Yarrabah Seahawks kept in touch with the finals chasers with an impressive 40-28 win over Edmonton Storm in Round 13 of the Cairns District Rugby League A Grade competition on Sunday.
The Seahawks have now won three of their last four games and were inspired by half-back Charles Murgha, who was named LD Total Cairns Player of the Round.
Murgha crossed for three of Yarrabah’s six tries as the hosts moved up to seventh spot, just two points behind fifth-placed Ivanhoes.
Leaders Tully Tigers put in another impressive display to win 34-15 at Atherton Roosters, with Troy Kapea (3), Matt Musumeci, Troy Peri, Greg Miglio and Jake Clifford scoring the tries.
The result leaves Tully and Cairns Brothers (bye) six points clear at the top of the ladder.
Innisfail made it four wins in five games as they continued their mid-season surge with a 62-6 thrashing of Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks.
Rod Jensen rolled back the years to score a hat-trick of tries in the 11-try romp, as the visitors flexed their muscles at Mossman Showgrounds to cement third spot.
Innisfail coach Ty Williams said the key to his side’s convincing victory was a good start against a Sharks side coming off an impressive win against Edmonton the previous week.
“We spoke about starting well and we did just that, forcing them into a few errors early on and then every time we turned the ball over, we seemed to score points down at their end,” said Williams.
“Obviously it was really pleasing to be 38-0 up at the break, and we’d done enough right to get into that position.”
Williams praised 17-year-old winger Michael Carroll and veteran Rod Jensen for their impressive performances.
“It’s a learning experience for Michael and obviously he’s off to the Cowboys next year, but playing A Grade helps him to be more engaged in games than if he plays Under 18s,” said Williams.
“Meanwhile, Rod is the ultimate competitor and doesn’t like to throw it away in games.
“Overall, I’m pretty happy with where we’re at right now. We can’t control what Tully and Brothers do, but we’ve put together a pretty big month and just need to make sure of that top five finish.”
Cairns Kangaroos saw their hopes of a third straight premiership drift further away after a 28-18 loss at home to Southern Suburbs.
Kangaroos back Sam Pau, who had already scored two tries and landed three goals, suffered a serious leg injury with 20 minutes left on the clock and the scores at 18-18.
After the game was stopped for 30 minutes to allow treatment for Pau, Suburbs restarted the better and sealed the win from further tries to Jai Watson and Aidan Day.
Mareeba Gladiators produced a surprise 22-14 win over finals-chasing Ivanhoes at Davies Park, in a game marred by a serious injury to Knights’ Regan Verney following a clash of heads.
Mareeba fullback Reylan Reys was the star of the show, scoring two tries to help lift the hosts off the bottom of the ladder.
Cairns Brothers had a bye.
2015 DAVID MCCOY HOMES CAIRNS KEY REAL ESTATE A GRADE - ROUND 13 RESULTS:
SATURDAY 20 JUNE
Mareeba Gladiators 22 (Reys 2, Hughes, Grainer tries; Williams 2, Reys goals) def Ivanhoe Knights 14 (Pryor 2, J. Reed tries; Pye goal) at Davies Park, Mareeba.
Innisfail Leprechauns 62 (Jensen 3, Carroll, Williams, Fate, Haren, Fichera, Reuter, McLeish, Sagigi tries; Healey 9 goals) def Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks 6 (Oui try; Amber goal) at Mossman Showgrounds.
Tully Tigers 34 (Kapea 3, Musumeci, Peri, Miglio, Clifford tries; Jolley 3 goals) def Atherton Roosters 15 (Blackman, Tokahari, Threlfall tries; Grant goal; Grant field goal) at Roosters Stadium, Atherton.
SUNDAY 21 JUNE
Yarrabah Seahawks 40 (C. Murgha 3, Bann, Dabah, Mossman tries; Dabah 8 goals) def Edmonton Storm 28 (Ambrym 2, Tatipata, Henley, Pryor tries; Tatipata 2, Ambrym 2 goals) at Jilara Oval, Yarrabah.
Southern Suburbs 28 (Day 2, Watson, Satrick, Saunders tries; Joinbee 4 goals) def Cairns Kangaroos 18 (Pau 2, Kerwick tries; Pau 3 goals) at Vico Oval, Cairns.
Cairns Brothers – Bye.
