Mariners and Bulls steal the thunder

NORMAL transmission was resumed in FNQ Rugby’s second round as two powerhouses recorded their first wins of the 2020 season.

Wanderers remain top of the table in their first A-grade season in years after disposing of Brothers by nine points in their first home game.

But it was the action to the north of the city which has blown open the race to the FNQ Rugby finals.

Defending champions JCU Mariners and beaten grand finalists Barron Trinity Bulls each registered important wins at their home grounds to officially kickstart their campaign, defeating the impressive Port Douglas and Mudcrabs respectively.

A Dudley-Thomas Miles double paved the way to the Mariners’ bonus point 26-14 win at Smithfield, as rugby league converts Rhy Young and Nicholas Harrold crossed over for tries of their own.

The visitors were led by import fly-half Tomas Venter, who converted tries to Lachlan Cowe and Taputoa Rea, but it wasn’t enough for the competition’s northernmost team to back-up their superb opening round victory.

Across town, William Treston bagged a double and Ewan Moore earned a five-pointer in his return to the Bulls as Barron Trinity toughed out a 24-17 win against the Mudcrabs.

Northern Beaches weren’t disgraced in their visit to The Paddock, as Zeek Suavai, Cameron Scott and Joseph Drahm all found the tryline, but they couldn’t keep their hot start to the season going against one of their nearby rivals.