The Mackay Cutters welcomed fans to BB Print Stadium for the first time in the 2023 season with five squads taking to the field throughout the day.
The BMD Premiership Cutters played their first home game ever against Tweed Seagulls, continuing their impressive form to start their debut season in the competition.
It looked good for the Cutters from the first whistle, with the home side going 100m off the kick off for Keegan Irelandes to score in the corner in the first minute.
Tweed hit back with a crafty dummy half try in the 9th minute, shortly followed by a Cutters double from Sareka Mooka and Katie Green.
Some nimble footwork from the visitors on the stroke of half time saw the teams hit the sheds at 12-12.
Tweed were the first to score in the second half in the 43rd, but it was all the home side from there with Vanique Malayta, Emily Bella and Sareka Mooka all scoring second half tries to finish 26-16 victors.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Hostplus Cup Cutters looked to bounce back from a heavy round one defeat, taking on the Northern Pride.
The visitors leapt out of the gates, with two tries in the first ten minutes seeing them to an early 10-0 lead.
A meticulously executed cut out ball to Josh Smith saw the centra open the Cutters’ account in the 21st minute, with the home side going into half time 10-6 down.
Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano scored for the home side in the 63rd minute, taking full advantage of a sin binning after Pride winger Rhy Young was given ten for a professional foul.
With the Cutters in the lead for the first time in the match, Pride prop Jaymon Moore dashed the home fans’ hopes with a barnstorming try in the 72nd minute, his second for the match.
Three goal line dropouts from the Pride in the last few minutes gave the Cutters a sniff in a tense finale, however the visitors were able to hang on for a 16-12 win, handing the Cutters their second loss of the season.
Showing positive signs for the future of Mackay rugby league, all three junior squads took to BB Print Stadium for the first time this year, resulting in two wins and a draw.
The Cyrill Connell Challenge Cutters took to the field first, downing Northern Pride in a convincing fashion with a 34-4 victory.
The difference couldn’t be split between the Mal Meninga Cup Cutters and Pride, with five tries and three conversions each resulting in a 26-all draw.
The Harvey Norman U19s followed with a huge 38-0 victory over their Northern Pride counterparts.
The Cutters will return to BB Print Stadium this Saturday with the Cyril Connell Challenge, Mal Meninga Cup, Harvey Norman U19s and Hostplus Cup squads taking on the Townsville Blackhawks and the Hastings Deering Colts getting their season preparations underway with a trial match.
Photo credit: Marty Strecker Photography
