Round 8
Tweed Heads 34 d. Northern Pride 4

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

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

Tweed Back From The Brink
Sun May 4, 2008
Source: www.qrl.com.au

Bottom-placed Tweed Heads belted top-placed Northern Pride in a stunning form reversal at Cudgen's Ned Byrne Field on Saturday.

The Pride has breezed through the opening seven rounds of the Wizard Cup but the northern newcomers came back to earth with a thud in the lopsided round eight encounter.

Playing with renewed vigour and energy, the Seagulls led from start to finish to bury the Pride 34-4.

From the moment the enthusiastic Tweed side nearly won a scrum against the feed with a determined push in the opening minutes, onlookers could sense it was going to be the Seagulls' day.

For Tweed coach Michael Woods, the first win of the season was a welcome relief and perhaps the start of things to come.

Even though the 2007 premiers have lost their opening six matches, all is not lost as a run of two or three more wins could have them knocking on the door for a spot in the five.

But top five talk is probably a long way from the mind of coach Woods.

The Seagulls mentor would simply love to see his charges play with the same drive, hunger and precision in their next outing - a crucial round nine meeting with Wynnum Manly at BMD Kougari Oval.

In a positive sign for Tweed supporters, key playmakers Brad Davis and Matt King were back to their best in the big win over the Pride.

Davis scored the Tweed's opening try in the sixth minute.

The Northern Pride hit back soon after through Hezron Murgha but that was their last moment of joy in a forgettable outing.

Tweed was well on its way to victory when Selasi Berdie strolled over to score tries in the 34th and 48th minute.

His second try was made possible by the jinking run of replacement hooker Billy Ngawini.

The former Bulldog beat a host of defenders in a breathtaking run before casually putting the ball on to the chest of a gleeful Michael Henderson.

Ngawini received a big pat on the back from Woods when he left the field.

Woods would also have been impressed with the performances of Titans players Michael Henderson and Clint Amos.

Amos was busy in the first half.

He generated plenty of second phase play with some clever off-loads in traffic. Tweed fullback Ryan Milligan was an unsung hero for the Seagulls.

Milligan defused a number of potential try-scoring opportunities with his sound positional play at the back.

Report sent by: www.qrl.com.au

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