Norths Devils brought their minor premiership to Ipswich to take on the Ipswich Jets.
Two teams at the opposite end of the September spectrum, with the Devils ready to flex their finals muscle and the Jets looking to end the year on a positive note.
The Devils were searching for win number 11 in a row while the Jets were resolute in their desire to make sure Jets champion forward Tyson Lofipo left the Intrust Super Cup with a win.
The Jets started with plenty of enterprise and flair and kept the pressure on the Devils with two repeat sets.
It was the Devils that found points first when they went right and Jacob Gagan strolled through some stretched Jets defence to record the Devils' first four points.
Jack Miers add two points to make sure the Devils were on their way to a 6-0 lead.
Some resilient Jets defence saw the Devils pushed into touch; and the Jets ready to attack with great ball at their disposal.
The Jets kept persisting and came up with the answer.
Ono So’oialo dived over for his second try in 2021 and the Jets had the comeback they were looking for in the last round. The Jets took an 8-6 lead with a penalty goal.
It was the opposite centre that scored for the Devils; the Jets' lead was short lived when Connor Broadhurst found the line for the Devils and had his sixth try this season. Miers put the Devils further in front with the conversion and a 12-8 lead after 27 minutes.
The Devils kept asking questions in the last 10 minutes of the first half but Jets middle warrior Blake Lenehan came up with a massive tackle under the posts to deny Norths a try.
The Jets had another repeat set and made it count with Kierran Moseley diving over from close to the line for his fourth try this season for the Jets.
Gerome Burns hit the posts with the conversion and it left the score at 12-12.
The Jets weren’t ready to leave the first half at 12-12 and attacked on the right with Gerome Burns scoring his fifth try and converting his own try.
The Jets had the lead at half time 18-12.
Match: Jets v Devils
Round 17 -
home Team
Jets
13th Position
away Team
Devils
1st Position
Venue: North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich
In the second half, the Devils straightened up their attack and pushed the Jets in the middle and then attack on the fringe.
Norths strung a chain of passes together down the right-hand side and Hiale Roycroft found himself on the end of a pot of gold to match the Devils jumper. The Jets' lead was two points with 26 minutes to play.
Jets spiritual leader Nat Neale was making sure the Jets extended the lead when he was turned under the found his way through a pile of Devils to record his 144th point for the Jets with try number 36 in game 163.
Burns put the conversion over and the Jets' lead was out to eight points with 20 minutes to play.
Norths put up a kick that the Jets failed to grab and the Devils went right and found plenty of Devils in need of the ball until it settled in the hands of Rashaun Denny.
The Jets lead was skinnier at 24-22 with 16 to go.
The Jets' short kicking game was keeping the pressure on the Devils and when the Jets secured a fifth repeat set they pushed all their chips across the table and bet on Denzel Burns, who came up with the try.
The Jets led by eight with five minutes to play.
Ipswich kept turning away the Devils to record a last round 30-22 win; Jets half Burns contributed 10 points to the Jets win.
“It was all about Tyson Lofipo tonight, we just couldn’t come away without a win for him,” Burns said.
“He’s done so much for this club and win was a must tonight.”
