Redcliffe Dolphins have kick-started their Intrust Super Cup campaign with an eye-catching 44-20 victory over the Norths Devils at Bishop Park.
After opening the season with two tight losses, the Dolphins were under pressure to perform in the Round 4 television match.
And they did exactly that, bolting to a 22-4 half-time lead on the back of some inspired attacking rugby league.
A barnstorming 45m run from big forward Charlie Faingaa set the tone for the visiting Dolphins, who would soon add more points via hooker Shane Pumipi and the returning Joe Bond.
Norths settled with a try of their own and would have been even closer to the Dolphins at half-time had Rogan Dean been able to complete a stunning 100m solo effort just before the break.
That near miss didn’t deter the Devils, who came out breathing fire early in the second half with back-to-back tries from Dale Copley and Rhett Webster cutting back the Dolphins’ lead to 22-16.
The match turned on its head though when Copley failed to clean up a kick behind the line, with the Dolphins pouncing on the ball and seemingly the match.
Young forward Harley Aiono completed a try-scoring double in the second half as the Dolphins booted clear to record a comfortable win.
Five-eighth Evander Cummins was named the XXXX man of the match for the Dolphins, who host the Burleigh Bears at Dolphin Oval next weekend.
After consecutive losses, Norths will look to hit back against the Mackay Cutters in Mackay.
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REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 44 (Harley Aiono 2, Joe Bond, Oliver Regan, Aaron Whitchurch, Charlie Faingaa, Shane Pumipi, Josh Benjamin tries; Luke Capewell 6 goals) def NORTHS DEVILS 20 (Rhett Webster 2, Dale Copley, Rogan Dean tries; Darren Nicholls 2 goals) at Bishop Park.
Final teams
Norths Devils: 1. Luke Pollock 2. Kainga Turner 3. Steve Elliott 4. Dale Copley 5. Rogan Dean 6. Sam Foster 7. Darren Nicholls (c) 8. Richard Tuala 9. Krys Freeman 10. Francis Molo 11. MAX Seumanutafa 12. Brett Greinke 13. Chris Faust 14. Byron Creighton 15. Mark Vaiao 16. Matt Mizzi 19. Rhett Webster
Redcliffe Dolphins: 1. Joe Bond 2. Oliver Regan 3. Tristan Lumley 4. Aaron Whitchurch 5. Tom Opacic 6. Evander Cummins 7. Luke Capewell (c) 8. Charlie Faingaa 21. Shane Pumipi 10. Jon Green 11. Josh Benjamin 12. Harley Aiono 13. Trent Richardson 14. Darcy Etrich 15. Tom Geraghty 16. Anthony Cherrington 17. Reggie Saunders
