Round 1
Easts Tigers 24 l. Burleigh Bears 30

2008 Wizard Queensland Cup Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats]

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

Dream Start For Plucky Bears
Mon March 17, 2008
Source: www.qrl.com.au

The Burleigh Bears overcame a horror start to put the boot into the Easts Tigers - and many of their critics - in Saturday's opening round clash at Langlands Park.

Written off by many after failing to win a game in the pre-season, the Bears produced a spirited performance to down the Tigers 30-24 in Saturday's physical round one clash.

Easts couldn't have wished for a better start, with debutant Lance Morris crossing for the first try of the match in the opening set of six.

The Tigers were able to go deep on the attack after Burleigh's Nick Parfitt kicked the ball over the dead-ball line from the opening kick off.

"It probably wasn't the ideal start, but we were lucky enough to re-group and get away with it," Bears coach Jimmy Lenihan said.

Assisted by a strong wind at their back in the first half, the Bears were able to put the Tigers under plenty of pressure.

The wind factor may have played on the minds of Easts goal-kickers Wade Liddell and Justin McKay, who between them failed to land a single conversion from six attempts.

Parfitt had no such problems, booting four conversions and three penalties to kick-start the Bears' Wizard Cup premiership campaign.

Despite scoring two more tries than the Bears, first-year Easts coach Darren Smith refused to point the blame at the wayward goal-kicking.

Smith said the Tigers simply let the Bears in for too many points.

"There were some good signs there. I'm not disappointed at all," the former Jets assistant coach said.

Smith was rapt with the form of Morris, centre Liam Campbell and impressive back-rower Tom MacGougan.

The Easts camp felt MacGougan was unlucky not to be awarded a try at a crucial stage in the second half.

While Easts will now look to re-group ahead of their round two clash with Souths Logan, the Bears will prepare for an encounter with first-round surprise packets the Central Comets.

Lenihan said the Bears would again place a big emphasis on their new defensive structure.

"It is pleasing to start with the win but we're just concentrating on our own expectations," said Lenihan, who was rapt with Brett O'Farrell's tireless display.

"We're not worried about other people's expectations."

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