TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS v MACKAY CUTTERS
A six-try blitz of the Mackay Cutters has seen the Townsville Blackhawks open their Intrust Super Cup campaign with a 30-16 victory at Jack Manski Oval.
Fullback Jahrome Hughes etched his name into the new club’s record books, becoming their first try scorer 9 minutes into the match.
Three more tries followed, with Cowboys squad members Zac Santo and Kyle Feldt also featuring on the scoreboard.
The Cutters reduced the deficit to 20-6 just before half time.
There was a little more intent in the Cutters pack early in the second as they fought back through Josh Chudleigh, but when Rhyse Martin barged over for his second, the Blackhawks had wrapped it up with a 14-point margin.
Townsville Blackhawks 30 (Rhyse Martin 2, Jahrome Hughes, Zac Santo, Kyle Feldt, Michael Parker-Walshe tries; Kyle Feldt 2, Tom Humble goals) def Mackay Cutters 16 (Jordan Pereira, Tyson Martin, Josh Chudleigh tries; Rex Johnson 2 goals) at Jack Manski Oval, Kirwan.
EASTS TIGERS v NORTHERN PRIDE
Reigning Cup champions the Northern Pride opened their 2015 season with a 20-12 loss to rivals Easts Tigers at Langlands Park.
Mistakes cruelled the Carins-based side during a passionate game that saw Tigers Joel Romelo and Pride prop Jack Svendsen sin-binned after a melee.
Despite Ben Spina crashing over for his first, Easts bagged two ahead of the break to lead 10-6.
The gate was flown wide open on resumption as the home side ran in two more to hand the Pride an opening round defeat.
Easts Tigers 20 (Donald Malone, Shane Neumann, Mahe Fonua, Tommy Butterfield tries; Shaun Nona 2 goals) def Northern Pride 12 (Ben Spina, Patrick Kaufusi tries; Jordan Biondi-Ono 2 goals) at Tapout Energy Stadium, Langlands Park.
