The Mackay Cutters took to the BB Print Stadium field for the last time this season, hoping to upset the second-placed Sunshine Coast Falcons to keep their season alive.
The Cutters have recently found form, taking down top-of-the-table sides the two weeks previous, but their dream end-of-season run came to an end on Saturday afternoon.
The first ten minutes of the match saw possession shared evenly and was riddled with mistakes and penalties from both teams.
The first try came in the 13th when a Brandon Finnegan grubber found the goal post and was picked up by Ewan Coutts, giving the home side an early lead.
The Falcons hit back soon after with a crafty outside inside ball allowing Blake Wilson to stride over untouched.
The rest of the first half went the way of the visitors, with Tyson Smoothy scoring under the posts in the 28th minute and a smart offload and some quick footwork seeing Will Warbrick craft his way under the posts in the next set of the subsequent restart.
The Falcons led 18-6 at halftime and continued their form into the second half, with a movement through the backline delivering space for Warbrick to cross again in the 46th minute.
The Cutters weren’t done yet as a pinpoint cross-field kick from Finnegan saw Jake Riley cross in the corner, giving the Cutters a sniff.
The Cutters were in again with Hiale Roycroft barrelling his way across the line after picking up a knocked-back ball, bringing the Cutters right back into the game at 24-18 with 10 minutes to go.
Some Kaylyn Ponga-esque footwork from Blake Wilson all but sealed the deal for the Falcons, scoring under the posts in the 75th minute.
A counter-attack and a crafty kick saw Falcons’ winger Sualauvi Faalogo score after the hooter putting the nail in the coffin of the Cutters’ season.
Despite some fight, the fulltime score was 36-18, dashing the Cutters’ hopes of a finals spot in September.
The Cutters will travel to Port Moresby this weekend to play the Papua New Guinea Hunters in the final match of the season tomorrow afternoon.
Earlier in the afternoon, the Mackay Cutters Colts defeated the Falcons 24-20 in a thrilling contest.
The Cutters 2022 finals dream is over, going down to the Falcons after showing some end-of-season grit. Photos supplied: Mackay Cutters
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