RESULTS:
Mackay Cutters 34 (Josh Chudleigh 2, Sam Clune, Zack Walker, Justin Tavae, Cameron Cullen, Tyson Martin tries; Rex Johnson 3 goals) def Tweed Head Seagulls 18 (Damian Sironen, Mark Offerdahl, Jai Ingram tries; Blake Anderson 3 goals) at Stadium Mackay.
Ipswich Jets 36 (Nemani Valekapa 2, Matt Parcell 2, Chris Walker, Kurt Capewell tries; Wes Conlon 6 goals) def Townsville Blackhawks 24 (Zac Santo, Wayne Ulugia, Mosese Pangai, Rhys Matsen, Tom Humble tries; Tom Humble 2 goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.
The Mackay Cutters have opened their Intrust Super Cup account with a gutsy 34-18 victory over the Seagulls.
Debutant winger Zac Walker opened the scoring for the Cutters, before succumbing to an ankle injury which saw him leave the field.
Cowboys squad member Josh Chudleigh bagged his first to help the home side to a 16-6 lead.
It was a brutal contest over the 80 minutes against Tweed Heads, who struggled with their own injury problems.
Mackay ran in five tries for their opening win in the competition in front of their home fans.
The Cutters have now moved to seventh on the Intrust Super Cup ladder, one position above the Townsville Blackhawks who went down in a try-fest against Ipswich.
The visitors were outplayed in the first 40 with the Jets bolting to a 26-0 lead.
With temperatures in the mid 30s the Townsville side began to burn a hole through the Ipswich defence and at the 60th minute mark had laid on 20 points.
Tom Humble, Zac Santo, Wayne Ulugia, Moses Pangai and Rhys Matsen all crossed.
But when Matt Parcell scored his second of the match the game was beyond doubt, handing the Jets their first win.
The Blackhawks head to Cairns on Sunday for the North Queensland blockbuster against 2014 Champions the Northern Pride, who’ll be keen to hit the park after their second round match against the Sunshine Coast Falcons was rescheduled due to Cyclone Nathan.
That game will be shown on Channel 9 on Sunday afternoon.
