Wynnum Manly halfback Matthew Seamark achieved a career milestone by amassing over 1000 career points in the Seagulls’ resounding 66-4 win over the Norths Devils at BMD Kougari Oval.
When the Welsh international kicked a conversion from the sideline early in the first half, he joined rare company as only the seventh player in Intrust Super Cup history to achieve the feat.
The half was not only pinpoint with the boot, but he and fellow half Patrick Templeman guided their team to an explosion of attack going at a point a minute in the opening stanza.
Hooker Alehana Mara was coach Jon Buchanan’s man of the match and he had his big forwards charging onto the ball as the Seagulls came out of the gate at full throttle.
In the first 10 minutes of play the home side completed 10/10 sets, sending a message to the Devils that they were on their game.
The early dominance quickly manifested in points when fullback Daniel Ogden scored his first of four tries for the day in the fourth minute.
Centre Mitchell Buckett’s run of good form continued when he crossed for a try two minutes later, getting outside his opposite with a fend and a juke.
After 11 minutes, English winger Greg Eden got in on the act, connecting with Templeman who swept out the back to find his team mate with a cut out ball.
Minutes later, Templeman performed the same play but this time did a show-and-go and went through himself for the try. Seamark would miss the conversion and the Seagulls were up 22-0 after only 14 minutes.
Ogden would then snag his second after supporting up the middle on a Buckett bust and line-break on the left edge.
Eden would then record a double, this time Templeman noticed the Devils’ defensive line was jammed in tight and expertly chipped it to his winger alone on the left flank.
After the ensuing kick-off it was doubles all round with Buckett putting it down in the left corner. Wynnum fan favourite Peter Gubb produced a spirited carry deep in his own half to break 80m, rattling the visitors and allowing his centre space to score out wide.
Seamark converted the try to make it 40-0 at half time.
In the second half the Seagulls kept piling on misery as Ogden scored two more, and Templeman, Mara and utility John Te Reo all crossed for four pointers.
Dylan Galloway would score a consolation try in a forgettable day for Mark Gliddon’s men.
Following on from a stunning season in 2014, hard running Seagulls’ back rower Mitchell Frei retained his spot in the XXXX Queensland Residents team.
Frei was the only Seagulls and Devils player selected and he will join his Queensland teammates in camp tomorrow for their match against the New South Wales Residents at Tapout Energy Stadium on Sunday.
WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS 66 (Daniel Ogden 4, Mitchell Buckett 2, Greg Eden 2, Patrick Templeman 2, Alehana Mara, John Te Reo tries; Matthew Seamark 9 goals) def NORTHS DEVILS 4 (Dylan Galloway try) at BMD Kougari Oval.
Final teams
Wynnum Manly Seagulls: 1. Daniel Ogden 2. Peter Gubb 20. Stephen Coombe 4. Mitchell Buckett 5. Greg Eden 6. Patrick Templeman 7. Matthew Seamark 8. Ben Shea 9. Alehana Mara 10. Aaron Rockley 11. Brendon Gibb 12. Jon Grieve 13. Mitchell Frei 14. Olsi Krasniqi 15. John Te Reo 16. David Stagg 17. Tim Natusch (c)
Norths Devils: 1. Ryan Millard 2. Joel Bailey 3. Dylan Galloway 4. Kainga Turner 5. Rogan Dean 6. Sam Foster 7. Sean Loxley 8. Matt Mizzi 9. Krys Freeman 10. Billy Solah 11. Rhett Webster 12. Brett Greinke (c) 13. Max Seumanutafa 14. Byron Creighton 15. Dan Murphy 16. Mark Vaiao 17. JAZ NAHU-MAIN
