The Townsville Mendi Blackhawks returned to their winning ways in Round 8, producing a strong performance to clip the wings of the Tweed Heads Seagulls with a solid 48-18 win
Their ANZAC Round game began with both teams paying tribute to the event with a moving remembrance ceremony on the field.
The Blackhawks started the game well with a try to Temone Power in just the 4th minute, the first of nine tries for the home team on the day.
A missed conversion meant the visitors found themselves in front shortly after following a try to forward Kurt Bernard which was converted by Michael Burgess making the score 6-4
However, the home side hit back almost straight after when Ty Carucci crossed and they had a 12-6 aadvantage which they held to the halftime break.
It was a close game up until that point and the Blackhawks needed something special to extend the lead, and they got it.
Carlin Anderson stepped up with two tries and a key try assist in the 79th minute, which is sure to feature in the highlight packages.
With the ball seemingly going dead, a flying Anderson launched himself over the dead-ball line and flicked the ball back into play for Jordan Kenworthy to score an incredible try.
Anderson was kicked six from nine conversion attempts, taking him further ahead as the Intrust Super Cup leading point scorer so far this season.
Five-eighth Kyle Laybutt scored his first try since returning from injury, muscling his way over with a clever dummy almost under the post in the 67th minute.
Jonathon Reuben remains on top of the Intrust Super Cup try scorers tally after he crossed the line for the 9th time this season in the 46th minute.
While Tweed scored twice more in the second half - including Bernard picking up his second - they were outplayed by a team who were looking to impress at home.
Blackhawks coach Kristian Woolf said he was pleased with his teams’ improvement from last week where they fell to their second successive home defeat.
“It was good to see glimpses of what we are capable of,” Woolf said.
“We still need to be more consistent and continue to work hard, but it was good to see improvements.”
Woolf also made special mention of Oshae Tuisai's terrific offloads and Lee Jewitt’s big metres up the middle. He was also happy to welcome back Sione Lousi who fractured his arm in Round 1.
The next game for the Mendi Blackhawks is against Wynnum Manly on Saturday at BMD Kougari Oval while the Seagulls will host a Sunshine Coast Falcons smarting from a heavy loss to the Dolphins.
See the full scoring details and final team line-ups for this game via QRL Live
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 48 (Samsen O’Neill 2, Carlin Anderson 2, Temone Power, Ty Carucci, Jonathon Reuben, Kyle Laybutt, Jordan Kenworthy tries; Carlin Anderson 6 goals) def TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS 18 (Kurt Bernard 2, Shane Gillham tries; Michael Burgess 3 goals) at Jack Manski Oval.
