Ice man survives heat
TOWNSVILLE Bl a c khawks fullback Carlin Anderson has proven a second time he has ice in his veins after his lastminute penalty goal allowed his team to escape with a 20- all road draw against the Mackay Cutters on Saturday night.
Anderson, who signed a two- year deal with the Cowboys in April, landed the goal from the left touchline to help Townsville solidify sixth spot on the Queensland Cup table.
The 21- year- old also pulled a draw from the jaws of defeat against the Central Capras three weeks ago with a clutch conversion after the siren.
Blackhawks coach Kristian Woolf praised Anderson’s mental strength to get the job done as the Mackay crowd did their best to distract him.
“He deserves a lot of credit because there was plenty of people hanging off the fence doing their best to put him off, but he handled it well,” Woolf said.
The Blackhawks thrashed the Cutters 60- 12 in round three but headed to Mackay without Cowboys contracted props Corey Jensen ( Cowboys 18th man) and Sam Hoare ( broken hand), while playmaker Kyle Laybutt was also out as injury cover for Johnathan Thurston.
In the end goalkicking proved costly for the Cutters, who could only convert one of four first half tries as the teams went into the first half deadlocked at 18- all.
Anderson nailed all four of his kicks and after the Cutters took the lead with a second half penalty goal, relied on his composure to square the ledger.
Woolf believes his team could have won had they been more assertive and adventurous in attack.
However, he was content with the draw given the number of forced changes to his side.
Winger Tremayne Bowie and forward Halvor Harris both acquitted themselves well after being promoted from the local Townsville competition. VETERAN shooter Jennifer Hamilton has been rewarded for her stellar season with the Magnetic North Steelcats by taking out the club’s highest honour.
Hamilton took home the Rod Kerrisk Memorial Trophy for the Steelcat of Year at the club’s 2017 presentation night on Friday.
Steelcats coach Sue Warmington was effusive in her praise of Hamilton and said the honour would give her an added boost ahead of the club’s
“I was a little bit disappointed that we put ourselves in that position,” Woolf said.
“I wouldn’t say we played great at any stage, but I thought we played quite tough.
“We made things hard for ourselves but we were willing to hang in and kept ourselves in the game really well.
“We didn’t play enough footy either, I guess we didn’t back ourselves and that’s what was disappointing.
“If we were a little bit smarter we would have come away with an extra point but under the circumstances, it’s a tough road trip.
“We’ve had six forced changes from last week’s team through injury, ( Cowboys) call- ups and that’s actually meant that we’ve pulled guys impending finals campaign. “Jennifer has been with the Steelcats for 10 years now and has always been a stellar shooter for our club,” Warmington said.
“She’s certainly a deserving winner and I know she and the rest of the team will be taking a lot of confidence into the finals this weekend.”
In the team’s other awards, Sasarino Pedro was named the most improved player while Katie Lowe took home the most consistent award. out of the local competition in Townsville. When you take those things into consideration, I’m pretty happy to come away with a point.”
Centre Davin Crampton and bench forward Kieran Quabba both suffered head knocks and will have to pass concussion tests to take their place against the Sunshine Coast Falcons at Jack Manski Oval on Saturday.
MACKAY CUTTERS 20 ( Jordan Pereira, Johnny Faletagoa’i, Yamba Bowie, Cooper Bambling tries; Nicho Hynes 2 goals) drew with TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 20 ( Oshae Tuiasau, Jonathon Reuben, Ross Bella tries; Carlin Anderson 4 goals) at BB Print Stadium, Mackay on Saturday night.
The player’s player was awarded to young star Chloe Cooper and her teammate Georgia Bulley was honoured as the club’s most outstanding player.
After finishing top of the country conference, the Steelcats can win direct passage through to the Queensland State Netball League grand final with a win over the Suncoast Lynx in Logan this Sunday.
The club’s minor premiership win means they will get a second chance in finals but Warmington said her team was determined to hit the ground running in the finals and book their place in the decider.
“I think we are going in with a lot of confidence, we have been the number one team in the country division all season,” she said.
“It’s not going to be easy but the girls are ready to go.
“They’ve been working really hard in practice over the last two weeks and it will be business as usual for us .”