Intrust Super Cup Round 10 Wrap Up

Another fascinating weekend of rugby league from the Intrust Super Cup Round 10, as the winners were shared amongst the favourites and a couple of underdogs bookended the weekend with upset wins.

Saturday wasn’t a great one for the northern Queensland sides, with only the Northern Pride winning of the four sides in action on the Saturday night.

Sunday saw the two top 6 Melbourne feeder sides in action, and only the Sunshine Coast got the two points, as they beat Burleigh whilst Easts lost at home to Norths.

Redcliffe remain on top with the PNG Hunters, who had the week off. Sunshine Coast are now in outright third, two points now ahead of Easts. The Tigers are just one ahead of a trio of clubs (Townsville, Souths Logan, Norths) on 12 points who round out the top 6. The two Gold Coast sides and Central Capras remain at the bottom.

We have a short run down of all the games for this weekend, with a more detailed report available if you follow the links to each specific match. Or visit our Intrust Super Cup Match Centre for all the games, scores and all important ladder.

The surprise of the weekend came first up in Townsville as the Magpies defeated the Blackhawks 22-6. It was a good effort from the Magpies who were coming off a 40 point hiding from Redcliffe in Round 9, and had lost more players to the Broncos for the clash. After taking a slender 10-6 lead to half time, the Magpies kept the Blackhawks scoreless for the second half and they added two more of their own plus a late penalty goal for extra salt. The win for Souths Logan brought them equal on points with Townsville and Norths.

A low scoring event in Cairns saw the Northern Pride beat the Tweed Heads Seagulls by just 6-4. Anyone a little tardy in returning from getting a refreshment for the beginning of each half would have been disappointed as they would have missed the only two tries in the match. The Pride peaked early with a fourth minute converted try, and Tweed Heads only try came in the 41st minute and was not converted, and in the end that proved the difference between the two sides. It was a fourth win overall for the Pride, but the Seagulls are left with just one win for 2017. Coincidentally the ten points scored in the game, is the same total of competition points between the two sides.

Ipswich Jets continued their revival with a fourth straight win and they proved they are one of the competition’s best away side with their 30-16 win over the Central Capras being the fourth away win from five. After five straight losses from Round 2, the Jets are now knocking on the door of the Top 6, Central Capras meanwhile continue to struggle at home with a record of 1-4 for 2017. A second home win looked unlikely just after half time as the Jets scored their fourth try just four minutes after half time to make the score 22-4 with Nemani Valekapa and Chris Ash both scoring doubles. Central did reply eight minutes later, but Ipswich put on another two to put the game beyond doubt. A 77th minute consolation try to Central was just that as they remain in the bottom three with the loss.

Competition leaders Redcliffe remain on top of the Intrust Super Cup after the Dolphins got a hard earned win over Mackay Cutters 14-6.  It was always going to be tough for the Cutters going to Redcliffe who are the best defensive and attacking team in the competition, but they should be pleased with their showing at Dolphin Oval. There was nothing in it at half time as the Desmond scoreline (2-2) proved, with just a penalty to each side to show for the first 40 minutes. Redcliffe scored two tries in seven minutes early in the second half to set up a 12 point lead, Mackay could only manage a 71st minute try and without the conversion it required two further scores in the last few minutes. Unlikely against a side conceding just 13 points a game.

On a wet day on the Sunshine Coast the Falcons defeated the Burleigh Bears 24-12. The Falcons led from start to finish to continue to show that they are a force to be reckoned with for the 2017 premiership, by the good win over the 2016 Premiers. One of Sunshine Coast’s unsung heroes this season Jye Ballinger opened the scoring in the 18th minute, and another two tries in the first half gave the Falcons a handy 18-0 lead at the break. Burleigh threatened a comeback with two tries to close to 18-12 with eight minutes to go, but the Falcons had the final say with a final try with three minutes to go. Sunshine Coast sit just one point below the two leaders, Burleigh remain second last with just two wins.

Norths Devils upset the Easts Tigers 36-32 at Suzuki Stadium in the last game of the weekend. Goal kicking was ultimately the difference between the two sides as Norths converted all of their six tries, as the Tigers converted just four. The lead changed numerous times during the first half as the two sides traded tries, but the Tigers held the upper hand at the end of the first half as they lead 20-18. They even scored first in the second half to extend the lead to eight points, and still had an eight point lead when new PNG international Tommy Butterfield scored a try in the 56th minute to match the Devils’ first of the second half. But Norths had the final say with the last two tries of the half, the final one in the 70th minute, as they retook the lead for the first time since the 33rd minute. The win sees Norths level on points with Townsville and Souths Logan. The Tigers are now just one point above the trio.

The PNG Hunters and Wynnum Seagulls have a bye this weekend.

You can follow the action, results and ladder from Round 10 and all the rounds via our Intrust Super Cup Match Centre.