Norths Tigers defeated Swifts Bluebirds 16-10 in the Ipswich Rugby League Mayor Paul Pisasale A-Grade Cup on Sunday.
Both teams displayed qualities that should see them regarded as 2015 premiership contenders.
The physicality that both teams played with shone throughout the match.
Just four minutes into the game Sherrick Hemopo showed great physicality in attack to open the scoring for Swifts giving his team an early 4-nil lead.
Just eight minutes later Norths showed some great attacking flair opening up space for winger Matthew Bettiens to race half the length of the field to score a great try allowing the Tigers to take a 6-4 lead.
Both teams started to show great skill as the first-half went on, in the 15th minute a 40/20 kick got Swifts into great attacking position.
The Bluebirds tested Norths' defence but the Tigers line held strong and held them out.
Norths were quick to get into an attacking position of their own, but Swifts goal-line defence proved equally as resilient.
Three minutes after halftime Norths front-rower Tuuta Manu used pure power and determination to charge over and score a try that got the Tigers out to a 12-4 lead.
In the 58th minute it seemed that front-rowers scoring tries was coming into fashion as Bluebirds front-rower Ray Shuster dived on a grubber-kick in Norths' in-goal area to score a try that got Swifts back within two-points of the Tigers.
The game started to open up with both teams willing to play expansive football but points were not coming easily as both teams showed great commitment in cover defence.
With 13-minutes remaining Jacob Stephan barged over to score for Norths as the front-rower gave the Tigers a 16-10 lead.
In the final 10-minutes of the match both teams had scoring opportunities but it was more strong cover defence that prevented any further points from being scored as Norths came away with a close 16-10 win over Swifts.
In the other Ipswich Rugby League Mayor Paul Pisasale A-Grade Cup round seven matches West End defeated Brothers 28-16 and Fassifern defeated Goodna 36-24.
