Blackhawks hold on in tight one over Cutters

Monday, August 1, 2016

In a result that echoed last season’s Friday night match in Mackay the Townsville & Districts Mendi Blackhawks were two point victors in round 21 of Intrust Super Cup taking the win 16-14 over the Mackay Cutters in a tough match at BP Print Stadium.

Both sides were forced to dig deep as players left the field with injuries that ruled them out of the rest of the match.

It was the Cutters who had the better start with plenty of possession and stoic defence that prevented the Mendi Blackhawks from making their way to the try line.

The home side also made good use of their attacking opportunities scoring three unanswered tries within the first 25 minutes to rush out to a 14-0 lead.
It was the 29th minute before the Mendi Blackhawks hit the scoreboard with Lona Kaifoto the grateful receiver of a sharp Jahrome Hughes pass to score the visitor’s first try.

Halfback Michael Parker-Walshe scored the second try for the Mendi Blackhawks just five minutes later from a set play to take the side to within two points, trailing the Cutters 14-12 at the break.

The second half was a gritty affair with points at a minimum as both sides’ defence proved superior to their attacking efforts.

The final points of the match came at the 68th minute as a rampaging Moses Pangai forced his way over the Mackay Cutters line to take the score to 16-14 with just over ten minutes left to play.

The Mendi Blackhawks survived a scare from the Cutters as they threw everything they had into trying to cross the line in the final minutes of the match to eventually walk away with a tough win.

The Mendi Blackhawks remain in fourth place on the Intrust Super Cup ladder heading into their final four rounds against the Northern Pride (away), PNG Hunters (home), BYE and Norths Devils (away).

Some images courtesy of Mackay Daily Mercury