Burleigh too strong for Toowoomba

Reigning Queensland Cup premiers, the Burleigh Bears have put in a dominant second half display, handing out a 42-16 defeat to the Toowoomba Clydesdales on the Gold Coast this afternoon.

Running into a strong breeze, Toowoomba opened the scoring in the 7th minute and led 4-0 for most of the first half. But Burleigh lifted a gear late in the stanza to score three tries and at half time, the home side a held a handy 16-4 lead.

Toowoomba struck back early in the second half and to get within a converted try. But Burleigh were too good, running in the next four tries to put the match beyond doubt.

The loss may have also cost Toowoomba dearly with news that five eighth Stu Kelly was forced off with suspected broken cheekbone.

BURLEIGH BEARS 42 Tries: Hayden 2, Leis 2, Cupples 2, Purdon, Lateo Goals: Cressbrook 5/8 defeated TOOWOOMBA CLYDESDALES 16 Tries: Topou, Barnes, Duggan Goals: Parfitt 2/3

Venue: Pizzey Park, Gold Coast Saturday 7 May 2005, 2:00pm Referee: Justin Eastwood Penalties first half: Burleigh 5-2 Penalties full time: Burleigh 9-4 Half time: Burleigh 16-4

By the clock: A fine day and a fairly strong breeze favours Burleigh in the first half.

7 min: TRY - Toowoomba Tame Topou scores out wide following a break from halfway from Derricke Watkins. Follows Burleigh getting repeat sets but were unable to score. Conversion attempt from Nick Parfitt is unsuccessful. Toowoomba 4-0

27 min: NO TRY - Burleigh denied when final pass to Trent Purdon is forward.

29 min: NO TRY - Toowoomba denied. Break from half way and final kick ahead sees a Clydesdale player marginally in front of the kicker and is deemed offside. A let-off for Burleigh.

30 min: TRY - Burleigh. Trent Leis scores in the right corner after Adrian Vowles dummies and then sends the ball wide. Conversion attempt from Reggie Cressbrook is unsuccessful. 4-all

35 min: TRY - Burleigh. Centre Balin Cupples scores 15 metres in from touch on the left side, a solo effort after he breaks through from 20 metres out. Conversion Cressbrook. Burleigh 10-4

39 min: TRY - Burleigh. Five eighth Adam Hayden scores just to the left of the uprights. The defence comimg up too quick and then Hayden adjusted to run through a gap. Conversion Cressbrook. Burleigh 16-4

HALF TIME: BURLEIGH BEARS 16 - TOOWOOMBA CLYDESDALES 4 The premiers showing their class in the last 10 minutes of the first half after Toowoomba had earlier looked to be holding their own. Toowoomba giving away a few penalties and finding themselves stuck in their own half too often. However, the wind will favour them in the second half.

43 min: TRY - Toowoomba. Half back Berrick Barnes finishes off a 70 metre movement with Ben Vaeau getting into space. Conversion Parfitt right in front. Burleigh 16-10

50 min: TRY - Burleigh. Adam Hayden scores his second. A set move with Hayden standing deep and then running at an angle onto the ball. A few decoy runners and Hayden scores from close range and next to the posts. Conversion Cressbrook. Burleigh 22-10

54 min: TRY - Burleigh. Winger Trent Purdon scores in the left corner after flying onto a clever grubber kick from Adam Hayden. Conversion Cressbrook is over the black dot. Burleigh 28-10

61 min: TRY - Burleigh Forward Jeremy Lateo crashes over as Burleigh continue to dominate possession. Conversion Cressbrook from almost in front. Burleigh 34-10

70 min: TRY - Burleigh. Leis scores his second try. Follows a moves down the right side with Cressbrrok drawing

the defence before offloading to Leis. Conversion Cressbrook, kicking into the breeze from a wide angle is just waved away. Burleigh 38-10

73 min: TRY - Toowoomba. Winger Tony Duggan scores down the left side and 10 metres in from touch. Follows some possession after Toowoomba regain the ball from a short kick off and then get a penalty. Conversion from Parfitt is struck well and he adds the extras. Burleigh 38-16

76 min: TRY - Burleigh. Balin Cupples scores a double on Burleigh's left side following a set play from the scrum. Sideline conversion from Cressbrook hits the uprights and is waved away. Burleigh 42-16

FULL TIME: BURLEIGH BEARS 42 - TOOWOOMBA CLYDESDALES 16 Burleigh overwhelming Toowoomba in the second half. Toowoomba were still well in the match after they scored just after the break. But the Bears were simply too good with some good set plays and some bruising defence to see them dominate the ruck.

TEAMS: Burleigh Reggie Cressbrook, Trent Purdon, Balin Cupples, Trent Leis, Aseri Laing, Adam Hayden, David Hicks, Ali Brown (c), Ryan Gundry, Shane O?Flanagan, Martin Griese, Adam Hutchinson, Adrian Vowles. Interchange: James Griffiths, Scott Cooke, Jeremy Lateo, Phil Ramage.

Toowoomba Nick Parfitt, Tame Tupou, Steve Michaels, Joe Clarke, Tony Duggan, Stu Kelly, Berrick Barnes, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Michael Ryan, Anthony Seibold (c), Sam Thaiday, Neale Wyatt, Derricke Watkins. Interchange: Ben Vaeau, Ian Lacey, Ian Blake, Nick Kenny.