Gritty Blackhawks tame fierce Tigers
THE Townsville Blackhawks have tackled their way to second place on the Queensland Cup ladder with a 32- 0 shutout of the Easts Tigers at Jack Manski Oval on Saturday night.
Captain Andrew Niemoeller scored a double as the Blackhawks showed their class with the ball, but it was their rock- solid defence which was most impressive as they kept their opponents scoreless for the first time since Round 16, 2015.
The Tigers have been in sen- sational form in recent weeks with classy young halves Billy Walter and Brodie Croft piling on the points, but Blackhawks had done their homework and nullified their impact.
“We definitely didn’t expect the score to blow out like it did, but we’re just more impressed with keeping them to zero with the quality players that they have,” Blackhawks halfback Jaelen Feeney said.
“I’d probably suggest other than Ipswich they’re one of the flashiest teams in the comp, but I thought we really stood up and shut them down, especially on their pet plays.
“We did our homework and the forwards just never gave up and they kept working for each other.
“We set a goal at the start of this year to be the best defensive team in the comp and I think to keep that team to zero is definitely showing that we are.”
Both teams had their chances in attack early, but only the Blackhawks could find a way through as Ty Carucci scored in the corner and Levi Dodd nailed the conversion to make it 6- 0 after 15 minutes.
That quickly became 12- 0 as halfback Jaelen Feeney kicked for himself close to the line only for the ball to bounce too high, but Niemoeller was there in support to pounce for the try.
The visitors could not build any pressure in attack with dropped balls as well as an attempted 40/ 20 kick which went out of the full ensuring they went into halftime trailing 12- 0.
The Blackhawks made a fast start after the break as five- eighth Shaun Hudson wrestled his way over to extend the lead to 18- 0 while their defence kept Easts trapped in their own territory.
The Tigers started to chance their arm late in the game, but the Blackhawks turned defence into attack with late tries to Niemoeller, Zac Santo and Kalifa Faifai Loa sealing an impressive victory.
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 32 ( Andrew Niemoeller 2, Ty Carucci, Shaun Hudson, Zac Santo, Kalifa Faifai Loa tries; Levi Dodd 3/ 3, Jaelen Feeney 1/ 3 goals) def EASTS TIGERS
at Jack Manski Oval.