Penrith punish rusty Roosters
3 hours ago | Aidan Edgecomb
In the final game of 2010, the Easts Tigers went down 36-26 to the Tweed Head Seagulls in a closely fought tussle at Cudgen Oval.
It was a performance that typified the club's season - the Tigers failed to fully capitalise on their opportunities and were left to rue some sloppy defence at crucial stages.
The match was also fiery, with three players sent to the sin-bin on two separate occasions. Tweed Heads captain Brad Davis spent time on the sidelines after back chat directed at the referee, while enigmatic fullback Shannon Walker and Tigers hooker Dane Phillips were also given ten after their involvement in a brawl which spilled over the sideline.
Tweed Heads skipped out to an early 12-0 lead thanks to tries to both centres, Josh Graham and James Wood, but the ever-dangerous Liam Campbell got the Tigers on the board in the 18th minute.
Tigers' Leon Panapa provided some impact late in the first half, the interchange forward made an arching run to the line for Easts second four-pointer. He had the chance for a double but in heartbreaking fashion dropped the ball over the line.
The Seagulls made the Tigers pay when Walker supported a break to give his side a 24-8 advantage at the break.
Easts came out firing in the second stanza, reliable winger Kev Stephensen pounced on a loose ball in the ingoal before a stunning try to Issac Kaufmann, off a Campbell break and chip kick, gave the few Tigers supporters some hope at 24-20.
However, some poor defence on the final tackle allowed Walker to run the ball and grab his second try. Davis' perfect day with the boot continued, to give Tweed a 30-20 lead in the 67th minute.
The home team then snuffed out any comeback chance when Kingi Akauola strolled through. Easts did post a further try through Panapa but it proved too little too late.
Tweed Heads Seagulls 36
Tries: Shannon Walker 2, James Wood, Josh Graham, Steve Gillett, Kingi Akauola
Goals: Brad Davis 6
defeated
Easts Tigers 26
Tries: Leon Panapa 2, Liam Campbell, Kev Stephensen, Isaac Kaufmann
Goals: Paoa Faamita 2, Jace Van Dijk
The teams:
Tweed Heads Seagulls
1. Shannon Walker 2. Cameron White 3. James Wood 4. Josh Graham 5. Dominique Peyroux 6. Ryan Milligan 7. Brad Davis 8. S Darby 9. D Kerr 10. Selasi Berdie 11. Aaron Zimmerle 12. M O'Reilly 13. Ryan Simpkins
Interchange: 14. Jake Leary 15. S Gillett 16. Kingi Akauola 17. S Carney
Coach: Ben Anderson
Easts Tigers
1. Liam Campbell 2. Matthew Ruthenberg 3. Dean Sheppard 4. Paoa Faamita 5. Kev Stephensen 6. Isaac Kaufmann 7. Jace Van Dijk (c) 8. Cameron Durnford 9. Dane Phillips 10. James Stosic 11. Steven Thorpe 12. Brent Williams 13. Daniel Fullarton
Interchange: 14. Fabian Soutar 15. Dywayne Rigby 16. Leon Panapa 17. Brett Farrell
Coach: Jason Gainey