Hosts Wynnum Manly Seagulls wore navy and gold socks in homage to the Men of League round as they took on the South Logan Magpies in Round 18 of the Intrust Super Cup.
In a cold and blustery Sunday afternoon, a Benaiah Bowie hat-trick and structured football by the home side saw the Seagulls win 38-18.
It was not an afternoon for free flowing, long ball play as the two teams stuck to a similar structure of physical football through their big forward packs then putting up high bombs to test the respective fullbacks in the swirling wind.
Wynnum proved to be the most effective in the conditions, as they put on 22 points in the first half.
The scoring opened with Mitchell Buckett, who found the line with a barge over try. Souths then hit back with a try from Leon Panapa who caught Wynnum napping close to the posts, putting Souths in front 6-4.
There were long periods of fierce play in the first half as both teams tried to get on top of the other side. Tough, grinding football has been a feature of Wynnum’s play this year and they are led well in this regard by their captain Tim Natusch.
The former Newcastle Knight’s physical style of play not only sets the standard for Wynnum but also has seen him rewarded with a XXXX Queensland Residents jersey.
Wynnum finished the first half on top of Souths, putting on three more tries to head into the break 22-6 in front. Electrifying winger Benaiah Bowie picked up two tries, with one courtesy of a magic offload from John Grieve who flicked the ball out to his winger at an impossible angle.
Tanu Wulf was the other scorer, latching on to a deft ball at the line by John Te Reo.
Just after half time, Bowie completed his hat trick. Wynnum playmaker Matt Seamark scanned numbers and saw his winger unmarked on the left, he put through a perfect cross kick which Bowie caught and duly converted.
Many pundits would doubt that it will be the last hat-trick for Bowie in the Intrust Super Cup after some strong displays in his young career.
With 20 minutes to go, Souths tried to mount a comeback when Luke Archer scored in the right corner after some good ball play led by veteran Magpie Phil Dennis. At 26-12, they still remained in striking range.
However Wynnum were determined to take this game and finish strongly in front of their passionate supporters.
Wynnum closed the game by picking up two more tries, with Buckett scoring a second and fullback Daniel Ogden scoring a deserved try from a Dylan Smith offload.
Second-rower Darcy Wright scored another for the visitors but it would not be enough as Wynnum continued their strong form at home with a 38-18 victory.
Wynnum centre Matt Grieve celebrated his 50th game in the Intrust Super Cup. However it was an unlucky day for second-rower Mitchell Frei who suffered an injury and narrowly missed out on a Residents jersey after a stellar first half of the season.
Joining Natusch in the Residents side will be Souths hooker Kurt Baptiste and Wynnum five-eighth Ben Cronin.
WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS 38 (Benaiah Bowie 3, Mitchell Buckett 2, Daniel Ogden, Tanu Wulf tries; Matt Seamark 5 goals) def SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES 18 (Luke Archer, Darcy Wright, Leon Panapa tries; Patrick Mago 3 goals) at BMD Kougari Oval.
Final teams
Wynnum Manly Seagulls: 1. Daniel Ogden 2. Peter Gubb 3. Matt Grieve 4. Mitchell Buckett 5. Benaiah Bowie 6. Ben Cronin 7. Matthew Seamark 8. Benjamin Shea 9. Alehana Mara 10. Timothy Natusch (c) 11. Jon Grieve 12. John Te Reo 13. Mitchell Frei 14. Graham Clark 15. Stephen Coombe 16. Tanu Wulf 17. Dylan Smith
Souths Logan Magpies: 1. Ihaka Watene 2. Ramon Filipine 3. Dallas Anderson 4. Tim Brooks 5. Luke Archer 6. Phil Dennis (c) 7. Rhys Jacks 8. Luke Page 19. Aoteolofa Tuimavave 10. Andrew Edwards 11. Darcy Wright 12. Patrick Mago 13. Leon Panapa 14. Mitch Cronin 15. Rez Phillips 16. Sam Mataora 17. Luke Bateman
