Intrust Super Cup Round 10 - Wynnum Manly Seagulls V Redcliffe Dolphins at BMD Kougari Oval, Manly West. 3.00pm Sunday May 4 2014.
By Hanan Laban
Wynnum Manly Seagulls continued their unbeaten run at home when they defeated the Redcliffe Dolphins 22-16, in the Bayside Battle of the XXXX Rivalry Round.
Wynnum Manly and Redcliffe both boast big forward packs, smart playmakers, no-nonsense coaches and large, passionate supporter bases. It is their similarities which fuel each clash between the Bayside rivals, making them memorable contests and Round 10 was no exception.
The Seagulls opened the scoring early through Mitchell Frei. The try came off the back of a 70m kick return from Daniel Ogden before Ben Cronin found the star edge back-rower in a hole on the left. Frei then beat two defenders and carried Redcliffe halfback Adrian Davis across the line to score a superb try, his 10th of the campaign.
Ogden then found a try himself after a late offload from front rower Dylan Smith. The interchange front rower’s big frame and ability to offload in the tackle has given opposing defences issues all season. Wynnum Manly were in front early in the contest, 12-0.
Redcliffe were able to score two tries to edge the score to 12-10 at the break. Redcliffe’s interchange hooker Cameron Cullen caught markers napping on the line to barge over and score the opening try for the visitors.
A few minutes later Dolphins captain Marty Hatfield was the beneficiary of a bomb from Davis which Ogden struggled to track in the sun, the centre scooped up the loose ball and scored the Dolphins’ second.
The game featured plenty of tough performances, notably from Seagulls winger Peter Gubb and Dolphins back-rower Jake Marketo.
The Dolphins continued their scoring run immediately after halftime with Oliver Regan scoring in the right corner after quick passing through the hands on the Redcliffe right edge. Davis converted from the sideline to put the visitors in front for the first time, 16-12.
Wynnum Manly hit back six minutes later with a try to Cronin. The five-eighth took the ball to the line, threw a big dummy to Frei, held the ball himself and stepped back inside defenders to return the Seagulls to the lead at 18-16.
The potent Seagulls left edge was again responsible for the next try, with centre Mitchell Buckett scoring for the home side. Buckett was strong all game and received just rewards with a try putting the Seagulls in front, 22-16.
The final 15 minutes saw great football as Redcliffe through playmakers Davis and Zach Strasser desperately tried to find a try as Wynnum Manly rallied in defence. Redcliffe had multiple opportunities including three consecutive sets on the Seagulls’ line, but the home side managed to hold on to the final siren, taking the opening Herald Cup match 22-16.
WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS 22 (Daniel Ogden, Mitchell Buckett, Ben Cronin, Mitchell Frei tries; Matt Seamark 3 goals) def REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 16 (Marty Hatfield, Oliver Regan, Cameron Cullen tries; Adrian Davis 2 goals) at BMD Kougari Oval.
Final teams
Wynnum Manly Seagulls: 1. Daniel Ogden 2. Peter Gubb 3. Jordan Kahu 4. Mitchell Buckett 5. Mitchell Krause 6. Ben Cronin 7. Matt Seamark 8. Ben Shea 9. Jake Granville 10 Tim Natusch (c) 11. David Stagg 12. Graham Clark 13. Mitchell Frei 14. John Te Reo 15. Stephen Coombe 16. Tanu Wulf 17. Dylan Smith
Redcliffe Dolphins: 1. Paul Byrnes 2. Stewart Mills 3. Aaron Whitchurch 4. Marty Hatfield (c) 5. Oliver Regan 6. Zach Strasser 7. Adrian Davis 8. James Ackerman 9. Tom Rowles 10. David Hala 11. Sarafu Fatiaki 12. Jake Marketo 13. Tom Geraghty 14. Cameron Cullen 15. Joe Bradley 16. Martin Cordwell 17. Jared Cherry
