Eighteen-year-old Dylan Bennett backed up immediately from Hervey Bay's loss to Wests in reserve grade to come off the bench and claim man of the match as the Seagulls consolidated the lead on the Bundaberg Broadcasters A Grade Premiership table.
Hervey Bay notched up a well executed 32-16 victory over Wests Panthers in their Round 9 showdown at Salter Oval on Sunday.
The Panthers were hungry to bounce back after they had been derailed by Waves Tigers 28-16 a week earlier, but the Seagulls produced another superb team performance to gain sweet revenge for their loss to the Panthers at Stafford Park on April 23.
Hervey Bay moved to 12 points, but they remain only one point clear of Waves, who continued to go from strength to strength, withstanding a spirited challenge from their hosts Wallaroos to prevail 34-22 at Eskdale Park on Saturday.
Wests dropped to equal-fourth with Easts, each on seven points, after the early season favourites Magpies were blitzed by Past Brothers 50-32 in the match of the day on Sunday, with the two-time defending champions snapping a two-match losing streak and moving to third place on the ladder on eight points.
While Bennett took out their man of the match award, Seagulls coach Jacob Blanke said powerhouse second rower Max Shorter, front rower Isaac Mielczarek and the mercurial Logona Vetemotu were each also outstanding.
Meanwhile, last placed Roos were on a mission to build on their drought-breaking shock victory over Brothers a week earlier, and they again played their hearts out in front of their loyal home crowd.
But the Tigers roared, with flashy Tongan and Wide Bay Whales Rugby star winger Delai Moto coming to the fore with a double.
A pulsating duel was also expected between arch-rivals Brothers and Easts, with both desperate to return to form, but the Magpies were again poor as the Brethren established a 28-0 lead in even time to take control.
But as the Magpies have done several times in recent clashes, including in last year’s grand final, they staged a remarkable comeback, scoring a converted try on the stroke of half-time, then grabbing five more, either side of another Brothers six-pointer to trail by just 34-28 midway through the second stanza.
However, Brothers turned the tide and went on to score three of the last four tries to rack up a half-century of points with high-class fullback Tyrell Priestley and centre Corey Findlay each finishing with doubles.
Inspirational captain and lock Kevin Sherriff truly led from the front and was a stand-out winner of the Railway Hotel Player of the Round.
Also, 17-year-old Eden Hess - whose elder brother Coen has played 127 games so far for North Queensland Cowboys and six State of Origin games - came off the bench to score his first A Grade try.
Main image: Past Brothers halfback Zac Dann drives the attack in their big win over Easts Magpies yesterday. Photo: Vince Habermann/QRL
WAVES TIGERS 34 (Delai Moto 2, Cody Maughan, Jensen Deamer, Layton Chambers, Lachlan Patterson tries; Layton Chambers 5 goals) def WALLAROOS 22 (Maurice Blair, Bailey Robertson, Keian Grogan tries; Liam Doolan 3 goals).
HERVEY BAY SEAGULLS 32 (Jaxon Crockford, Tallis Murray, Jeremiah Pati, Burung Shillingsworth, Logona Vetemotu, Malachi Lawton tries; David Woodbridge 4 goals) def WESTS PANTHERS 16 (Bruce Ikamanu 2, Ilaiasi Pongi tries; Bruce Ikamanu 2 goals).
PAST BROTHERS 50 (Tyrell Priestley 2, Corey Findlay 2, Tom Kronk, Connor Jones, Eden Hess, Jake Thompson, Kevin Sherriff; Tyrell Priestley 4, Zac Dann 3 goals) def EASTS MAGPIES 32 (Andreas Nona 2, Corey Chapman, Peter Sippel, Delroy Tanner, Lachlan Price tries; Jackson Paulson 4 goals).
