Cutters give Blackhawks a scare at home

THE Townsville Blackhawks will head into the representative break at the top of the Queensland Cup ladder after overcoming a spirited Mackay Cutters 28-22 at Jack Manski Oval on Saturday night.

The Blackhawks were unbeaten in seven previous clashes with their North Queensland rivals, but they were forced to dig deep after the last-placed Cutters led 22-12 in the second half.

Winger Kalifa Faifai Loa scored a double in an impressive display after being named in the Queensland Residents team to help the Blackhawks notch their seventh home victory in a row.

Blackhawks coach Kristian Woolf felt it was always going to be a danger game against a fired-up Cutters outfit, but he lauded his side’s composure in the critical moments.

“They didn’t panic at all and they clawed their way back into it,” Woolf said.

“You could just see that we grew in energy and confidence and we were always going to come home over the top.”

Townsville’s defence was tested from the opening kickoff.

The Cutters made a dream start to the second half.

Bench hooker Brent Woolf was the spark the Blackhawks needed as he darted over to get them back to 22-18 before a run of penalties against Mackay on their line.

Faifai Loa finished off a break to claim his second try and seal a hard-fought win.