Sombre news sours thrilling win

BURLEIGH BEARS 28 defeat EASTS TIGERS 26

Burleigh's claims for the minor premiership remain alive after a tense 28-26 win against Easts, however the immediate future of hooker Ryan Gundry is in grave doubt.

Gundry missed the epic showdown against the Tigers at Langlands Park due to a severe rupture of his quadriceps. Yet it wasn?t until after the match that coach Rick Stone revealed the extent of the injury.

Stone told of how the Bears linchpin had spent six days in hospital, undergone epidural injections and suffered extreme swelling following the Round 20 hit-out against Norths.

?Gunj?s leg is twice the size of his other one and I?m dead serious in saying that,? Stone said.

?It?s one of the worst corks I?ve ever seen?massive internal bleeding. It looks like that could be him out for the rest of the season. He is one of the hardest to replace.?

Matt Doeg, an accomplished footballer in his own right, filled in admirably on Saturday as the Bears faced their grand final opponents from 2004.

Coming off its worst loss in three seasons (38-16 to Norths), the Gold Coast club got out to a flyer to lead 16-4 and then 22-8.

But Easts was in no mood to be anyone?s punching bag and before halftime the Tigers hit back through the exceptional Leigh Coghill for a 22-14 scoreline.

As a prop with 10 tries to his name this season, Coghill continued to rally his troops in the second stanza, even when Reggie Cressbrook struck for Burleigh straight after halftime.

The Tigers closed to within two points, making for a thrilling final 10 minutes, featuring helter-skelter attack and defence from both sides.

Needing to win badly to maintain any chance of beating North Queensland for the minor premiership, Burleigh conceded a penalty straight in front of the posts via offside lock Robert Apanui.

However, the penalty was of a differential nature, meaning Easts could not attempt a shot at goal. The Tigers were not seeking a draw in any case, playing on quickly but ultimately falling short.

Easts played without late withdrawals Scott Alo and Michael Pearce, while Burleigh was also minus Trent Purdon. Purdon will be assessed for a pectoral tear this week and may miss the rest of the season as well.

Burleigh takes on Wynnum at Kougari Oval next Sunday, seeking two points for victory and hoping that the Young Guns lose to Toowoomba. Meanwhile Easts finds itself in a clash with inner-city rival Souths Logan at Davies Park, also on Sunday.

BURLEIGH BEARS 28 (Tries: Reggie Cressbrook, Trent Leis, Martin Greise, Shane O Flanagan, Jeremy Lateo. Goals: Reggie Cressbrook 4.)

defeated

EASTS TIGERS 26 (Tries: Leigh Coghill 2, Steve Beattie, Shane Neumann, Aaron Kuskey. Goals: Matt Lockyer 3.)

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