Burleighs season has come to a bittersweet end with a 40-22 loss to the Ipswich Jets at the North Ipswich Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
The Bears were well and truly in the contest at half time with scores locked at 12-12, but three tries in the 10 minutes straight after the break from Tautalatasi Tasi, Sam Martin and Keiron Lander put the game out of the Bears reach.
In what has been a trend for the Bears in the last month of the season, more young guns shined and showed that there is light at the end of a tough season.
Coach Carl Briggs said poor ball control at crucial stages hurt his side, but he was extremely pleased with his young talent.
We had a lot of young kids play and I think every one of them was outstanding, but that pretty much summed up our year, Briggs said.
So near but yet so far. Were not controlling the football in vital areas and thats what it came down to. This team weve played today will go on and play finals and we wont and thats one of the major differences.
In regards to the kids that debuted today, Hayden Schwass (centre) was outstanding, Daniel Schwass, (first game as starting halfback) outstanding. Brad Smith on the wing, Caleb Morehu off the bench; we had 10 or 11 local juniors play today.
Im not trying to deflect anything, we were good in parts and bad in others but Im just looking at the positives. Its been a testing season and one that well all learn from and hopefully well have a break from football now and come back better for it.
Burleigh started the match positively when Sam Meskell pounced on a deflected kick from Todd Seymour to open the scoring in the seventh minute.
Their second came in the 19th minute after Tyron Haynes used terrific footwork to break through the line and run downfield.
On the next play, the ball went left to Todd Seymour who turned it inside for Jamie Judge to score.
Burleigh didnt score again until the 52nd minute when Jamie Anderson put Todd Seymour over and Anderson was at it again in the 76th minute to put Dan Kerr in the corner.
Ipswich now advances to the semi-finals while the Bears get a couple of months off before returning for the pre-season in November.
It is the third year in succession that the Jets have qualified for the finals under coaches Shane and Ben Walker.
The return of key halfback Ian Lacey for the round 24 clash provided a huge lift for the Jets, who thrilled a big crowd with a strong second half performance.
Fullback Javarn White and back-rower Nat Neale were again outstanding for the Jets, with the pair combining brilliantly in a length of the field raid that led to Lacey's try in the closing minutes.
IPSWICH JETS 40 (Javarn White, Tautalatasi Tasi, Brendon Marshall, Dane Phillips, Ian Lacey, Sam Martin, Keiron Lander tries; Brendon Marshall 6 goals) def BURLEIGH BEARS 22 (Dan Kerr, Todd Seymour, Sam Meskell, Jamie Judge tries; Jordan Rankin 3 goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.
