Tweed Heads v Easts Tigers

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

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

Tweed Fires Despite Double Blow
Tue July 8, 2008
Source: www.qrl.com.au

Tweed Heads overcame the dramatic loss of key premiership-winning prop Roy Friend to clinch a 32-12 victory over Easts at Ned Byrne Field today.

The Seagulls were seemingly headed for a disastrous afternoon against the Tigers after Friend tore a calf muscle in the "last part" of the warm up.

With just a few minutes remaining before kick off, the Seagulls threw Andre Amato a jersey.

Amato got the job done after playing a full 70 minutes in the FOGS Cup match.

Friend's dramatic withdrawal was the second disruption coach Mick Woods had to deal with in the space of 24 hours.

Woods lost another premiership-winning forward - Chris Enahoro - on the eve of the match due to illness.

The Seagulls were also without inspirational captain Brad Davis, who now looks set to play out the rest of the 2008 season in the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans.

"To lose those strike players before the game was a bit of a blow but the boys responded," Woods said.

Tweed put the pre-match setbacks behind them, showing good composure while in possession to take a 12-6 lead into half-time.

Easts opened the scoring in the second half, but that was the last moment of joy for Darren Smith's Tigers.

The Tigers have shown plenty of enterprise with the ball this season.

However, they couldn't crack a committed Seagulls line for a large proportion of the second half.

"That was pleasing. They scored early in the first half but we kept control of them for about 35 minutes," Woods said.

Tweed had a host of excellent contributors, but few were better than forward Adam Mansy.

The Souths Acacia Ridge junior was voted players' player following his non-stop performance.

The big victory has given Tweed a glimmer of hope that all may not yet be lost in season 2008.

The defending premiers remain five points adrift of fifth spot, but remain a mathematical chance of figuring in the play-offs.

Woods said the Seagulls were "hanging in there" and pointed out that there was still plenty of football to be played before September.

"Today was good because it came on the back of last week's disappointment," referring to the previous week's 22-18 loss to Souths Logan.

That narrow defeat was thought to have crushed Tweed's spirit and finals' prospects.

But the Seagulls showed today they still have the firepower to challenge many of the higher placed teams in what shapes as an intriguing run home to the finals.

TWEED HEADS 32 (Joel Rapana 2, Tim Maccan, Luke Dumas, Shayne Joyce, Matthew Cross tries; Daniel Evans 4 goals) def EASTS TIGERS 12 (Kev Stephensen, Luke Wright tries; Matt Lockyer, Trent Henrick goals) at Cudgen Oval.

Report Source: www.qrl.com.au

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