The weather was fantastic bayside for a great afternoon of top shelf rugby league.
Prior to kick off some of the Wynnum Manly Seagulls spent some time with the students from Darling Point Special School in a community football initiative with club sponsor Paynters.
The smile on the kids faces was infectious and all that positive energy spilled over into the Round 6 Intrust Super Cup game against the Central Queensland Capras.
Prior to kick-off coach Adam Brideson warned his team despite their great start to the season, they were not to be complacent against the Capras. He reminded his players the Capras have been "thereabouts all season and were just about ready to break through". He didn't want it to be against the Seagulls.
The Seagulls were bolstered by three Brisbane Broncos players David Mead, Richie Kennar and Brodie Croft, who all had really strong games, but that core nucleus of the bayside boys really clicked this week and it showed in the score line at full-time.
Match: WM Seagulls v Capras
Round 6 -
home Team
WM Seagulls
1st Position
away Team
Capras
14th Position
Venue: BMD Kougari Oval, Brisbane
After kick-off the Capras put in a very spirited first 10 minutes, matching it toe-to-toe with the Seagulls.
The penalty count was very even in the first 10 minutes but unfortunately for the Capras, a penalty for stripping the ball in the 8th minute gave Kennar to break through the Capras defence and a try on debut out wide by Brodie Croft. His attempt to convert his own try was unsuccessful.
Another critical penalty by the Capras in the 13th minute opened the door for Seagulls gun Delouise Hoeter to score and this time Croft was on the mark with the conversion.
Seven minutes later, after some constant pressure from the Seagulls, and yet another penalty by the Capras for a ruck infringement, Hoeter got his second try, which was converted by Croft and after just 21 minutes, the Seagulls were out to a 16-0 lead.
Seagulls skipper Sam Scarlett has really come into his own since been appointed captain of the club and had another strong showing, scoring a try out wide just four minutes out from half-time. Croft's radar was dialled in and he converted the try. The Seagulls then went to share some oranges in the sheds, up 22-0 at the half.
The message in the shed... "don't let up!"
The Capras in their sheds were encouraged by coach Guy Williams to lift their rate and stay with the Seagulls.
Hoping to score first in the second half, the Capras fell on some bad luck; Chalice Atoi went off for a HIA and was unable to return and then three errors in a row proved to turn the tide and led to Ed Burns, becoming know as Mr Reliable, scoring out wide within five minutes of the restart. You could visibly see how deflating it was for the Capras. Croft slotted the extras and the Gulls were up 28-zip.
In an eight-minute passage of play from the 60-minute mark, the Seagulls scored three converted tries; two to Max Elliott and another to skipper Scarlett took the Seagulls to 46-0 with all tries converted by Croft. He kicked seven from nine.
Kennar scored out wide in the 75th minute and soon the Seagulls were belting out the team song in the sheds after the game.
Coach Brideson was pleased with the boys efforts and is grateful for a 6-0 start to the season.
"We've had to dig deep in some of those games, but today the boys went a long way to putting it all together," Brideson said.
The Seagulls will take on Sunshine Coast Falcons in Round 7.
Match: Falcons v WM Seagulls
Round 7 -
home Team
Falcons
4th Position
away Team
WM Seagulls
1st Position
Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
The Capras will play Norths Devils.
Match: Capras v Devils
Round 7 -
home Team
Capras
14th Position
away Team
Devils
2nd Position
Venue: McIndoe Park, Emerald