Bears prove too strong for the Cutters at Pizzey Park

If you’re going to storm into a bear's lair you better have a plan.

The Burleigh Bears welcomed Mackay Cutters to their lair on the Gold Coast, hunting for their 13th home win at Pizzy Park in the last 14 games.

The Bears started the round in third on five wins and the Cutters ninth on three wins.

The game started with both teams forcing each other to be accountable in defence with the game going end-to-end and a try looking likely.

The Bears and Cutters were turned away and forced repeat sets keeping the pressure on. The Bears knew the value of points on a wet night.

The Cutters were penalised right in front and the Bears’ Josh Rogers added two more points to his Hostplus Cup tally of 272 career points.

The Bears weren’t content to go up in twos and took the four points next time they went down there in good attacking area.

Rogers went right and found rampaging fullback Taine Tuaupiki to slam it down and score his fourth try this season; 8-0 was a good lead after 15 minutes.

Next it was Alofiana Khan-Pereira on the end of a classic Bears set that wove its way upfield until a short kick could be pounced on by Khan-Pereira, who took the Bears lead out to 12 points.

Cutters got their own momentum on the scoreboard and came back two minutes later when another short kick found Andre Niko and he had his third try for 2022.

Bears stalked their prey and sliced again at the Cutters with another two points right on half-time and a 14-6 lead.