Courtesy of the QRL
THE Mackay Cutters are celebrating a hat-trick of victories for the first time in the club’s history.
The Cutters achieved the memorable milestone at Stockland Park last night with a hard-fought 22-16 victory over the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles.
Mackay coach Shane Muspratt was thrilled to accomplish the milestone so early in the season.
Having won just seven games in their debut season in the Queensland Cup in 2008, the unbeaten Cutters are clearly the competition’s big improvers.
They have now won two tough away matches, with Saturday’s gutsy six point win following on from an 18-10 round one triumph over the Ipswich Jets at the Briggs Road complex.
Muspratt said his team’s willing defence “got us out of trouble” against the Sunshine Coast.
With a huge wind behind their backs, the Sea Eagles raced to a 16-8 half-time lead.
“It’s like a cyclone there the breeze is that strong,” Muspratt said.
That “cyclone” turned out to be favourable for the Cutters when the teams swapped ends after the break.
Hooker Roy Baira used the wind to perfection to land a 40-20 kick at a crucial stage in the second half.
The Cutters scored soon after to gain the upper hand.
“We were probably guilty of trying to score off every play in the second half, but gradually we were able to wear them down,” Muspratt said. “It’s very pleasing for the boys.”
The Cutters did their “homework” and were able to limit the attacking opportunities of star Sea Eagles fullback Howie Matthews, a three-try hero against Norths the previous week.
Back-rower Jon Grieve was the home team’s most influential player.
For the visitors, Royston Lightning and Donald Malone tormented the Sea Eagles with the ball in hand.
Malone scored a try and had a hand in several others in his best match for the Cutters.
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