The Seagulls have moved to the top of the ladder after the third round of the BRL A Grade In Safe Hands Cup.
They did it with a handy 26-10 win over the Magpies at Davies Park, which was enough to boost their for-and-against and move them to the top of the ladder.
Both sides came into the game on the back of wins in their last starts and were choc-full of Intrust Super Cup experience on paper.
It was a luckless start for the Magpies as second rower Johnnie Fox left the field with a head injury in the first minute and fullback David Pritchard was also injured in the first half.
The Seagulls would strike first after five minutes when the back-rowers combined after a Shaun Nona inside ball to the fleet of foot lock Stedman Lefau.
Lefau linked with Keenan Palasia to the left who then sent a wobbly pass to winger Tumoana Halkyard who touched down in the left corner.
The weight of possession for the Seagulls took its toll on the Magpies defence and resulted in Lefau crossing from close range in the 20th minute.
They were gallant despite being down to 15 players and having very little time with the football, however, the Magpies were dealt another cruel blow with less than a minute remaining in the first half as Tamati Ioane scored to give the Seagulls a commanding 16-0 lead.
The Magpies needed to score first after the break to remain in the contest and they were able to do so when skipper Lane Ferling grubbered into the in goal for lock Sam Elliott, closing to the gap to 16-6.
Minutes later, Ferling produced a cross field kick to the right wing and Luke Archer flew above the pack to take truly majestic catch and score out wide.
That was as close as the home side would get, though, as a penalty goal and a final try for Mitch McMillan closed out a 16 point win.
In other Round 3 results, Valleys Diehards came from 18-14 down to defeat the West Brisbane Panthers, 26-18 while Easts Tigers and Redcliffe Dolphins played out a 26-26 draw.
Seagulls, Diehards and Panthers are all locked on equal points after three weeks, with only for-and-against splitting them. The Tigers, meanwhile remain at the bottom of the ladder with two losses and a draw.
In Safe Hands Cup Round 3 results
Diehards 26 (Jordon Mitchell, Jack Miers, Alex Bishop, Dalton Phillips tries; Jack Miers 5 goals) defeated Panthers 18 (Kyle Van Klaveren, Billy Rogers, Kane Zalewski tries; Kyle Van Klaveren 3 goals)
Tigers 26 (Adam Crear 2, Delroy Berryman, Joshua Curti, Harry Pondekas tries; Brett Kelly 3 goals) drew with Dolphins 26 (Will Partridge, Jordon Pinnock, Tristan Hope, Jake Sparey tries; Reece Brawn 5 goals)
Seagulls 26 (Mitch McMillian, Tumoana Halkyard, Stedman Lefau, Tamati Ioane tries; Shaun Nona 5 goals defeated Magpies 10 (Luke Archer, Sam Elliott tries; Brad Frith goal)
Ladder
|
POS |
TEAM |
P |
W |
L |
D |
FOR |
AG |
PD |
PTS |
|
1 |
SEAGULLS |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
72 |
50 |
22 |
7 |
|
2 |
PANTHERS |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
70 |
60 |
10 |
7 |
|
3 |
DIEHARDS |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
72 |
66 |
6 |
7 |
|
4 |
DOLPHINS |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
88 |
70 |
18 |
6 |
|
5 |
MAGPIES |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
48 |
82 |
-34 |
5 |
|
6 |
TIGERS |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
68 |
90 |
-22 |
4 |
Round 4 fixtures;
Dolphins v Diehards; Saturday April 14 at Dolphin Oval, 4.15pm
Seagulls v Tigers; Saturday April 14 at BMD Kougari Oval, 5.15pm
Magpies v Panthers; Sunday April 15 at Davies Park, 4.45pm
* John Devine is the BRL A Grade correspondent for the QRL
