Tweed Heads v Burleigh Bears

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

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

Tweed Heads 26 def Burleigh 20
Mon August 13, 2007
Source: www.qrl.com.au

A see-sawing Gold Coast derby had fans 100km apart sweating by their transistors, before Tweed Heads emerged triumphant 26-20 against Burleigh at the Piggabeen Complex.

The game officially ended Burleigh's claims for the finals and, at the same time, guaranteed Easts a taste of the post-season on an afternoon filled with drama.

Indeed a disallowed try to Trent Purdon right before halftime could have changed the face of the competition, with the Bears going into the break 14-10 behind, instead of a possible 16-14 ahead.

As it was, nerves were already at fever pitch an hour north, where Easts' officials and supporters were listening in for updates after they fell behind Norths 12-0 in just 11 minutes.

Staring at a loss, the Tigers were mindful that a Burleigh win could throw the final five wide open again.

They rejoiced at hearing Tweed Heads had moved ahead 12-0 after a stunning double from Shannon Walker, but came back to Earth when Burleigh grabbed the next two four-pointers to tighten the game up.

Oddly enough, just as the margin at the Piggabeen Complex shrank, so to did it at Bishop Park, with Easts scoring two tries in four minutes to trail only 12-10 at halftime. From there, any manner of permutations were possible.

What the Easts contingent was unaware of however, was the kerfuffle that had erupted just across the border in regard to Purdon's no-try.

Burleigh supporters were adamant the prolific flyer had grounded the ball fairly, but match officials begged to differ and the 14-10 score stood.

To intensify the emotion of the day, Burleigh then came out after the break and scored through Ben Black to nudge ahead 16-14. At Bishop Park, Norths still led Easts 12-10 at that stage.

Illumination was thrown on the Bears' previously dim hopes, while the update came through over the loudspeaker at Bishop Park to a groan. Minutes later, when Tweed kicked a penalty from a Ryan Gundry high tackle, and it was 16-all, nobody was any the wiser as to how it would all end.

Two things became apparent midway through the second half. The first was that Easts would definitely lose. Norths came thundering home with three successive tries and had the match all sown up at 28-10.

The second thing to become clear was that a 10-minute delay had developed between the two matches, meaning Tigers' staff were left to gnash fingernails as well as lick their wounds.

When the first update after fulltime at Bishop came through, Tweed had edged in front 22-20. "That's not enough," Easts president Graham Andersen said.

Then came the try to resuscitate both the Tigers and the Tweed. Crossing out wide, Nathan Small was the unlikely saviour for the two clubs, making it 26-20. Regardless, even when the Piggabeen match was inside the final 90 seconds, Easts members did not relax fully until they heard the final hooter had blown.

For Tweed, the victory guarantees an inside running at third place and two chances in the finals. As luck should have it, the Seagulls face the Tigers in their final fixture match next Saturday at 2pm at Langlands Park.

Burleigh winds down the season with a home clash against Wynnum Manly at Pizzey Park at 6pm Saturday. The Bears' FOGS Cup team remains alive for the finals.

TWEED HEADS 26 (Shannon Walker 2, Nathan Small, Tim Maccan tries; Brad Davis 5 goals) d BURLEIGH 20 (Aseri Laing 2, Trent Purdon, Ben Black; Nick Parfitt 2 goals) at the Piggabeen Complex.

Report sent by: www.qrl.com.au

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