Defending premiers Ipswich held off a late surge from Redcliffe for a 28-22 victory in their Brisbane Rugby League season opener on Saturday.
The Jets held the lead for the entire match but it was never more than ten points, against a plucky opposition that had chances to score late and salvage a draw.
Ipswich took a 28-16 advantage midway through the second half when former Under 20s New Zealand Warriors playmaker Mikaere Beattie stepped past multiple defenders to score.
With the clock winding down it looked like the Jets were home comfortably.
That was until Redcliffe half Tyson Gamble burrowed over in the 73rd minute, reducing the margin to six and setting up a tense finish.
But despite several cracks at the line, the Dolphins were unable to land a potentially match-levelling blow.
Earlier, a flurry of attack from former Souths Logan Magpies flyer Josh Damen helped the Jets to a 16-6 lead after twenty minutes.
The rangy centre broke the defence in his team's first set, providing the final pass for Matthew Brown.
Damen then did it all himself out wide before booting ahead an Ono So'Oialo grubber and outpacing the defence for his second try.
Unfortunately for the visitors he hobbled off shortly afterwards with an ankle injury.
In other matches, Logan Brothers held on for a 34-24 win over West Brisbane with Codey Kennedy scoring four tries.
ROUND ONE RESULTS
IPSWICH JETS 28 (Josh Damen 2, Mikaere Beattie 2, Matthew Brown tries; Mikaere Beattie 4 goals) def REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 22 (Dan Randall, Kyle van Klaveren, Tyson Gamble, Tyson Cleal tries; Tyson Gamble 3 goals) at Southpine Sports Complex, Albany Creek.
VALLEYS DIEHARDS 20 (Andrew Lancaster 2, Chris Aiton tries; Arthur Brown 4 goals) def CARINA 16 (Steve Tyrrell 2, Matthew Craven tries; Matthew Craven 2 goals) at Emerson Park, Grange.
GATERS 28 (Kieran English, Dwayne Duncan, Shaun Rees, Josh Benjamin, Zac Russ tries; Dwayne Duncan 3, Troyden Watene goals) def NORMANBY HOUNDS 6 (Benjamin Faulkner try; Jacob Thomas goal) at Southpine Sports Complex, Albany Creek.
LOGAN BROTHERS 34 (Codey Kennedy 4, Peter Lee, Jack Anderson tries; Ben Jackson 5 goals) def WEST BRISBANE PANTHERS 24 (Kyran Tanuvasa, Ollie Olds, Sam Carson, Kristian Wanka tries; Luke Pollock 4 goals) at Civic Park, Logan Central.
EASTS TIGERS 20 (Jack Schaffer, Whetu Austin, Mackenzie Reid, Josh Everett tries; Jayden Carroll 2 goals) drew with WYNNUM MANLY REDLAND CITY SEAGULLS 20 (Ben Davey, Brayden Josephs, Corey Davis tries; Tyson Brooks 4 goals) at Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park.
LADDER
Win - 3 points, Draw - 2 pts, Loss - 1 pt
|
Played |
Won |
Draw |
Lost |
Bye |
For |
Agnst |
Pts |
Gaters |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
28 |
6 |
3 |
Logan Brothers |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
34 |
24 |
3 |
Ipswich Jets |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
28 |
22 |
3 |
Valleys Diehards |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
16 |
3 |
Easts Tigers |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
20 |
2 |
WM Redland City |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
20 |
2 |
Carina |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
16 |
20 |
1 |
Redcliffe Dolphins |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
22 |
28 |
1 |
West Bris. Panthers |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
24 |
34 |
1 |
Normanby Hounds |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
28 |
1 |
