Pine Central Holy Spirit's winning streak continued on Saturday in the Rugby League Brisbane Men's Open 2 North competition, with an emphatic 40-12 win over the Asley Devils at Harry Kirby Park.
In a game that was all one-way traffic, the Hornets halves pairing of Jordan Marshman and Riva Johnson was outstanding, controlling the game from start to finish.
The Hornets went straight on the attack from the kickoff and only took eight minutes of play before they crossed beside the sticks.
Harry Kirby Park is often a daunting place to come away with a win and the boisterous home crowd that was on hand really got behind their team.
Back-to-back penalties to Aspley saw the home side in good field position and the Devils hit back with a try of their own through Fred Bethell, who crashed his way through the Hornets defence to score beside the posts.
Marshman and Johnson were instrumental in the visitors' next try setting up workaholic forward Zach Duncan, who powered his way over the line.
Devils inspirational captain Chase Kereama-Williams worked tirelessly in attack to get his side back on track, however bad luck and some loose carries saw them unable to get out of second gear.
Johnson crafted the visiting side's next try setting up Homai Bristow, who dived over under the sticks right on the stroke of half time, to see Pine Central leading 16-6 at the break.
The Hornets picked up where they left off in the second half, crossing in the 37th minute after some good lead up work by five-eighth Marshman.
Aspley’s forwards in Daniel Jones and Clinton Kerei were outstanding in a losing side, often rattling a few Hornets cages in defence that had the Hornets big men on high alert.
However, the onslaught continued when the visiting side punished the Devils with some lazy defence to cross for another four-pointer out wide.
A blistering run from Hornets winger Tristen Kerr saw the flanker motor down the sideline before kicking in field to have the Hornets score another belter of a try and extend their lead out to 30-6.
But full credit to the Devils who at this stage were down and out, however they refused to give up albeit trailing on the scoreboard.
Aspley’s slick halfback Kereama-Williams stamped his authority in the 57th minute though when he dived over from dummy half late in the game.
But just as the Devils got a sniff of a comeback, the Hornets halves in Marshman and Johnson had other ideas.
Johnson’s show and go delivered a superb pass that had the Hornets increase their lead out to a commanding 34-12.
Pine Central's dominance in the second half paved the way for the final try of the afternoon when they crossed under the sticks and came away with the two points, putting them into third on the ladder.
The Hornets will look to make it five in a row and possibly jump into the top two when they take on Wests Juniors on Saturday.
