The revised Cyclone Alfred affected QRL Statewide Competition schedule has left the South-East looking to North Queensland for it’s rugby league fix this weekend with just Mackay and Cairns playing host to matches.
The Townsville Blackhawks have had a slow start to the season in the Mal Meninga Cup presented by Ford.
A two-point win over the Central Queensland Capras and two big losses following that leaves the Blackhawks needing to flex this week and show that they can be a consistent force.
The Blackhawks and Pride played twice last season and it was the same score 18-10 each time with the Pride winning once and the Blackhawks winning the other.
The Blackhawks will find their loss to the Capras last round a frustrating one at home.
Townsville didn’t control the ball and just kept putting pressure on themselves throughout the whole game.
It took the Blackhawks 33 minutes to score and by then the Capras had scored two tries and led 12-4 at half time.
The Blackhawks had some willing workers in Terence Mosby with 24 tackles and in attack Heath Bethel made 133 metres.
The Northern Pride probably don’t find themselves in a too different position then the Blackhawks with one win over the Capras in the first three weeks.
The Pride had even less ball to work with than the Blackhawks and only held onto 36 percent possession which makes it pretty much impossible to score enough points to win a game.
The Pride gave the Cutters 55 more runs at them and had to make 83 more tackles, but both teams will need to get the exact same things right to win this week.
In the Harvey Norman U19s competition, the Mackay Cutters had to fight hard and often to get the prize last week against the Pride, and this week against the Capras will be much the same.
Mackay forwards Mele Tupou and Selina Cowley led from the front again as the Cutters produced an outstanding second half to pull away from the Pride on the way to a 24-4 win.
Tupou would dominate with the ball and made 96 metres of hard-fought ground while Caitlin Turner made 18 tackles for the Cutters.
The Capras were out-enthused by the Blackhawks and lost five tries to three.
Caydence Fouracre scored twice which will please the Capras but the 40 missed tackles won’t help their mood.
Kelley Marsden can come away happy with herself with 32 tackles and 86 metres with the ball.
The Capras will need to find a way to stop momentum, as the Blackhawks were allowed eight-line breaks and their sets went for 15 metres more than the Capras could mange when they had the ball.
Maycee Brown is a Capra on the rise in the Harvey Norman U17s - an outstanding comeback and team performance and Brown was at the heart of the win, and will be needed again this week against the Mackay Cutters.
The Blackhawks scored three tries to zero in the first 15 minutes, with their running a thing of absolute beauty but then it was over to the Capras to comeback.
Josie Wogand was exceptional with 17 tackles and 97 metres.
Addison Carylon got it started and from there the Capras were away chipping at the lead.
The stats are nearly all even - this is just a Central Queensland win based on heart which can make a season.
Mackay had to fight hard against the Pride in the last round to beat the Pride 16-10.
It was only three-tries-to-two and Sienna Wright did a lot right through out the game.
Jen Kimbla may be the star of the Mackay Cutters show but her forwards are getting her to spots on the field where she can shine brightest.
Cianna Faulkner made 132 metres and topped the tackle count with 18 tackles.
In the Cyril Connell Cup presented by Ford, the Northern Pride had all the answers last week.
The Cairns based side hung on to beat the Cutters in a thriller in the type of win that can steal you for the season.
From Jake Russo storming his way over, to Solomon Stewart burrowing his way to the line, the Pride led all day and got the job done which will give them confidence this week against the Blackhawks at home.
Russo was a powerhouse with 177 metres and one line break and try and he will be doing that again this week.
The Blackhawks are looking to see more of the form that Trent Martin has been producing the centre got through a lot of work and tried his best to get the Blackhawks moving with 111 metres.
The Blackhawks just made too many errors against the Capras and that’s something they will have to find a way to minimise.
The 39 missed tackles would be keeping the Blackhawks awake at night.
