RLGC A Grade 2020: ‘Baby’ Burleigh Bears show their claws in Grand Final rematch

The ‘Baby’ Burleigh Bears have shown their claws in shocking the Southport Tigers in the opening round of the Rugby League Gold Coast A Grade competition, 32-4.

Members of the Titans coming to meet kids and parents at St Joseph's College Pimpama. Titans youth member Alofiana Khan Pereira has the bar set by five year old students Shriyansh Bodhanapally and Siwoo Kim. Picture Glenn Hampson

The ‘Baby’ Burleigh Bears have shown their claws in shocking the Southport Tigers in the opening round of the Rugby League Gold Coast A Grade competition, 32-4.

Few could have predicted the one-sided nature of the contest as a Burleigh side with an average age of just 21 outscored the Tigers six tries-to-one in the 2019 Grand Final rematch.

Teen Titan Alofiana Khan-Pereira crossed for two tries on his A Grade debut on the left wing, while 19-year-old Intrust Super Cup prospect Will Evans matched him with two tries on the right flank.

Burleigh coach Matt Foster denied he had undersold the talent at his disposal during pre-season.

Members of the Titans coming to meet kids and parents at St Joseph's College Pimpama. Titans youth member Alofiana Khan Pereira has the bar set by five year old students Shriyansh Bodhanapally and Siwoo Kim. Picture Glenn Hampson

“I didn’t tell a fib, I said they were young and I was excited to see how they’d go,” the Englishman said.

“Effort was the secret to their success, and energy – it was as simple at that.

“The result came off the back of hard work. I suppose it’s a testament to how hard they trained during the COVID shutoff that allowed us to compete at a higher intensity level and for longer than Southport did.

“You don’t win 32-4 against good opposition without everyone playing well but our pack really did take it them.

“You could see they were a little undercooked physically and that was the difference.

“What I do expect is a Southport team ready for Finals at the back end as they improve.

“All the ingredients are there, they were just underdone in game one.”

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Former Tweed Under-20s winger Harley Wood crossed for Southport’s sole try.

At Tugun, two tries to 95-game South Sydney Rabbitoh Fetuli Talanoa headlined the Seahawks’ 52-28 win over Ormeau Shearers on Sunday.

Talanoa’s double was matched by two tries to former PBC prop Solomon Torrens, now contracted to the Titans , and another two to centre Timothy Cassidy.

Conner Toia crossed for his first try in Ormeau’s colours after making the move from Burleigh Bears this season.

Runaway Bay’s Guy Hamilton has shot to the top of the A Grade leading pointscorer race with two tries and four conversions against Mudgeeraba.

His 16-point tally accounted for half his team’s points in a 32-20 win.

Burleigh 32 (William Evans 2, Alofiana Khan-Periera 2, Brett Stratton, Ben Valeni, Tries; Jayden Campbell 1 Dylan Kelly 3 goals) def Southport 4 (Harley Wood, Try)

Tugun 52 (Kurtis McDonald, Timothy Cassidy 2, Fetuli Talanoa 2, Jacob Grant, Ethan Roberts, James Toole, Solomon Torrens 2, Tries; Michael Burgess 1, Samuel Meskell 5, goals) def Ormeau 28 (Shay Stevens, Conner Toia, Albert Junior Ma Chong, Craig Chapman, Ono Sooailo, Tries; Conner Toia 2, Craig Chapman 2, goals)

Runaway Bay 32 (Caleb Warman, Jamie Anderson, Guy Hamilton 2, Carsil Vaikai, Vinncent Takataka, Tries; Guy Hamilton 4 goals) def Mudgeeraba 20 (Benjamin Senior, Henry Garrett, Josh Hall, Josh Bukowski, Tries; Kyle Williams 2 goals)