Wynnum Manly Seagulls made it three wins on the trot with a classy 34-10 win over Souths Sunnybank in the Rugby League Brisbane Men's Open 2 South competition on Saturday.
While both sides might be sitting near the bottom of the table, they certainly both put on a superb game of rugby league for the bumper crowd that was on hand for Ladies Day.
The Seagulls were first to put points on the board after some great lead up work by tireless lock Josh Few.
Few’s BRL experience shone through when he sent in halfback Wade Potter in the 7th minute of play to kickstart proceedings with a superb cut out pass.
The Seagulls then chanced their arm on the left edge when five eighth Nathaniel O’Callaghan chipped over the top for second rower William Blewitt, who crashed over in the corner.
In a game that was defensively sound, Sunnybank’s big men in powerhouses Mohi Kendrick and Faaleo Aholahi responded well with some bulldozing carries up the middle to get the Magpies in good field position.
However, the Seagulls had other ideas and a one-on-one strip saw O’Callaghan on the spot again.
The crafty pivot put in a well-executed grubber kick for his centre Kyle Precoma, who blitzed his opposite number to cross the try line.
The Magpies could have posted points on the board before the break, however a crucial pass from halfback Cody Hazard was fumbled across the line and sent the Seagulls in to the halftime break with a 16-0 lead.
The Magpies did break the deficit in the 42nd minute and posted their first try of the afternoon crashing in from dummy half out wide.
What appeared to be a resurgence from the Magpies, they crossed again five minutes later in second rower Te Whareporera Hare-Herbert, who latched onto a grubber kick from five-eighth Shannon Bennett.
Whilst the Seagulls seemed to clock off in the second half, the Magpies certainly were taking advantage of Wynnum’s momentary lapse in concentration.
Magpies winger Alex Lentell’s superb dash from dummy-half led the Seagulls on a frantic chase for the flanker, who was able to find Sunnybank’s other winger John Bando, who finished off a nice backline movement to score in the corner.
But just as the Magpies were enjoying a glut of possession, the Seagulls sparked back into action.
Hooker Linton Price’s superb metre-gains from dummy half opened up the Magpies defensive line, which saw the Seagulls score beside the sticks.
In typical Wynnum Manly fashion, the home supporters rallied their side home in the latter stages of the game and O’Callaghan once again burst through the Magpies defensive line, racing 70 meters to score under the posts.
Magpies captain Clayton Peeti tried valiantly to rally his tired troops; however, the Seagulls would sink the final nail in the coffin when Kyle Precoma raced away for his second try of the afternoon to come away with a 34-16 win.
Wynnum Manly will need to step it up next week against a strong Rochedale Tigers outfit, while Souths Sunnybank will be looking to get back on track against winless Carina in Round 11.
