Erub United continued their dominance in the tournament after claiming back-to-back championship titles at the Gordonvale Indigenous Rugby League Carnival held over the weekend at Alley Park.
Erub were too strong for Northern Cyclones in the grand final, walking away with $14000 in prize money and the George 'McFly' Ludwick-Singleton Memorial Shield.
The Cyclones team didn't finish empty handed though, as they collected $3000 as runners up.
It was one-way traffic in the first half as defending champions Erub scored three tries through Solomon Fauid, Joshtel Charlie and Gideon Gela-Mosby and one conversion booted by Bradley Stephen saw the side claim a convincing 14-0 lead at halftime.
Early in the second half, Erub extended their lead to 20-0, with another four pointer to Charlie and the extras added by Stephen.
It was 10 minutes into the second half before Cyclones registered first points of the match when Rex Liddy found the line. It was followed by a successful conversion from Xavier Savage to have them trailing 20-6.
Mosby crossed for his second right on halftime for Erub and Ty Millard slotted the extras after the siren to give their side the win and their second consecutive championship title.
Thousands of fans converged on Alley Park over the two days and were treated to a fantastic display of rugby league from 10 Open Men’s teams.
Before the carnival got underway, the Welcome to Country was delivered by Cheery Royee, a Malanbarra Elder, followed by an opening prayer and a moment of silence in honour of George 'McFly' Ludwick-Singleton.
On the first day after the team march past, four players from Malu Kiwai team won the Relay Dash for Cash and picked up a cool $500.
The Gordonvale Indigenous Carnival is one of several Indigenous rugby league carnivals played in the Far North during October.
Day 1 - Pool A results
Erub United defeated Seahawks by forfeit
Boars United 12 defeated Kowanyama Warriors 4
Malu Kiwai 32 defeated Vanuatu Descendants 10
Vanuatu Descendants 24 defeated Kowanyama Warriors 22
Erub United 30 defeated Boars United 6
Seahawks 18 drew with Malu Kiwai
Erub United 60 defeated Vanuatu Descendants 6
Malu Kiwai 38 defeated Kowanyama Warriors 12
Seahawks 28 defeated Boars United 16
Day 1 - Pool B results
Argun Warriors 40 defeated Northern Cyclones 2 - 0
Weipa Raiders 18 defeated Mosby Eagles 12
Weipa Raiders 30 defeated Northern Cyclones 2 - 12
Cyclones 1 - 14 defeated Argun Warriors 12
Cyclones 1 - 14 defeated Weipa Raiders 12
Northern Cyclones 2 - 26 defeated Mosby Eagles 24
Day 2 - Pool A results
Malu Kiwai 24 defeated Boars United 10
Seahawks 26 defeated Vanuatu Descendants 22
Day 2 - Pool B results
Cyclones 1 - 26 defeated Northern Cyclones 2 - 18
Argun Warriors 54 defeated Mosby Eagles 10
Quarter final 1 - Erub United 60 defeated Mosby Eagles 4
Quarter final 2 - Cyclones 1 - 18 defeated Boars United 2
Quarter final 3 - Malu Kiwai 38 defeated Weipa Raiders 4
Quarter final - Argun Warriors 26 defeated Seahawks 20
Semi final 1 - Erub United 32 defeated Argun Warriors 16
Semi final 2 - Cyclones 1 - 26 defeated Malu Kiwai 22
Grand final - Erub United 26 defeated Cyclones 1 - 6
Awards: Erub United captain Bradley Stephen was awarded trophies for Highest Point Scorer (58) and Highest Try Scorer (5), while young gun Xavier Savage from Cyclones was named Player of the Carnival.
