Blackhawks blunt fired- up Cutters
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 consecutive home victory.
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.
“There were just a lot of things that probably didn’t quite go our way, but I thought that game really showed a lot in terms of character as well,” Woolf said.
“They didn’t panic and they clawed their way back. You could just see we grew in energy and confidence.”
Townsville’s defence was tested from the outset and it took just three minutes before Cutters prop Jordan Grant stepped through a gap to score beside the posts.
Mackay were happy to play expansive football as they went close to scoring from a chip kick only for the referee to rule that a Blackhawks player had been obstructed in the lead- up.
But the home side’s direct approach soon paid off as hooker Krys Freeman scored under the posts to make it 6- 6 after 17 minutes.
Faifai Loa put the Blackhawks in front with an acrobatic effort in the corner, but Mackay centre Jack Joass ensured they would go into the halftime break locked at 12- 12.
The Cutters made a dream start to the second half as they were marched down field from a penalty before Johnny Faletagoa’i barged over as the visitors took back the lead.
Out of favour Cowboys fullback Lachlan Coote then extended Mackay’s advantage to 22- 12 with a cutout pass for his winger Blake Atherton to dive over in the corner.
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 saw Coote sin binned.
Temone Power made the most of Townsville’s one- man overlap as they hit the front before Faifai Loa finished off a break to claim his second try and seal a hard- fought win.
The Blackhawks have now won nine of their past 10 games and jump into first place following Burleigh’s 16- 4 loss to the Coast yesterday. TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 28 ( Kalifa Faifai Loa 2, Krys Freeman, Brent Woolf, Temone Power tries; Levi Dodd 4/ 5 goals) def MACKAY CUTTERS ( Jordan Grant, Jack Joass, Johnny Faletagoa’i, Blake Atherton tries; Jack Joass 3/ 4 goals) at Jack Manski Oval on Saturday night. Sunshine