A try in the final moments of the match stole a 22-20 win for the Easts Tigers over the Burleigh Bears at Pizzey Park yesterday.
A dropped Burleigh ball 30m out from their own line was pounced on by Donald Malone, and the Tigers then worked themselves up to a good position to score the match winning try through bustling winger Richie Kennar.
Kennar planted the ball in the far left corner but it wasn't easy and he had to fight through five Burleigh defenders to do so and in the process, steal the match.
It was a tightly fought game throughout, with the in-form Bears posting the first points of the afternoon thanks to Tyler Chadburn, who was able to collect his own chip kick ahead in the ninth minute.
The Tigers took their time to hit back – but did so within the last 10 minutes of the half with Jake Foster crossing for the visitors.
A penalty kick soon after gave them an 8-6 lead; which they took into the halftime break.
A try to Burleigh’s Josh Ailaomai early in the second half gave the Bears the start they wanted – and when it was followed by another thanks to Tom Rowles, the home side were out to an 18-8 lead.
However, the Tigers are a team that have a knack of scoring points and a try to Shaun Nona narrowed the deficit to 18-14, before the Bears opted to take-the-two when awarded a penalty to put a converted try between them.
However, in an explosive end to the match – the Tigers crossed for two tries in six minutes – firstly to hard-working lock Troy Giess and the next to Kennar to halt the Bears three matching winning streak.
Easts will this weekend host the CQ Capras who were on the end of their own two-point loss, while the Bears will travel to Ipswich to take on the Jets in next week’s TV game.
EASTS TIGERS 22 (Richie Kennar, Shaun Nona, Jake Foster, Troy Giess tries; Donald Malone 3 goals) def BURLEIGH BEARS 20 (Tyler Chadburn, Tom Rowles, Josh Ailaomai tries; Tyler Chadburn 4 goals) at Pizzey Park
Final Teams
Burleigh Bears: 1. Tyler Chadburn 2. Zach Mackay 3. Jamie Dowling 4. Connor Broadhurst 5. Kevin Gordon 6. Todd Seymour 7. Ryley Jacks 8. Mitch Sharp 20. Mark Ioane 10. Pele Peletelese 11. Ayden Lee 12. Jason Chan 13. Darren Griffiths (c) 14. Tom Rowles 15. Louis Fanene 16. Josh Ailaomai 21. Dave Hala
Easts Tigers: 1. Eddie Tautali 2. Richie Kennar 3. Donald Malone 4. Michael Kai 5. Matt Duffie 6. Shaun Nona 7. Joel Romelo 8. Christian Welch 9. Tommy Butterfield 10. Liam McDonald 11. Dane Hogan (c) 12. Jake Foster 13. Troy Giess 14. Francis Tualau 15. Matt Zgrajewski 16. Foisa Peni 18. Ashley Little
