The Wynnum-Manly Seagulls are alone at the top of the In Safe Hands Cup after defeating West Brisbane Panthers on Saturday afternoon.
Earlier, the Ipswich Jets claimed the two points against the Redcliffe Dolphins.
West Brisbane Panthers travelled to Kitchener Park to take on the Seagulls in warm conditions.
The Panthers were out to stop the slide down the ladder, after losing their previous three matches. The Seagulls were looking for a fourth win on the trot.
The first 15 minutes had the Panthers camped in the Gulls’ half and finally they were able to crack the home side’s line through Shaun Tupou.
We needed to keep in the grind
Wynnum finally opened their account in the 30th minute through a left-to-right backline shift to find Paora Kemp dancing off his right three times to go over to square the ledger.
Scores were locked at 4-4 as halftime sounded to end an outstanding defensive effort from both teams, which was similar to the previous time these two sides met when the Panthers came out on top, 8-4.
At the resumption, the Panthers defence had remained in the sheds. From the third tackle after the restart, a Mitch Moore run from dummy-half found a gap to race 60m, then to offload to Hayden Crowley to go over under the cross bar.
A penalty on the fifth tackle after the restart from the Moore try gave the Seagulls ideal field position to cross again, and they did so, this time Moore’s dart from dummy-half was only 8m to the line. After three minutes into the second-half Wynnum had raced to a 16-4 lead.
After an initial break by Kennedy Pettybourne, Michael Uhlburg danced his way infield to offload to James Sharkie to finish off a play started on half way.
A regather from a grubber kick by Pettybourne to score out wide five minutes later breathed life back into the Red and Black, now behind by only 16-12.
The arm wrestle returned between two sides until the 75th minute when a wrap-around with Aaron Booth and Jack Goodsell saw halfback Booth finish the contest scoring out wide to take the competition lead with a 22-12 home win.
“We needed to keep in the grind, go up the middle and maintain discipline” was Seagulls Coach Ron Troutman message at halftime. As for Mitch Moore, Troutman said: “Best game he’s played for us this year.”
Redcliffe played the Ipswich Jets in an outstanding game of rugby league. The Jets scored some outrageous tries, but the Premiers stayed in the contest.
Two tries by Skipper Tu’o Maori in five minutes had the Jets lead 36-28 with a quarter of footy still to be played.
Defence was on show till the final whistle by both sides and the Jets had taken the valuable two points to stay in touch with the top five.
A depleted Logan Brothers came up against the Valleys Diehards. The last meeting at Civic Park had the Brethren win that encounter.
Through suspensions and the knock-on effect from State Of Origin, coach Steve Bretherton men could not hold off a rampaging Diehards.
The majority of Don Gailer’s men crossed over to secure a win 66-12. Their first in three games.
All sides have a bye this weekend for the State League Carnival at Southport.
Ipswich Jets 36 (Ono So’Oialo 2, Tu'o Maori 2, Josh Damen, Chastyn Bowen, Jaydon Connors tries; Mikaere Beattie 4 goals) defeated Redcliffe Dolphins 28 (Kyle Van Klaveren, Rinsma Saueha, Rulon Nutira, Nick Ritter, Sam Leach tries; Kyle Van Klaveren 4 goals).
Wynnum Manly 22 (Paora Kemp, Hayden Crowley, Aaron Booth, Mitchell Moore tries; Paora Kemp 3 goals) defeated West Brisbane Panthers 12 (Kennedy Pettybourne, Shaun Tupou, James Sharkie tries).
Valleys Diehards 66 (Trae Clark 2, Andrew Lancaster, Matt Paulo, Matt Grieve, David Mayfield, Hayden Lipp, Jacob Kelly, Ryley Kajewski, Jarryd Dodd, Paul Ivan tries; Hayden Lipp 11 goals) defeated Logan Brothers 12 (Evander Cummins, LJ Waddups tries; Nick Doyle 2 goals).
Easts Tigers had the bye.
