramble for top five positions, although a commanding 30-10 win over Aspley still leaves seven teams in the hunt for the finals.

Moving to third, the Seagulls shook an early 6-4 deficit to lead 26-6 by halftime and rested comfortably in the driver's seat throughout.

Their win, combined with losses for Ipswich and Easts and a victory to Burleigh, means only three competition points now separate third from seventh on the Wizard Cup ladder.

Aspley has crept closer to a position where it must win all its remaining games, although of the contenders it does have one of the easiest runs home.

Tweed coach Troy McCarthy revealed the goal for his team in the remaining rounds would be to climb to second on the ladder, obviously eyeing Redcliffe. The Dolphins have two tough matches away from home against Ipswich and North Queensland, as well as a home fixture against Central.

McCarthy even credited a heart-breaking 22-18 loss to Redcliffe in Round 18 - sealed by an intercept two minutes from fulltime - as the inspiration to his team's tenacious showing against Aspley.

"In a funny kind of way I think our boys took out their frustrations at what has happened on them the last few weeks in the first half against the Broncos," he said.

"We'd been beaten by the Young Guns and Dolphins in the dying minutes of back-to-back games. I think the result this week was a good response to that, even though it wasn't something we talked about.

"We're a confident team and we've been that way since round six or seven. We know we can contest this competition."

Aspley entered the game with two helpful shots in the arm, receiving Denan Kemp and Nick Kenny back from NRL duty. The visitors also posted the first try, a rebound off the posts pounced on by Brent McConnell.

But the Seagulls continued to play with plenty of ball movement to tire the Broncos and their execution most times was spot-on.

McCarthy credited Luke O'Dwyer as the standout player for his club, with James Wood and Nathanael Barnes also strong. Electric fullback Shannon Walker posted two tries in the victory, including one which few others could have scored.

Dropping a bomb behind almost into the in-goal, Walker turned and regathered, then sprinted the length of the field around the defence, baulking noted speedster Rodney Davies along the way.

In other welcome news the Seagulls clinched the minor premiership in the FOGS Colts Challenge, but on the downside again saw halfback Tim Maccan hobbled with an ankle injury.

While Tweed's focus in the looming clash with Souths Logan at the Piggabeen Complex at 3pm on Sunday, it is difficult not to look a fortnight ahead to the local derby against Burleigh - set to be a crunch match for both clubs.

Meanwhile Aspley spends Round 20 hosting Wynnum Manly at Bishop Park at 3pm on Saturday.

TWEED HEADS 30 (Shannon Walker 2, Josh Vaughan, Tim Maccan, Matthew King, Will Matthews tries; Brad Davis 3 goals) def ASPLEY 10 (Rodney Davies, Brent McConnell tries; Ben Green goal) at Piggabeen Complex.

Report sent by: www.qrl.com.au

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