For Ipswich Jets fans, the winning feeling is returning – the vibe around the club is positive and following yesterday’s 34-20 result over the Capras; there was another victory to celebrate.
Halfback Dane Phillips was threading the ball, Sam Martin was going back against the grain, Michael Purcell was running and Wes Conlon was snaking around the field.
However, the Jets didn’t get the start to the game they wanted, with Central Queensland fullback Reece Baker taking advantage of a scrum 55m out and going straight through on the Jets right-hand side to score and give the Capras the early lead of 6-0.
Martin was playing game 116 and was full of running; attacking the Capras at every chance.
Despite the positive play early from the Jets, their last pass just kept coming up short; an attacking run from Richard Pandia, a flick pass from Ben White and short kick from Phillips all looked promising, but came to nothing.
When the Jets have needed something to happen this year, it’s been Nemani Valekapa or Nat Neale who have stepped up and produced the goods.
15 minutes into the game, the Jets were looking to attack the Capras’ right when Purcell caught a bomb and put danger man Valekapa into the open space he loves and he motored away to score his 36th try for the Jets.
The next scoring play was Intrust Super Cup try number 13 for Billy McConnachie after some great ball work from the Jets’ inside men found the big front rower steaming though to the right of the posts. Wes Conlon converted and the Jets were up 12-6.
Soon after, Purcell was again able to show off his speed when from the kick return he sped away to go the length of the field and scored his fourth try from eight Intrust Super Cup games.
The Capras though were invited back into the game when the Jets made a mistake off the kick-return and Brandon Manase scored for the Capras and the halftime score was 18-10 to the Jets.
In the second half, Neale was rewarding for his hard work in the game and scored for the Jets to get the second half rocking and push the Jets to a 24-10.
Ipswich continued to let the Capras back into the game with Justin Tavae benefitting from a nice set play with the centre scoring a try to reduce the margin to 24-16.
Conlon added to his four goals tally with a neat penalty goal to get the Jets a further two points and a 10 point lead.
The Jets went further in front when Purcell scored again to help his side out to a 32-16 lead.
As expected, the Capras showed plenty of fight; and when a Matt Minto kick found their right winger Adam Henry, who out jumped Richard Pandia and scored in the corner, the Capras were in with a chance at 32-20.
The score stayed the same until Conlon kicked another penalty goal – his seventh goal of the day – for a 34-20 win.
See the full scoring details and final team line ups for this side via QRL Live
IPSWICH JETS 34 (Michael Purcell 2, Nemani Valekapa, Billy McConnachie, Nat Neale tries; Wes Conlon 7 goals) def CQ CAPRAS 20 (Reece Baker, Brandon Manase, Justin Tavae, Adam Henry tries; Matt Minto 2 goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.
