The Intrust Super Cup Round 21 has been completed, and as ever it produced another bunch of interesting results, including both first and second placed teams failing to win.
The top six picture became a little clearer with a few sides realistically if not mathematically out of contention for finals berth.
And the reigning premiers landed in the top six for the first time since much earlier season.
All that and more is ready to be unveiled with the best of Intrust Super Cup Round 21
MINOR PREMIERSHIP BATTLE:
NORTHS TAKE DOWN BLACKHAWKS, BURLEIGH TAKE ADVANTAGE
The top two both failed to win this weekend, with Norths Devils causing an upset at Bishop Park on Saturday, and the Mackay Cutters breaking a losing streak but not quite winning against Redcliffe in a 16-16 draw on Saturday night.
With that knowledge on Sunday, Burleigh took full advantage and closed with two points of Townsville after defeating Wynnumย Seagulls at Pizzey Park.
The Devils win in Saturday’s TV Game was the biggest surprise of the weekend. Not that the Devils are incapable of winning (they have a good record against the tops teams this season), but that the Blackhawks have been in such great form lately that only a Townsville win looked likely.
Norths led 10-8 at the break, but when Townsville scored first after half time, one thought that this could be the time the Blackhawks skip ahead like so many times before this season. Not likely said the Devils who scored three tries in 12 minutes to skip out to 26-14, and then calmly slotted a field goal to create that safe 13 point barrier. Townsville scored in the 68th and 70th minute to set up an exciting finish, but the Devils held on to stay in the finals race.
Burleigh had things under control in their game against Wynnum, scoring early and regularly to lead 16-0 at half time, and 26-0 after their final try in the 63rd minute. Wynnum did eventually get on the scoreboard with two tries in four minutes, but it was mere consolation as the Bears kept their minor premiership hopes alive.
Redcliffe drew with Mackay to be sandwiched by one point to Townsville and Burleigh.
Happily, there are two games between these sides in the final three weeks. All no doubt crucial to the Minor Premiership.
HOW THEY STAND
TOWNSVILLE 1st 30pts +231
REDCLIFFE 2nd 29pts +177
BURLEIGH 3rd 28pts +112
NEXT GAMES
TOWNSVILLE – Redcliffe (H) Burleigh (A) Wynnum (A)
REDCLIFFE – Townsville (A) Pride (A) Falcons (H)
BURLEIGH – Magpies (A) Townsville (H) Tigers (A)
TOP SIX BATTLE
HUNTERS INTO TOP 6, TIGERS AND PRIDE CONSOLIDATE
The Pride and Tigers remain in the top six afterย Intrust Super Cup Round 21 with home wins over the Capras and Tweed Heads Seagulls respectively on Saturday night. They were joined by the PNG Hunters, with Norths, Sunshine Coast and Ipswich remaining the likely competitors.
The Pride’s win was the easier of the two as they scored early and often against the Capras to lead 20-6 at the break. It didn’t get any better after the break as the Pride three tries to one to run out 38-10. In a good weekend for PNG players Gideon Gela-Mosby scored a double in the Pride’s seven try haul.
Easts continued their great recent run by defeating the Tweed Heads Seagulls 30-22. The win featured a double to Brodie Croft, who also kicked three goals for a nice personal haul. Tweed scored first in both halves, but it was the Tigers who led at half time by 18-4 courtesy of a 38th minute try. The Tigers scored two quick tries within 2 minutes in the second half to get far enough head to absorb some like Seagulls pressure.
The Hunters are in the top six thanks to a hard-fought 18-6 win at Davies Park against the Magpies. They won thanks to some outstanding goal line defense as they repelled multiple attacks on their, only succumbing the once in the second half. The Hunters only managed two tries themselves, but the end result was boosted by four penalty goals, in a game that had a few.
Ipswich kept themselves in the race by defeating a fellow top six aspirant in the Sunshine Coast Falcons in a high scoring affair at North Ipswich Reserve. The Jets were behind early as Justin Olam put his Storm snub behind him with the match opener, and after the tries alternated early, the Falcons skipped ahead to lead 22-12 at half time. Ipswich then went on a scoring spree with 20 unanswered points, to which the Sunshine Coast finally replied in the 74th minute, but wasn’t enough to wrestle back the lead and win.
HOW THEY STAND
PRIDE 4th 26pts +68
EASTS 5th 24pts +99
HUNTERS 6th 24pts +14
NORTHS 7th 24pts -19
FALCONS 8th 22pts +28
IPSWICH 9th 22pts -9
NEXT GAMES
PRIDE – Mackay (A) Redcliffe (H) Tweed (H)
EASTS – Falcons (A) Magpies (H) Burleigh (H)
HUNTERS – Tweed (A) Wynnum (H) Central (H)
NORTHS – Wynnum (A) Mackay (A) Ipswich (H)
FALCONS – Tigers (H) Central (A) Redcliffe (A)
IPSWICH – Central (H) Tweed (H) Norths (A)
WOODEN SPOON BATTLE
MACKAY GET VALUABLE POINT AT REDCLIFFE
Mackay came close to a major upset on Saturday night at Redcliffe, and the end result of a 16-16 draw might not be exactly what they wanted, nor what they deserve, but does give them hope to possibly avoid the wooden spoon this season. They do have three home games remaining, but need to win two more than Central in the last three games.
It was a low scoring affair at Dolphin Oval, and the most important score of the game was the try in the 78th minute to Jonus Pearson which leveled the scores, but thankfully the conversion was missed and the game remained deadlocked in the competition’s first draw of the season.
Earlier the home scored first and led 6-4 at half time before two tries in four minutes to the Cutters saw them jump out to a 16-6 lead. Sadly three minutes later in the 69th minute Redcliffe started their comeback, which was completed with that final try to Jonus Pearson.
Central Capras were well beaten in Cairns, and must now look over their shoulder at the Cutters.
HOW THEY STAND
CENTRAL 13th 12pts -196
MACKAYย 14th 9pts -290.
NEXT GAMES
CENTRAL – Ipswich (A) Falcons(H) PNG (H)
MACKAY – Pride (H) Norths (H) Magpies (H)
THE RESULTS
NORTHS DEVILS 27 Townsville Blackhawks 24
IPSWICH JETS 32 Sunshine Coast Falcons 28
NORTHERN PRIDE 38 Central Capras 10
EASTS TIGERS 32 Tweed Heads Seagulls 22
Redcliffe 16 Mackay Cutters 16
BURLEIGH BEARS 26 Wynnum Seagulls 12
Souths Logan Magpies 6 PNG HUNTERS 18
https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/08/02/preview-round-21-intrust-super-cup/
