XXXX Rivalry Round drew the Mackay Cutters against the Central Queensland Capras. Round 17 was the rematch from their Round 4 clash.
Mackay has proven fertile ground for these foes with the Cutters winning nine of the last 10 against the Capras in Mackay and they were looking to extend that to 10 wins.
Standing in their way was second-placed Capras, who were hoping for a repeat of Round 4 when they won 26-18 with Brandon Roberts getting three tries; Roberts has been a try-scoring juggernaut with 13-line breaks in season 2022 and 13 tries for the Capras.
But it was not meant to be, with the Cutters running away with the win.
From the get go, both teams seemed not far away from scoring as they both made breaks and half breaks - teasing the Mackay crowd with the possibility of points.
It was the Cutters who ended the tension when they scored first and again it could have been either team high-fiving.
The Capras set in the middle of the field and shifted to the left edge with a three-on-one, it seemed a try was there, but Cutters winger Jake Riley grabbed it and ran 80 metres to have the Cutters on the attack.
From there it was simple ball movement left from the Cutters that saw the Capras not numbering up from the break and Laitia Moceidreke scored in the corner with his ninth try in 15 games this season.
The Cutters ball movement and offloading was keeping the Capras back on their heels and watching.
The Cutters came from the right to left, moving the ball like no one wanted it when Kane Bradley wasn’t interested in offloading, just running hard and scoring the Cutters second try.
The Cutters were showing up the Capras at 10-0 after 22 minutes.
At 10 points up and three minutes until half-time, you can’t get much more perfect than a mid-field scrum 15 metres out.
The Cutters went right and Blake Paskins went outside his man to create space for his winger Riley to say 'thank you very much' and score in the corner.
It got even better for the Cutters when Kyle Schneider slotted over a penalty goal and the Cutters went to half-time 16-0 in close to the perfect half.
Match: Cutters v Capras
Round 17 -
home Team
Cutters
11th Position
away Team
Capras
3rd Position
Venue: BB Print Stadium, Mackay
The Capras have only been held to zero in a half once this year against the Tweed Seagulls and they lost 18-12 after being down 16-0 at half-time.
At half-time the Capras would have to address missed opportunities, the Cutters had taken chances when they presented themselves and the Capras were still waiting.
The Capras have been behind at half-time seven times this season and won three and drawn one, so they’d be working towards four wins, but first they would have to hold onto the ball and give themselves a chance to score points.
It took eight minutes into the half and the Cutters' Paskins went to dummy half, saw some uncommitted marker defence and took off on a scoot that busted the Capras open; looking inside he found his fullback Kyle Krisanski-Kennedy, who didn’t have to run too far to score under the posts untouched.
The Capras didn’t want to be the sixth team this season to be held to zero and got rid of that stone in their shoe when they scored in the 56th minute.
From a slow play the ball, the Cutters should have numbered up but the Capras went right and Radean Robinson went through the Cutters defence to get the Capras moving and score their first points. It was 22-6.
Then five minutes later, Capras’ fans were sitting up and taking notice when Brandon Roberts scored his fourth try this season against the Cutters and his 14th try in game 14, keeping his 100 per cent record in 2022 alive and providing some CPR to the Capras at the same time.
The Capras snuck down the blind and Roberts was on the end of some great inside work by Nixon Putt to give the Capras a 10-point deficit and 17 minutes to peg it back; 22-12 was looking positive for the Capras.
The Capras comeback took a dent when the Cutters worked to a post and then came left through the hands to put winger Moceidreke, over for his secon.
If the Capras’ comeback took a dent before, it was on the verge of collapsing when the Cutters ended the game and win number seven with a 28-12 lead.
The Cutters ended the night when some slight of hand from Cutters hooker Kyle Schneider, who jumped out and turned front row Jayden Morgan under for his first try since Round 6, taking the score to 34-12.
Roberts got another try to end the night on a positive note for the Capras and grab a double, when the Cutters failed to field a kick and he hadn’t given up on the chase and grounded it.
The Cutters will face Burleigh Bears in Round 18.
Match: Cutters v Bears
Round 18 -
home Team
Cutters
11th Position
away Team
Bears
1st Position
Venue: BB Print Stadium, Mackay
The Capras will take on Norths Devils.
Match: Capras v Devils
Round 18 -
home Team
Capras
4th Position
away Team
Devils
5th Position
Venue: Browne Park, Rockhampton
