Gulls come out on top in seesawing game with Jets

The Jets had Jack Martin on debut coming off the bench and the visitors started the game with two quick tries, to set them up for another chance of a rare win at Piggabeen.

While the Jets have won three of the past four games at Piggabeen, these are the only times they have won there.

Jets halfback Josh Cleeland started the game in the first five minutes with an accurate grubber rolling to a stop with Shar Walden grounding the ball and scoring his first try in the Intrust Super Cup in just his third appearance.

It was Cleeland again 15 minutes later who got the Jets up 10-0 when he went deep in to the line and delivered a pass for Peter Gubb to score in the right hand corner.

Tweed hooker Jack Cook then made the Jets look silly when he dove over from dummy half to score his first try in the Intrust Super Cup in 2019 to get the Tweed some much needed momentum as his side trailed the Jets 10-6 after 30 minutes.

The Seagulls though were now rolling. For their next try; they went right and made use of an inside ball and Kalani Going was really going when he scored out wide. Lindon McGrady converted to make the Tweed in the lead 12-10.

From the kick off, Richie Pandia was off-side and the Tweed Seagulls powered down the field from the penalty and fullback Talor Walters was in for his third try this year.

Tweed had come back and now led by a healthy 18-10 at halftime.

It was like an old school Panasonic Cup game with quarters the Jets dominating the first 20 minutes with plenty of possession and the Seagulls having all the running the last 20 minutes.

After the halftime break, the Jets started the second half the same way they started the first, with two quick tries.

First Cleeland dummied his way through the line and passed with accuracy to Jayden Connors to score under the posts.

The Jets got to the fifth and Cleeland bombed away, forcing Walters to come up with the error.

Halfback Julian Christian was crumbing along behind to grab the ball – he dutifully did so and went over to score his 13th Intrust Super Cup try from 22 games for with Ipswich.

In the first nine minutes of the second half, the Jets had gone from being down 18-10 to leading 22-18.

Ipswich’s own Treymain Spry however turned the tables and got a try against his former city when he was on the end of a grubber and scored for the Gulls. \

His try made it 22-22 with 25 minutes to go.

The Jets went back in front when they took the two points on offer after a penalty – but the Seagulls did the same a few minutes later and it was back to equal points – this time 24-24 with 19 minutes to go.

The home side push ahead when McGrady took the two again with 15 minutes to go and Tweed had the lead back 26-24.

Lamar Liolevave decided he’d had enough of the incremental scoring and smashed his way over to give the Tweed a healthy margin for a 32-24 win.

Next week, the Seagulls host a strong Norths Devils outfit at Piggabeen Sports Complex for some Sunday afternoon rugby league.

The Ipswich Jets however will face the CQ Capras at Woorabinda in what is expected to be a great event; with a number of community events also schedule to take place on Saturday.