• MACKAY CUTTERS v BURLEIGH BEARS
Saturday 18 July, Stadium Mackay
Mackay Cutters 46 (Josh Chudleigh 2, Jordan Pereira, Ben Jones, Brenden Treston, Tyson Martin, Chris Gesch, Braden Uele tries; Liam Taylor 7 goals) def Burleigh Bears 4 (Talor Walters try).
The Cutters capped a hugely positive couple of days for the Mackay rugby league community with a dominant eight-tries-to-one Intrust Super Cup win over the Burleigh Bears on Saturday night. The 46-4 Round 19 triumph came the day after the North Queensland Cowboys – of whom the Cutters act as a feeder team – hosted a 20-year anniversary function in the city to thank people from Mackay for their support of the club over the past two decades. The Cutters were never headed en route to their 10th win of the season, the victory consolidating the side in sixth place on the ladder. Cowboys-contracted hooker Josh Chudleigh starred for the home side and scored two tries in an official man-of-the-match performance, while North Queensland under-20s player Braden Uele crossed for a try in his Intrust Super Cup debut. The Cutters’ next opponent is last-start winners Redcliffe at Dolphin Oval on Sunday 26 July.
• TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS v EASTS TIGERS
Sunday 19 July, Tap Out Energey Stadium, Langlands Park
Townsville Blackhawks 40 (Michael Parker-Walshe 3, Zac Santo, Kyle Feldt, Glenn Hall, Ricky Thorby tries; Feldt 6 goals) drew with Easts Tigers 40 (Donald Malone 3, Brandon Downey, Shaun Nona, Liam McDonald, Foisa Peni tries; Nona 6 goals).
A 14-try thriller featuring hat-tricks to two former Cowboys players was the undoubted highlight of Round 19 of the Intrust Super Cup as the table-topping Blackhawks and last year’s losing grand finalists Easts Tigers played out a 40-all draw. The Blackhawks maintain top spot on the ladder and still only have the two losses in their inaugural season, but a draw would have been bitter-sweet given that 40 points gets you a win in most games of rugby league. The crowd at Langlands Park, though, were treated to great afternoon of attacking rugby league as former Cowboys-contracted players Michael Parker-Walshe (Blackhawks) and Donald Malone (Tigers) each crossed three times for their teams. Current Cowboys Zac Santo, Kyle Feldt and Glenn Hall all crossed for the Blackhawks, while Feldt again proved accurate with the boot, kicking six from seven. The Blackhawks take on the PNG Hunters in a mouth-watering one-versus-two clash at Kalabond Oval, Kokopo on Sunday 26 July.
• NORTHERN PRIDE V TWEED HEADS SEAGULLS
Sunday 19 July, Piggabeen Sports Complex, Tweed Heads
Northern Pride 24 (Vaipuna Tia Kilifi 2, Linc Port, Javid Bowen, Sam Obst tries; Justin Castellaro, Javid Bowen goals) def Tweed Head Seagulls 12 (Blake Anderson, Matt Srama tries; Blake Anderson 2 goals).
The Northern Pride produced a gritty away performance to be proud of in downing Tweed Heads on the Gold Coast. The Pride scored five tries but only kicked two conversions to notch their 10th win of their Intrust Super Cup title defence. The Cairns-based team sit on 22 competition points and sit seventh on the ladder, two points adrift of top-six team and co-Cowboys feeder club Mackay Cutters. Cowboys-contracted Pride flyer Javid Bowen scored a try and kicked a goal in the win. The Pride have the bye next round before hosting the Burleigh Bears on Saturday 1 August in Round 21.
Other Round 19 results:
• Saturday 18 July
Redcliffe Dolphins 28 (Harley Aiono 2, Marlon Doak, Tom Opacic, Tristan Lumley; Luke Capewell 4 goals) def CQ Capras 4 (Reece Baker try) at Marley Brown Oval.
Ipswich Jets 16 (Carlin Anderson, Brandon McGrady, Landon Hayes tries; Anderson, Chris Walker goals) def Wynnum Manly Seagulls 12 (Peter Gubb, Matthew Grieve tries; Matthew Seamark 2 goals) at BMD Kougari Oval.
• Sunday 19 July
Devils 28 (Michael Lucas 2, Dale Copley 2, Joel Bailey tries; Liam Tyson 4 goals) drew with Souths Logan Magpies 28 (Joe Boyce 2, Jack Joass, Ben Thorburn, Travis Waddell tries; Scott Doyle 4 goals) at Bishop Park.
PNG Hunters 24 (Adex Wera 2, Henry Noki, Kato Ottio tries; Noel Zeming 4 goals) def Sunshine Coast Falcons 20 (Paul Ivan 3, Ben Hampton tries; Ryan Hansen 2 goals) at Kalabond Oval, Kokopo.
