Mendi Blackhawks Too Strong for Jets

Monday, March 22, 2021

Mendi Blackhawks defeated the Ipswich Jets 46-12 for their first game of 2021. Photo QRL Media

Michael Nunn, QRL Correspondent
First Published: qrl.com.au
Sat 20 Mar 2021

It was Townsville Mendi Blackhawk’s attack that shined bright against Ipswich Jets on the gloomy day in Ipswich.

The Mendi Blackhawks took control and never gave it back, winning convincingly.

Mendi Blackhawks No.6 Kyle Laybutt started the scoring in the 10th minute when the half scored his 13th try for the club in game 56.

Townsville weren’t done there when hooker Josh Chudleigh looked to replicate his 81 metres last year against the Jets and scored the Blackhawks second try.

Cowboys player Daejarn Asi was knocking over the conversions and added four points to give Townsville the perfect start at 12-0.

Mendi Blackhawks looked to their leader Sam Hoare and he got the job done for his side scoring his first try for the Blackhawks since 2016.

Super boot Asi was in danger of hurting his foot and banged over another one to give Townsville a perfect 18 points.

The Mendi Blackhawks weren’t done with yet and there was more pain for the Jets to come.

Bacho Salam may sound like that other North Queensland and Origin icon Sam Backo but he defiantly doesn’t run like him, when he went over to score and keep his strike rate of 12 tries in 20 Intrust Super Cup games ticking along.

The Jets didn’t want to go to half time on zero and on debut Jordan Carriera scored for the Jets and Josh Cleeland banged over the conversion and added two points to his Jets tally 108 career points to move up to 110 points.

At half time Townsville was leading 22-6 and had all the running and coach Aaron Payne called for more of the same.

It didn’t take long for the Mendi Blackhawks to get momentum back in the second half with Cowboys red headed forward Griffin Neame taking advantage of the night game and no sun to impact his performance; scoring straight away after coach Payne threw him into the action.

Coach Payne was smiling and soon it was his hooker who dived over for his second try.

Josh Chudleigh had a big smile on his face when he scored his second try that split and exposed the Jets defence at 34-6.

Mendi Blackhawks were deliriously happy at 34-6.

Jets hooker Kierran Moseley was inspired by Chudleigh and scored his first try for 2021 and his 9th for the Jets.

At 34-12 a glimmer of hope might have been on the horizon for the Jets but the Blackhawks.

Joe Boyce extinguished that hope when he crashed over and Chudleigh stamped all over it when he scored his third try. To give the Blackhawks a 46-12 win.

Round 2 will see the Mendi Blackhawks face Brisbane Tigers.