Photo: Vanessa Hafner
It was far from the perfect game at Dolphin Oval on Sunday but the Mendi Blackhawks came away 30 point victors over the Redcliffe Dolphins, moving them into outright first position on the Intrust Super Cup ladder after seven rounds.
It was another physical, grinding game for the Blackhawks on a warmer than usual day in Redcliffe.
The first points of the match came quickly following a suburb Jahrome Hughes offload, the ball then passed through many hands before Michael Parker-Walshe crossed in the corner.
It wasn’t the last the Dolphins were to see of fullback Hughes and halfback Parker-Walshe, as the two combined with centre Kyle Feldt to produce a formidable trio.
The dangerous combination created the majority of the Blackhawks attacking chances during the match and at least one of the three had a hand in all of the tries scored. The forwards laid a great platform for the team during the first 40 minutes and good field position allowed the creative trio to direct play at the right end of the field.
Despite the Blackhawks scoring four unanswered tries in the first 30 minutes, four failed conversion attempts meant that Redcliffe were still very much in the game at the 35th minute mark when they crossed for their first points of the game to take the score to 16-4. But the visitors hit back immediately through a set play from the scrum.
A brilliant ball from Hughes led to a try for interchange hooker Anthony Mitchell, taking the half time score to 22-4.
The second stanza was peppered with loose carries and ill-discipline from both teams. The disjointed half never quite got into a rhythm with too many uncompleted sets despite the Blackhawks scoring four tries and the home side scoring once through captain Luke Capwell.
Coach Kristian Woolf agreed that the second half effort wasn’t good enough.
“While it was great to get a win against the Dolphins in Redcliffe, which is always a tough ask; our second half certainly needs to be better. I think the whole team is really looking forward to the challenge that Easts will present at our Anzac Day home game this weekend.”
Blackhawks wingers Jonathon Reuben and Zac Santo both scored doubles during the match but the standout moment from the second half was a 100m try from the kick off for the Mendi Blackhawks.
A huge line break from Parker-Walshe lead to a try for Moses Pangai and the final points of the match.
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS 40 (Zac Santo 2, Jonathon Reuben 2, Jahrome Hughes, Mosese Pangai, Michael Parker-Walshe, Ray Thompson, Anthony Mitchell tries; Robert Lui, Jonathon Reuben goals) def REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 10 (Kyle van Klaveren, Luke Capewell tries; Luke Capewell goal) at Dolphin Oval.
Final teams:
Redcliffe Dolphins: 1. Kyle Van Klaveren 2. Martin Hatfield 3. Tristan Lumley 4. Aaron Whitchurch 5. Tom Opacic 6. Evander Cummins 7. Luke Capewell (c) 8. Charlie Faingaa 21. Shane Pumipi 10. Jon Green 11. Josh Benjamin 12. Anthony Cherrington 13. Trent Richardson 14. Darcy Etrich 15. Tom Geraghty 16. Harley Aiono 17. Taylor Brown
Townsville Blackhawks: 1. Jahrome Hughes 2. Zac Santo 17. Kelepi Tanginoa 18. Mosese Pangai 5. Kyle Feldt 6. Robert Lui 7. Michael Parker-Walshe 8. Ricky Thorby 9. Ray Thompson 10. Daniel Beasley (c) 11. Glenn Hall 12. Rhyse Martin 21. Neville Costigan 14. Anthony Mitchell 15. Lorenzo Ma'afu 16. Noel Underwood 20. Jonathon Rueben
