Ipswich Jets v Norths Devils

2007 Wizard Queensland Cup Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Australia > Queensland > State/Metropolitan Level Competition: Wizard Queensland Cup

Jets and Devils reach a stalemate
Mon June 18, 2007
Source: www.qrl.com.au

A stint in the sin bin for representative forward Scott Alo proved costly for Ipswich as the Jets surrendered a 16-0 lead to draw 24-all with Norths at QLD Group Stadium.

Alo was the unlucky victim of repeated ruck infringements from both sides, sent to cool his heels after referee Michael Wise lost his patience in the 28th minute.

Picked to play in next week's City Country showpiece, Alo had no choice but to watch from the sidelines as Norths ran in three tries while he was absent, grabbing a 22-20 lead at halftime.

After 42 points were scored in a tumultuous first half, the second stanza brought a meagre total of six points from both sides as the defence clamped down.

Chris Walker looked to have scored the winning try with just eight minutes left on the clock, swooping onto a sweetly-timed Ricky Bird grubber.

However the Jets were again cut down at the knees by penalties, with Liam Foran squaring up the match in the 75th minute for a stripping infringement.

In the dying moments both Foran and Josh Costello exchanged unsuccessful field goal attempts, frustrations spilling over to a scuffle in the final minute.

The stalemate on the fulltime siren was in stark contrast to the beginning of the contest, when tries to Donald Malone, Michael Ryan and Gordon Rattler had Ipswich well in front by the 12th minute.

Three Norths players arrived late to the game after being stuck in traffic and the Devils were slow to feel their way into the contest. Lamentable tackling and ill discipline immediately had the Devils on the back foot.

A Georg Kepa try on the 16-minute mark provided some hope for the visitors, but Ipswich immediately shot back with Malone's second try of the game.

The period that followed proved the most decisive in the game. Norths forward Aaron Bulow was forced to the sidelines with a gushing facial wound, yet it was Ipswich that began haemorrhaging badly.

Referee Wise called both captains together for a warning about indiscretions in the play-the-ball, but it was barely a minute later when Alo was caught out and given 10 in the bin.

From there Norths' Jason Poppi set up a try for centre Joel Thompson with a well-weighted kick, backed up three minutes later with another try to Kepa, this time from a handy Thompson offload.

The momentum shift was remarkable and the Devils capitalised further when Will Chambers sliced through, jinking off his right foot on the tryline.

From then until Walker's try at the death, more than 40 minutes passed as the combatants slugged it out; a desperate cover tackle from Devils prop Brendan Afitu on a runaway Joel Reithmuller shown to be doubly vital in the final wash-up.

On Saturday week Ipswich tackles Tweed Heads at Carrara Stadium at 3.15pm, while Norths travel to Rockhampton to face the Central Comets at 7.30pm.

IPSWICH 24 (Donald Malone 2, Gordon Rattler, Chris Walker, Michael Ryan tries; Chris Walker 2 goals) drew NORTHS 24 (Georg Kepa 2, Joel Thompson, Will Chambers tries; Liam Foran 4 goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.

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