Just three games made up the Intrust Super Cup Round 10, but like last week that didn’t mean a lack of quality in the three fixtures.
The three games were all decided by just two points this weekend, and two of the three games saw the lead change with late tries. That was the case with the Tweed Heads-Ipswich game where two tries and a penalty from halfway in the last five minutes saw the Seagulls stun the Ipswich Jets.
PNG got a valuable away win after the great Willie Minoga scored his second, and probably his team’s most important try since his big grand final try,as the Hunters avoided last with their third win of the season.
The Northern Pride proved once again how even the competition is by beating the Dolphins on their turf in the TV game. A late comeback didn’t quite eventuate for Redcliffe, and the Pride held on deservedly in a game where conversions were at a premium.
The competition ladder sees all but the table topping Burleigh Bears covered by six points, meaning every game will be so important over the next few weeks. Rounds 9 and 10 proving that any side can win any game too.
TV GAME PRODUCES ANOTHER UPSET AS PRIDE BEAT DOLPHINS
The split round of this weekend and last have produced similar results for the TV Game – an upset of a northern side over a high-flying Brisbane based side. Where last weekend saw the last placed Cutters beat the Devils, this weekend saw the Northern Pride from Cairns defeat the Redcliffe Dolphins at home.
The Northern Pride dominated the first half, the star beingย Enari Tuala who sealed a first half hat trick with tries in the 6th, 10th and 35th minute, the backbone of an 18-4 lead at half time that could have been so much more if not for the difficult kicking conditions, seeing Jake Clifford only kicking 1/4.
Redcliffe scored either side of the break, to haul themselves back into the game at 18-10, the first try a minute before half time to the competitions’s leading point scorer Kotoni Staggs. But the Pride skipped ahead again with two more tries in the 49th and 60th minute, but the lack of conversions kept Redcliffe just in the game at 26-10, if they could muster three converted tries.
In a thrilling finish, the three tries was exactly what the Dolphins scored, in the 68th, 70th and 77th minute, but like the Pride a lack of conversions had them trailing with two minutes to go, and despite their best efforts were unable to pull off the miraculous comeback.
It was a second loss in a row for the Dolphins, and they just hold onto a Top 6 spot in fifth, and they share 12 points on the ladder with their last two conquerors Pride and Ipswich.
TWEED AMBUSH THE JETS LATE TO STEAL WIN
The Tweed Heads Seagulls continued their winning run by notching a fourth straight win on Saturday afternoon, but did leave it until late to keep that run going. The big news player wise was the sight of Konrad Hurrell joining Kane Elgey in Seagulls colours as the Titans continue to make changes to their NRL side.
The home side did score first, try scoring machine Brayden McGrady in the 9th minute, but it was going to be a long time until their next, by which time the Jets were in control. The first Jets try went to one of the Jets best this season, and unlikely try scorer prop Nat Neale in the 24th minute, and just before half time doubled up through Julian Christian’s swift footwork, perfect goal kicking seeing the margin 12-4 at the break.
Excitement machine Marmin Barba scored just after half time to extend the margin, after the usual side to side movement from the Jets. But the Tweed have found their winning ways of late, and they started the comeback in the 61st minute as Kane Elgey pounced on a kick to reduce the gap to eight points. The Seagulls left it late to steal the game though, the first of two late tries came in the 75th minuteย as Kiah Cooper finished a cheeky blind side play a few metres out to reduce the gap to four points. That became all locked with just over a minute to go as Cooper scored again, this time jumping best from a fifth tackle bomb.
A draw looked the only result, until the Jets failed to make their short kick off go the required 10 metres, giving the Seagulls a penalty on half way with no time to spare. Showing confidence despite missing two of his last conversion attempts, Tweed opted for the two points and Lindon McGrady nailed the 50 metre attempt to steal the two point and move up to ninth, and just two points from the top six, and the Ipswich Jets.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER FOR PNG HUNTERS
Sunday’s only game saw a match up of two sides desperate for a win, Wynnum were winless at home in 2018, the Hunters no wins away, and a loss would see them dead last.
Plenty to play for, and no surprise that it was a tight contest throughout, but the match was entertaining none the less. Wynnum opened the scoring in the 9th minute through former Intrust Super Cup Player of the Year Patrick Templeman.
PNG Hunters hit back in the 18th minute through fan favourite Willie Minoga, back in the centres where he did a fairย bit of damage in their 2017 premiership season. In fact the Hunters had a few more big names return for this match – former centre Thompson Teteh returned to the Hunters and so did premiership hooker Wartovo Puara, and they did add something to the side. They didn’t add the next try – that was for Wynnum by Mitch Cronin four minutes later, but the tot for tat continued as Watson Boas crossed for PNG to even up the game once more.
A penalty goal just after half time to Ase Boas gave the Hunters the lead of the first time, and they held onto it for another 20 minutes as the arm wrestle between the two sides continued. That was until Daniel Ogden does what he does best, and scored, in the 64th minute, and despite missing theย conversion Wynnum led 16-14.
Both sides tried hard for the next try to win the game, and happily for the Hunters it came through none other than Willie Minoga who finished off a fine movement by crashing over in the right corner in the 76th minute., meaning it looked like Wynnum would be going down at home to a late score again. The Seagulls did try and steal the game themselves, and came close but PNG Hunters held on, and sealed a much-needed first away win which saw them avoid last place, but only just as they sit just 12th at the end of the Intrust Super Cup Round 10. Wynnum are just one place above on for and against.
Big thanks to Seagulls TV for the Live Stream, well worth a visit for future Wynnum games.
INTRUST SUPER CUP ROUNDย 10 RESULTS
Redcliffe Dolphins 24 NORTHERN PRIDE 26
TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 20 Ipswich Jets 18
Wynnum Seagulls 16 PNG HUNTERS 18
https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/05/07/review-intrust-super-cup-round-9/
