Another weekend with the Intrust Super Cup Round 17 matches, and another change at the top of ladder.
Not for the first time this year Norths Devils were able to get the better of Burleigh, and Townsville’s subsequent win over the Sunshine Coast meant they took the lead of the competition.
Positions in the tight midfield pack changed, but it looks that the contest for the last few top six spots will go down to the very last round.
Mackay remain last after they were beaten 54-0 at home on Friday night by the Ipswich Jets.
A quick rundown of the best ofย Intrust Super Cup Round 17 awaits.
TOWNSVILLE TAKE THE COMPETITION LEAD OFF BURLEIGH AGAIN
The competition lead of the Intrust Super Cup changed hands again, as the Burleigh Bears lost and the Townsville Blackhawks won against the Sunshine Coast.
Burleigh’s loss was the third time in their recent consecutive run of four straight home games, and meant that Norths Devils had done the double over them in 2018.
Despite scoring within two minutes in their game at Pizzey Park, the Bears were down 10-6 at half time, and by just after the halfway through the second half Burleigh were 28-6 down. They fought back with three tries in ten minutes, but Norths held on for the 28-24 win, and snuck back into top six. The game saw doubles forย Kurtis Rowe for Burliegh andย ย Namila Davui fior Norths.
Townsville had it much easier at Jack Manski Oval as they got past a slightly depleted Sunshine Coast Falcons. The Blackhawks secured the four tries to one victory,ย scoring two in each half, the Falcons only try came in the 74th minute. by which time Townsville were well and truly on their way to victory. That makes it two losses in a row for the Sunshine Coast, ending a good run of recent results, and hurting their top six chances.
Mind you, had Redcliffe scored two more points against the Hunters, then the Dolphins would be the new competition leaders.
IPSWICH LIGHT UP FRIDAY NIGHT IN MACKAY
The Ipswich Jets lit up the BB Print Stadium on Friday night with a 54-0 thrashing of the home side Mackay Cutters in one of the most lop sides contests for the season so far. They scored nine tries in all, their try scoring freak Michael Purcell grabbing a hat trick, and Marmin Barba scoring 22 points on the back of reliable goal kicking and a try.
The try scoring started in the 7th minute, and continued regularly throughout the match, they led 30-0 at half time and showed no mercy with two tries in the last 10 minutes.ย Ipswich could now call themselves the Friday Night football kings in the Intrust Super Cup, with two wins from the only two fixtures in that time slot this season. The big win is timely for Ipswich in the tight top six chasing pack, it hauled their points difference just into the positive as they drew level on points as 6th.
No joy for the Mackay Cutters who remain in last place on the Intrust Super Cup ladder, and saw their nearest competitor Central Capras increase the gap on them after last weekend’s battle of the basement.
WYNNUM WIN THE FLOCKBUSTER ON STRADBROKE ISLAND
Wynnum won the battle of the Seagulls aka The Flockbuster on Stradbroke Island on Saturday with a 24-22 win where they had to hold off a strong finish from Tweed Heads to hold on for a victory which just keeps them in the race for a top six spot.
Proving that winning on the road is not the same problem it appears to be at home, Wynnum chalked up their fifth away win for a the year, a remarkable 83% of their total wins for the year.
Tweed Heads actually led 10-6 at half time after they scored two tries in response to the opening try from Wynnum within two minutes from all time leading try scorer Daniel Ogden. The deciding period was a burst of three tries in seven minutes from Wynnum, which featured a brace for Ed Burns. That quick burst plus another try in the 65th minute was enough to cover a late comeback from Tweed Heads who scored tries in the 70th and 74th minutes to make it an exciting finish.
Both Seagulls teams are currently out of the top six, a demotion for Tweed Heads who have now lost two in a row, and Wynnum are probably the lowest placed team who can make the finals, but it is still a big job ahead that will require more wins at home.
PNG HUNTERS v REDCLIFFEย
The Hunters missed a good chance to move up to equal points with sixth place as they were defeated at home by the Redcliffe Dolphins, who completed the double over the Hunters for the first time.
The game was anyone’s until the Dolphins sealed the game through an unlikely source in prop and captain Sam Anderson in the 75th minute, but up until then the scoring and lead change regularly throughout the afternoon.
Redcliffe opened up the scoring early and they traded tries with the Hunters, but a quick burst of two in three minutes just before half-time saw the home side take a 14-12 lead into the break. One of those tries was to the returning Adex Wera, always a good man to have back on board.
The Dolphins scored the next two tries not long after the break, and they retook the lead and extended it to 22-14 with just under half an hour to spare. The Hunters replied in the 64th minute, and it was a two point ball game, until Redcliffe’s final score sealed the game.
Had Redcliffe had scored two more points they would have taken the lead of the competition, which would have been great seeing there’s a big clash with former competition leader Burleigh next weekend. Theย Hunters meanwhileย will continue their struggle to make the top six, a win today would have helped them defend their title. Top six looks to be the realistic target from here. With their poor away form, they need to win every home game, no matter the opposition.
ELSEWHERE
Central Capras ploy of taking home games on the road has worked again as they defeated one time top six high flyers Souths Logan Magpies 28-22 in Barcaldine. The Capras scored five tries to four in a contest where the lead changed several times. Tries just either side of the half-time break for the Capras proved to be the decisive period in the game for the Capras to skip ahead and maintain the gap. The Capras have blown a few good chances this season, so a win is welcome, as are the two points as Central move another two points clear of last placed Mackay Cutters after defeating them last weekend.
It was all action in the first half of the Easts Tigers and Northern Pride game, as all but one of the tries scored by either team came in the first 40 minutes, in a game where the Easts Tigers got home 24-18. It ended a great winning sequence for the Pride, and perhaps could inspire Easts Tigers to go on a similar run. As it stands they currently lie 7th on the ladder.
THE RESULTS
Mackay Cutters 0 Ipswich Jets 54
Tweed Heads 22 Seagulls Wynnum Manly Seagulls 24ย
Easts Tigers 24 Northern Pride 18
Burleigh Bears 24 Norths Devils 28
Townsville Blackhawks 22 Sunshine Coast Falcons 8
CQย Capras 28 Souths Logan Magpies 22
PNG Hunters 20 Redcliffe Dolphins 28
https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/07/09/intrust-super-cup-easts-sound-warning-shots-with-victory-over-pride/
