BEARS REMAIN ON TOP AND HUNTERS INTO BOTTOM TWO
Burleigh and PNG met in their Anzac Weekend clash, and this year the big match went to the home side who kept themselves at the top of the Intrust Super Cup ladder as a result.
Both sides had key absentees heading into the game, most notably in the halves where star playmakers Jamal Fogarty continues to be unavailable, and the Hunters captain Ase Boas was out.
The Bears are also missing other vital cogs, but it didn’t seem to bother them early in the match as they dominated to lead 12-0 through three unconverted tries after 20 minutes.
The Hunters to their credit got back into the match, and scored twice before half time to reduce the gap to 12-10 at the break, and then even hit the front with a try and penalty goal after the break to lead 18-12.
Unfortunately Burleigh got into a point scoring spree in the last 20 minutes, scoring four unanswered tries, including a double to Troy Leo as part of a three try, six minute burst to end the game for the Bears.
Burleigh are two points clear of Norths in 2nd, and a further two in front of a very competitive pack of Townsville, Redcliffe, Souths Logan and Redcliffe.
Things are certainly looking good for the 2016 Premiers in 2018. For the Hunters it wasn’t the away day drought breaker many would have been hoping for, but to lead the competition leaders away from home, without their star player is showing good signs for a team in transition.
ELSEWHERE IN INTRUST SUPER CUP ROUND 8
Northern Pride broke a three game losing streak against the Sunshine Coast Falcons on Saturday night in Cairns, as they defeated the Falcons 28-24.
The Pride took the lead just after half time and never looked back after a first half in which the two sides swapped the lead and the visitors actually led 12-10.
The lead for the Pride in the second half was never bigger than right points as the scoring went in Noah 2 by 2 formation – Pride score two tries, Falcons score a converted try and penalty, then the Pride score a converted try and penalty.
The 79th minute try to Justin Olam for the Sunshine Coast only got them the final margin of four points.
Central Capras blew another lead on Saturday night against the Wynnum Seagulls as they managed to let a three try, 14-0 half time lead evaporate to go down 24-14.
It was a tale of two halves in Rockhampton as Central scored all of their 14 points in the first 40 minutes, and Wynnum replied with 24 unanswered points after the break. That included a double for former ISC Player of the Year Patrick Templeman.
Both teams are now on 6 points and well outside the Top 6. The Capras will regret their inability to hold onto winning positions, as they could be in the Top 6.
The Blackhawks are certainly back in contention for the 2018 Intrust Super Cup title, as they dismantled a second Top 6 opponent at home in two weeks, this time it was a big 38-14 win over the Souths Logan Magpies.
Townsville led 22-0 at the break scoring four tries, and extended that further still with another try in the 44th minute to lead 26-0. Eventually the Magpies got on the board in the 48th minute, and by the 64th minute they scored another two tries and the gap was down to 12 points.
It was as close as they got because Townsville found another two converted tries, and grabbed two competition points and leapfrogged Souths Logan into 3rd on the ladder.
INTRUST SUPER CUP ROUND 8 RESULTS
Mackay Cutters 24 TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 52
IPSWICH JETS 22 Redcliffe Dolphins 16
Easts Tigers 16 NORTHS DEVILS 18
NORTHERN PRIDE 28 Sunshine Coast Falcons 24
Central Capras 14 WYNNUM SEAGULLS 24
BURLEIGH BEARS 34 PNG Hunters 18
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 38 Souths Logan Magpies 14
