Mendi Blackhawks Defeat Pride in Round 6 Rivalry Round
Monday, April 10, 2017
Monday, April 10, 2017
The Townsville Mendi Blackhawks have bounced back with a gutsy 28-18 win over the Northern Pride at Barlow Park in Cairns on Sunday in the Intrust Super Cup, Round 6, Rivalry Round.
The Mendi Blackhawks were first to put points on the board with a try in the 7th minute to centre Temone Power.
Next to score was Jordan Kenworthy, his first try the Intrust Super Cup, in the 13th minute, doing a great job in the number 11 jersey, after Blake Leary was called up into the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys side.
Flying winger Jonathan Reuben landed his 4th try in two games giving his team a 16-6 lead at half time, and taking him to the top of the QRL ladder of leading try scorers.
The Pride were first to score in the second half, before giving the home team a 18-16 lead.
The Blackhawks fought back with two tries to Samsen O’Neill and Michael Parker-Walshe, sealing the win for the visitors.
Coach for the Mendi Blackhawks Kristian Woolf said he was pleased with his teams performance, putting in a grinding effort.
“I was very pleased with the win, it was a really tough game of footy,” Woolf said.
“Conditions were quite slippery and at times it was difficult to come up with attacking plays because of this.”
“We knew we had to match the Pride’s energy and enthusiasm and I think we did a really good job doing that,”
“Our leaders were particularly good, they all stood up when we needed them to.”
“Daniel Beasley really put his hand up completing 74 minutes on the back of losing Oshae Tuiasau with an ankle injury in the 7th minute.”
“Anthony Mitchell was also very pleasing and probably had his best game of the year so far.”
Michael Parker-Walshe also put in a grinding effort, after an injury scare, helping set up the first two tries then a remarkable individual effort try in the 72nd minute and sealing the win for the Blackhawks.
In the U18 Mal Meninga Cup the Mendi Blackhawks had a great win defeating the Pride 19-18 in their last game of the year.
With a spot in the finals still to be confirmed, the Under 20 FOGS State Wide Comp Mendi Blackhawks were defeated by the Pride 26-18.
The next Intrust Super Cup game for the Mendi Blackhawks is at home game this Saturday against the Burleigh Bears. Kickoff is at 4pm.
BLACKHAWKS 28: Power, Kenworthy, Reuben, O’Neill, Parker-Walshe tries: Anderson 4 goals def
PRIDE 18: Clark, Mago, Biondi-Odo tries; Ahwang 3 goals
