Easts Tigers star Scott Drinkwater scored a hat-trick – including two of those tries in the space of four minutes – to help his side to an imposing 46-12 win over the Norths Devils.
His speed and footwork have been hard for opposition teams to handle all season; and his effectiveness for Easts in the early stages of the competition saw his good form rewarded last month with selection in the XXXX Queensland Residents team.
The Melbourne Storm contracted fullback now has 14 tries to his name; while his team-mate Billy Walters notched himself a double to bring his total for the season to seven.
The duo were two of six different try scorers for the Tigers who crossed for six tries in the second half to blow their opposition away after a relatively close opening to the game which saw the visitors holding a manageable 16-8 lead at the break.
Walters had scored the opening try of the game in the 10th minute; but Norths forward duo Sam Tagataese and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown both crossed in quick succession to put their side in front.
That lead was short-lived however, as the Tigers went on their way to securing the vital result which currently sees them sitting in fifth position on the highly congested Intrust Super Cup ladder.
Norths sit in eighth spot on the ladder, but are equal with the Tigers on 10 wins for the season - another example of just how tight this are in this year's competition.
The Devils had a tough week having played in an eventful game last week in Lae in PNG's first every Country Week game and have a challenge ahead of them this weekend to take down the ladder-leading Townsville Blackhawks.
However, Rohan Smith's side will be looking at it as a good chance to bounce back and test themselves against high quality opposition.
The Tigers will be at home in Round 20 and will play another side who are desperate to feature in finals football, the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
See the full scoring details and final team line-ups for this game at QRL Live
EASTS TIGERS 46 (Scott Drinkwater 3, Billy Walters 2, Jake Foster, Marion Seve, Brett Greinke, Albert Vete tries; Brodie Croft 5 goals) def NORTHS DEVILS 12 (Sam Tagataese, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Herbie Farnworth tries) at Bishop Park.
