When the Mackay Cutters headed on their five-hour trip down to Rockhampton for Round 4’s Rivalry Hostplus Cup match against CQ Capras last Saturday, the tight run affair in pre-season against the Rockhampton side would have been on their minds.
Capras had clinched it by just four points in what head coach David Elliott called a “scrappy one” and the official Hostplus match last week was no different.
Browne Park witnessed a back and forth, free scoring affair between the two sides but still some of the scrap from that pre-season fixture remained. Capras came into the game in fine fettle, having won their first three matches and sitting pretty at the top of the table.
There was still some confidence in the air from the late March fixture against Ipswich Jets in which the travelling Cutters crushed the Jets 12-52. Belief and culture were the key words for Elliott in his early season interviews, and when a team is as capable of results like that, it’s hard not to believe.
Cutters starting line-up comprised Andre Niko, Kane Bradley, Blake Paskins, Sam Fa’apito, Laitia Moceidreke, Daejarn Asi, Brandon Finnegan, Jayden Morgan, Kyle Schneider, Ross Bella, Luke Webyley, Ben Condon, and Tom Irelandes.
Their interchange featured Sean Mullany, Jake Riley, Hiale Roycroft, Morgan McWhiter, Mitch Fogarty, Jake Hawkins, Luke Ingram, and Matt Vessy.
The stage set, the bus trip done and pre-season behind them, Cutters came in hopeful to turn the fixture on its head – which they very well almost did.
But in a game that ended 26-18, Capras looked the more likely to run away with it early in the game, scoring twice through Brandon Roberts in the 6th and again in the 26th.
Cutters managed to dig deep and retaliate thanks to a bit of luck and Andre Niko. Niko ran almost the length of the field after catching hold of a loose ball courtesy of the Capras wide players.
Kane Bradley grabbed a four pointer just before the end of the first half to actually take the lead 12-10 - again capitalising on a Capras mistake leading to a knock on.
Cutters extended the advantage in the 53rd with a scrappy crossing from Sean Mullaney. It was all downhill from there, as the Capras seemed to kick into gear and kept the momentum coming.
Jonas Pearson scored in the 58th to cut the advantage after a bursting run through the defensive line. Jesse Jennings grabbed a four pointer just five minutes later.
Brandon Roberts scored his third of the game late on to keep their undefeated run going – four from four. It’s a tough break for the Sugar City side who had been ahead but struggled to keep the lead. Promising signs for the local side, though, who may well rebound in their next fixture.
So far Cutters have claimed four points in four games, leaving them in 6th position on the table – a respectable start to the season: two wins, two losses. Their next week fixture against the Falcons may prove a tough one again, with the Sunshine Coast side sitting in fourth, having leapfrogged Cutters and Bears.
Cutters will head down to the Sunshine Coast Stadium this Saturday for a 4.00pm kick-off.
The Mackay Cutters have had a bit of a mixed bag for the start of the season – two wins and two losses
