The Burleigh Bears re-entered the winner’s circle, defeating the Redcliffe Dolphins 30-12 at UAA Park.
After the first half saw both teams equal on 12 points, the Bears would streak away in the second half laying on three unanswered tries.
Bears’ five-eighth Josh Rogers shone for his side, scoring a try and making 159 metres from his seven runs.
Front rower Kurt De Luis provided a great platform for his halves, bending the line with each of his 18 runs while completing 33 tackles in the middle.
Burleigh only require one more win to secure a top four finish, while the Dolphins now find themselves at risk of dropping out of the eight if the Brisbane Tigers or Souths Logan Magpies can win out.
At a muddy Rugby Park in Rockhampton, it was the Sunshine Coast Falcons who outlasted the Central Queensland Capras, narrowly winning 12-8.
After two tries in the opening eight minutes, the match would enter a temporary stalemate, with neither side scoring until Nelson Asofa-Solomona crashed over for the Falcons in the 56th minute.
The Falcons are now 4-1 in their past five matches and sit only two points behind the fourth-placed Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
Despite the loss, Nixon Putt stood up for his Capras side, making three line breaks and running for 211 metres at second row.
The Townsville Blackhawks have made amends for their defeat in country week, thrashing the Wynnum Manly Seagulls 34-12 at Jack Manski Oval.
The season’s breakout star Dudley Dotoi stole the show in Townsville, running for 210 metres and scoring two tries in a brilliant showing at wing.
Blackhawks’ five-eighth Jack Campagnolo returned to his early season form, controlling the tempo of the match and assisting two line breaks as well as a try.
Assariah Lenoy Sam also impressed for the Blackhawks in his first game at halfback, previously impressing for the NRLQ Cowboys side where he played fullback.
With a favourable run home, the Blackhawks now control their own destiny when it comes to securing a home semifinal.
A depleted Northern Pride have come agonisingly close to pulling off a big upset in Cairns, falling one-point short to the Norths Devils.
After the Pride led at halftime, the Norths Devils opened the second half with two consecutive tries through Brody Tamarua and Jack Ahearn.
Jordan Lipp was clinical with the boot, converting all five tries as scores were levelled at 30-apiece.
After missing a field in the 77th minute, Devils’ halfback Sean O’Sullivan redeemed himself the very next set, slotting the match winning point from 25 metres out.
Devils’ fullback Matthew Milson had a day out in Cairns, making three line breaks and providing a try assist in a dominant performance.
The Tweed Seagulls celebrated the return of Keano Kini with a comeback victory over the Brisbane Tigers at Totally Workwear Stadium.
Down 28-22 with 15 minutes left in the match, the Seagulls would level the scores through Jay Kirk, before a Ryley Jacks field goal would return the lead to the home side.
With the game on the line, Cooper Bai would provide a silky pass to Lamar Manuel-Liolevave, sending his fellow forward crashing over for the match-winning points.
The final try assist was the cherry on top for Cooper Bai, who scored a try of his own, ran for 149 metres and completed a game-high 39 tackles.
The Souths Logan Magpies scored 44 second-half points en route to a dominant 56-8 victory over the Mackay Cutters at Davies Park.
Following a low-scoring first half, the Magpies would open the floodgates, running in eight unanswered tries.
Israel Leota dominated every facet of the game, scoring a hat-trick and making five line breaks in addition to providing a try assist.
The Magpies have now won four matches on the trot, with their next match a make-or-break fixture against the eighth-placed PNG Hunters in Port Moresby.
After a fortnight of rest the PNG Hunters returned to action in emphatic style, dominating the Western Clydesdales 48-12 at Santos National Football Stadium.
Hunters’ fullback Sanny Wabo put in one of the performances of the season, stuffing the stat sheet with one try, three try assists, four line breaks and a staggering 16 tackle breaks.
Winger Douglas David continued his strong run of form, scoring two tries to push his tally to six tries in his past four games.
The Hunters are now well-poised for a finals berth, with a home semi-final well within reach.
ROUND 20 RESULTS
Burleigh Bears 30 def Redcliffe Dolphins 12 at UAA Park, Gold Coast
Sunshine Coast Falcons 12 def Central Queensland Capras 8 at Rugby Park, Rockhampton
Townsville Blackhawks 34 def Wynnum Manly Seagulls 12 at Jack Manski Oval, Townsville
Norths Devils 31 def Northern Pride 30 at Barlow Park, Cairns
Tweed Seagulls 34 def Brisbane Tigers 29 at Totally Workwear Stadium, Brisbane
Souths Logan Magpies 56 def Mackay Cutters 8 at Davies Park, Brisbane
Papua New Guinea Hunters 48 def Western Clydesdales 12 at Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
