Round 5
Redcliffe Dolphins 22 l. Mackay Cutters 24

2008 Wizard Queensland Cup Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats]

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

Emotional Cutters Break Drought
Sun April 13, 2008
Source: www.qrl.com.au

The Mackay Cutters registered their breakthrough win in the Wizard Cup today after surviving a late scare from Redcliffe to clinch a thrilling round five contest 24-22 at Dolphin Oval.

The upset win was achieved despite the sin-binning of hooker Keiron Lander late in the match.

As the fulltime hooter confirmed their maiden victory to all, the Cutters hugged each other in a loving embrace that would never be displayed in the mines where most of the players work.

Cutters coach and chief playmaker, Shane Muspratt, couldn't hide his smile when describing the upset win.

"We've been trying to lose the monkey off our back for a while now, but it has finally gone," an ecstatic Muspratt said.

"I was worried in that last 10 minutes. It would have been heart-breaking to lose but we held on thankfully."

Miraculously, Mackay now sits in seventh spot, with a chance to claim a share of fifth spot.

"I told the boys we've won two in a row after we beat the bye last week, so things are looking good," Muspratt said.

Muspratt praised the work of his forwards.

In a game that was predominantly played in the middle, his big men came up trumps over the Troy Lindsay-led Redcliffe pack.

"Our forwards won it for us. We slugged it out and they came out on top," Muspratt said.

Muspratt also reserved praise for Royston Lightning.

The Foley Shield man of the match from two weeks ago made the step up with ease, sizzling in the backline only to succumb to a hamstring strain late in the match.

At half time, Redcliffe had slipped behind 18-0.

But like the Northern Pride a day before, the Dolphins scored three tries in five minutes to storm home on the back of an inspired Shane Perry, who bagged a hat trick in a commanding performance.

It was however, not enough.

Mackay held on and will now celebrate, but not too hard, as most of the players have to front up to the mines tomorrow morning for work at 5am.

News sent by: www.qrl.com.au

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