Dolphins edge Cutters in thriller

Mackay stood tall early in the game with a goal line stand that included stopping NRL import Kane Evans in his tracks just inches from scoring, the young squad challenging every play with eagerness in defence.

Matiu Stone-Dunn would spark the hosts, providing a line break to put the Cutters in attacking position, before capping the movement a few rucks later by latching onto an outside ball and scoring the first try of the evening.

However, Redcliffe’s composure would serve them well as the first half
progressed, a multitude of handling errors from Mackay punished with tries through Cameron Cullen, Rocco Berry and Manaia Cherrington.

Mackay’s willingness to chance their arm in attack would pay off either side of
the main break, Josh Smith finding himself on the end of a perfect cross field kick and Kyle Krisanski-Kennedy also crossing to keep the intense game on a knife’s edge.

The Dolphins counter-punched with speed and experience out wide with Marcelo Montoya crossing and Berry grabbing his second, a late Blake Paskins try giving Mackay a final shot at victory, but Redcliffe stood firm in the dying seconds to earn their first Intrust Super Cup victory of season 2021.

Despite the win, Redcliffe coach Adam Mogg insisted his side had a lot to work on in the coming weeks.

“It was a poor game of footy. I am happy with the way we kept turning up for each other and tackling, but it was well below standard," Mogg said.

"Sometimes it’s about performance over winning or losing, and I think we were poor tonight with our ball handling.

“Credit to Mackay, they played a physical brand of footy and we had to keep scrambling, we were lucky to get away with it (the win). I was happy with our effort with a lot of new combinations out there, but we will need to have a bit more energy when we have the ball in hand going forwards.”

Round 2 will see the Cutters face Burleigh Bears.

Redcliffe will take on Norths Devils.