Intrust Super Cup Round 8 Results Wrap Up

The Intrust Super Cup Round 8 proved once again how open and exciting a competition it is with some great games with lots of points scored and several surprise results.

Saturday once again saw some upsets, and both to northern Queensland sides at the expense of Brisbane based sides.

Three of the competition’s fancied teams all took big wins this weekend, and the top 6 remains tight with just the 2 points separating the teams.

The first of the Saturday upsets was in Mackay as the Cutters beat the Easts Tigers 33-10. The Tigers were joint competition leaders coming into the Round 8 clash, and after 13 minutes it looked like they may have the lead to themselves as they stormed out to a 10-0 lead with tries to Melbourne fringe stars Curtis Scott and Brodie Croft. But once Mackay scored in the 24th minute it was all Cutters. After still trailing 10-4 at the break, Mackay scored 5 unanswered tries to take a win that was not only a surprising result but a surprisingly dominant score line. The Tigers dropped to 4th with the loss, Mackay now snapping at the heels of the top 6.

Upset number two saw Central Capras beat the Wynnum Seagulls 34-22 and break a four game losing streak which the Seagulls now own. The Capras scored 7 tries to 4, and with better goal kicking would have had a more emphatic score line. The Rockhampton based side scored 4 tries in the first half to lead 18-6, but Wynnum fought back with two second half tries to get to 24-18 with 15 minutes to go. The Capras responded not long after with two quick tries to take control back of the game and extend the Seagulls increasingly poor record at home and losing streak.

There was entertainment a plenty at Davies Park as the Ipswich Jets beat Souths Logan 36-30. Entertainment is always on the cards when the Jets play, and both sides didn’t disappoint in a cracking game that saw multiple lead changes, and an exciting finish. Ipswich scored first, but then traded tries with the Magpies until half time when the away side led 14-12. Ipswich responded to a Magpies try just after half time with a burst of three tries in 14 minutes to open what looked to be a comfortable enough gap for a third win of the season. Two tries to the Magpies in the 72nd and 73rd minute set up a great finish that the Jets stole with a 77 minute try. Plenty to like about the game, and the Jets different style with their ball movement, short kick offs and general attacking nature.

Amazing that 74 points were scored in  Redcliffe’s big win over the Sunshine Coast at Dolphin Oval on Sunday afternoon. Heading into the game, these two sides had the best defensive records, and had averaged 12 points conceded in 2017. That 12 point was blown away for Redcliffe as the Falcons score three tries in the open 10 minutes to lead 18-0. But Redcliffe has a big try scoring run of their own to deliver, and they did that between the 21st and 37th minutes when they scored 5 unanswered tries. They had another run in the second half when they scored 4 tries in 14 minutes, which included the second of comeback prop’s unlikely double, and a quick 10 minute hat trick for Redcliffe halfback Christian Hazard. The Falcons handed the Dolphins the competition lead with the loss.

The PNG Hunters players put their names on the minds of national selectors for the upcoming Pacific Test v Cook Islands as they thumped the Burleigh Bears 42-6. Adex Wera will be one name added to considerations as he scored four tries in the seven tries to one win over last year’s premiers. The Bears looked like continuing their recent winning ways after scoring very early to lead 6-0, but that was the highlight of the now traditional Anzac Day clash between the two sides as they never troubled the scorers again. Returning hooker Wartovo Puara scored and will add to a selection headache for the Kumuls side for that position.

The next upset for the weekend came at Bishop Park as the Pride beat the Devils 22-20. Norths have now gone from competition leaders to outside the top 6 with their third loss in a row, and those three games have not featured Kodi Nikorima, so whether can win without him, despite having Chris Sandow seems beyond coincidental now. Gideon Gela-Mosby put his Cowboys axing behind him with the Pride’s first score, and that led to four tries without reply from Norths after the home side scored early to lead 6-0. Tries to Norths in the 65th and 69th minute made for a great ending, but the Pride held on for just a third win of the season.

No upset in the game’s final match as Townsville Blackhawks had a big win against the Tweed Heads Seagulls 48-18. Carlin Anderson’s 20 point haul keeps him at the top of the point scoring, and he had plenty of team mates into the action as well as Townsville laid on 9 tries to 3. The win puts Townsville back on track after 3 losses in 4, but unfortunately for the Tweed Seagulls they were unable to extend their recent winning form of one game into a bigger run. The wooden spoon does look likely for the Gold Coast at this point of the season.

You can follow all of the results, match reviews and ladder from Round 8 and all the rounds via our Intrust Super Cup Match Centre.