Falcons blown off the perch
THE Townsville Cyclones passed the toughest test of their North Queensland Gridiron campaign after overpowering the Cairns Falcons 20- 14.
Townsville was placed under siege throughout the opening half as Cairns played arguably the best two quarters in their playing history.
Behind 14- 0 at halftime and reeling from the drubbing they were receiving, Townsville rallied and turned the tables decisively, putting on 20 unanswered points to keep their unbeaten record intact.
The Cyclones took win- loss record to 3- 0.
“It’s the best I’ve ever seen that Cairns team play,” Townsville Cyclones’ Kyle Reynolds said.
“They came out and played really hard in the first half and they had some really big boys.
“We had quite a few players missing and we were really under the pump.
“But it was a tale of two halves.
“There were some home truths said at halftime and we made a few adjustments, and came out a completely different side.
“Our chant for the game was refuse to lose.”
Reynolds believes the hitout will further strengthen the Cyclones’ season campaign, which resumes after their the festive season with two home games starting from Australia Day.
“The boys really got around each other and everybody did their jobs,” he said.
“It’s definitely an experience we take a lot from, especially our younger players.”
Cairns Falcons coach Jim Garcia said his team would bounce back from the loss.
“We controlled the first half with structured football, which is the sort of game I want to play,” Garcia said.
“Inexperience bit us in the bum in the second half.
“Townsville lifted a gear in the second half, which they were always going to do.
“We have so many young fellas and when the momentum changed, we did not understand how to go up a gear with them.
“We showed lots of positives in that first half and we need to use them.”
Falcons backs Hare Coakley and Roger Tait ran in the club’s two touchdowns in a dominant first half.
Garcia singled Coakley out for praise, not just on Saturday, but for the entire season so far.