Round 4 Saturday wrap: Seagulls hold off Devils, Blackhawks win derby
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Wynnum Manly has set its platform for consistent performances moving forward on the back of a solid 26-20 win over Norths Devils.
Seagulls coach Mat Head said he felt his side was always in control at BMD Kougari Oval on Saturday night, shooting to a 22-12 at half time.
Norths threw everything at the home side in a bid to fight back, but Wynnum Manly's scramble defence did the job.
Head said he was surprised at how well his side clicked considering their week-on, week-off schedule to start the season.
"We always feel like we're going to get better as time goes on and it was surprising our attack clicked, but our defence needs to be more together as a unit and work harder for each other," he said.
"In times we needed to scramble, we certainly did, and it got the job done.
"We've got a really good spine that have no egos about themselves, they work really hard together and communicate really well together and then we've got an edge and middle that really want to get up the field for us to give our spine the best opportunity to play footy.
Match: WM Seagulls v Devils
Round 4 -
home Team
WM Seagulls
7th Position
away Team
Devils
3rd Position
Venue: BMD Kougari Oval, Brisbane
"Collectively we did a really good job with the ball in hand and that's probably what got us the victory in the end."
Head said there were also promising signs from his team's resilience under pressure - an extension of what they showed against Redcliffe Dolphins in Round 3.
That may be tested further next week with halfback Jock Madden expected to earn a Brisbane Broncos call-up in place of injured Adam Reynolds, but Head was not perturbed with the quality of Bryce Donovan easily able to slot in and out of the starting team.
"We've manoeuvred ourselves around and recruited really well to make sure we're covering those positions, which is something we probably didn't have as covered last year," he said.
"But we're on the right page here and Bryce, 'Fallsy' (five-eight Kurt Falls), 'Milso' (fullback Matthew Milson) and 'Paixy' (hooker Cory Paix) work really well together and we're excited about getting up to Townsville next week."
Head simply urged the side to "be together more" and apply themselves to defence as much as their time in possession.
"At Redcliffe we were really good, so it's not like we don't have it, we probably just didn't value it as much today and as I said the boys willingness to do things and scramble for each other is a pleasing thing and outstanding," he said.
"We've just got to get more reps together, more collective in our units and the more we play together, the more we'll see that."
Match: Tigers v Clydesdales
Round 4 -
home Team
Tigers
1st Position
away Team
Clydesdales
15th Position
Venue: Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane
Elsewhere, eight players crossed the stripe for Brisbane Tigers in a nine-tries-to-zero rout at Totally Workwear Stadium.
Match: Seagulls v Hunters
Round 4 -
home Team
Seagulls
14th Position
away Team
Hunters
8th Position
Venue: Piggabeen Sports Complex, Tweed Heads
Kaleb Ngamanu scored two tries as Tweed Seagulls and PNG Hunters traded tries in an action-packed contest at Piggabeen Sports Complex.
Match: Blackhawks v Cutters
Round 4 -
home Team
Blackhawks
12th Position
away Team
Cutters
6th Position
Venue: Jack Manski Oval, Townsville
A 75th minute Kyle Laybutt field goal ensured Kalifa Faifai-Loa's 150th game would be a happy memory.
Match: Falcons v Pride
Round 4 -
home Team
Falcons
9th Position
away Team
Pride
2nd Position
Venue: Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
The Falcons brought the Northern Pride back down to earth with a dominant victory at home.
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