Proving you don’t need quantity to have quality, the four games played this weekend for Intrust Super Cup Round 9 threw up some interesting results, and as ever made tipping a perfect round a near impossibility.
The big thing to come out of the weekend is that the top two sides heading into Intrust Super Cup Round 9 both suffered defeats. Worryingly for the rest of the competition, leaders Burleigh were defeated by a Townsville Blackhawks side on real roll now, five wins in a row and they have seen off Top 6 sides in their last three.
The weekend’s biggest upset came in the TV game as last placed Mackay Cutters won comfortably at second placed Norths Devils.
Sunday saw an even more comfortable win for the Sunshine Coast, and Souths Logan defeating the Easts Tigers.
With the remaining 6 teams to play next weekend’s other half of the split round, there is plenty up in the air at the moment
Onwards then to the Best of the Weekend with the Intrust Super Round 9 review.
LAST PLACED MACKAY SURPRISE DEVILS
Saturday’s TV game proved two things – one is that the Intrust Super Cup is a competition where any side can beat the other on a given day, and secondly that makes it near impossible to tip any round at 100%.
Heading into Saturday’s game the Norths Devils were sitting second, having lost just twice and had beaten Burleigh a few rounds ago. Mackay meanwhile were sitting last with just two wins, but a third wasn’t completely out of the question given their away form wasn’t too bad so far in 2018.
It didn’t appear as if things were going to go the Cutters way as Norths centre Gehamat Shibasaki ran 60 metres from the kick off catch, and a few plays later the Devils had the first try of the game. But it was to be a long time until the Devils crossed again, by which time Mackay had a comfortable hold on the game.
Mackay ran in two tries either side of half time, extending their 10-6 half time to 22-6 by the time Darcy Cox stormed over in the 52nd minute, leaving the Devils with a lot of work to do. Norths did cross in the 66th with a fine effort from Danny Kerr, but Nicho Hynes wrapped up the game with a great solo try in the 72nd minute to cap a very good afternoon for him and the Cutters. Not a bad response after being flogged by Tweed Heads at home last weekend.
Norths drop to fifth but can lick their wounds next week with a well-earned bye and free two points.
BLACKHAWKS UP AS BEARS BEATEN IN A TIGHT ONE
The Burleigh Bears remain on top of the Intrust Super Cup ladder, but they will now be looking over their shoulder at Saturday’s opponent after suffering a second loss for the season in Townsville on Saturday night.
There wasn’t much in the game, just the three tries in total, two to the Blackhawks and one to the Bears. The last try to Townsville coming in the 76th minute, not long after Zach Clay had slotted a field goal which have broken a deadlock from the 24th minute. So for 50 minutes the score remained 6-6 between the two competition heavyweights, showing there’s not a great deal between the two sides, but more is to come from Burleigh who are missing a few players, Jamal Fogarty being the biggest name.
Townsville’s win was their fifth in a row, and they have climbed to second in the process, and with the guaranteed two points for the bye next weekend are likely to remain there for a little while yet. A great turnaround for a side that looked out of sorts not long ago. Burleigh will remain on top for at least next weekend with two points from the bye coming, but they don’t appear quite so invincible, and the top of the Intrust Super Cup looks that little more reachable.
NIL PROBLEMS FOR FALCONS AT HOME
The Sunshine Coast Falcons haven’t got the results they would have wanted at home in 2018, with a win over the struggling Hunters their only success before this weekend. So the 38-0 thrashing of the Central Capras on Sunday afternoon will be a very welcome result, for the Sunshine Coast at least.
Tries came early and quick for the Falcons, needing four minutes for their first (the first of two for Jahrome Hughes on the injury comeback trail) and another three for their second. There were four more tries before the 30th minute, including a second double of the match, this time to Jake Ainsworth. The Falcons were going at better than a point a minute, it could have been any score at this stage.
Central Capras did well to limit the Sunshine Coast after the initial burst, indeed they conceded just once more in the game when Harry Grant crossed in the 57th minute, but they were unable to trouble the scorers and are in a group of five teams with a 3-6 record. The Sunshine Coast have four wins, and with teams in the Top 6 on 5 wins, it won’t take much of a winning run to get in the playoff places. For the Falcons that may just have started this weekend.
MAGPIES CONSOLIDATE TOP 6
Souths Logan Magpies bounced back from last weekend’s loss in Townville with an important win over Easts Tigers at Davies Park on Sunday afternoon that keeps them well into the Top 6.
The Magpies didn’t have the greatest home record in 2017, but they are certainly fixing that this season with four wins from five games, their only loss was against Norths.
Easts and Souths Logan traded tries early, the Magpies first coming through veteran playmaking magician Phil Dennis in the fourth minute and the Tigers responded through Cheyse Blair four minutes later. The game then saw two burst of three tries in a row for each side. Souths Logan put on their three try run in 14 minutes in the first half to lead 24-6 at the break. The Tigers responded with their own even more efficient triple, with three tries in nine minutes. With over 20 minutes to go it was 24-22, with a missed conversion the difference.
Magpies wrapped up the game in the 73rd minute with a try to Thomas Flegler, and the conversion gave them an eight point break they were able to hold onto for the remaining minutes. Souths Logan are fourth, and guaranteed of two points next weekend with the bye. Easts are down to 11th with a 3-6 record and on a run of three straight losses.
INTRUST SUPER CUP ROUND 9 RESULTS
Norths Devils 10 MACKAY CUTTERS 26
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 13 Burleigh Bears 6
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS 38 Central Capras 0
SOUTHS LOGAN MAGPIES 30 Easts Tigers 22
https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/05/07/intrust-super-cup-magpies-taste-success-on-old-boys-day/
