Sean O’Sullivan scored three tries and Herbie Farnworth kicked all eight goals as the Norths Devils unleashed a 48-12 Intrust Super Cup win over Central Queensland Capras in Rockhampton today.
The Devils’ last loss in Rockhampton came in 2010 and they always looked in control even when the scores sat at 6-all just minutes from halftime.
The Capras had enjoyed the majority of field position and possession until O’Sullivan’s first try in the 37th minute sparked a points rush for the Devils.
Halfback O’Sullivan threw a dummy for his second try in the 44th minute before tries to Connor Broadhurst (50th minute), Jack Ahearn (53rd minute) and Troy Dargan (59th minute) speared the Devils to a 36-6 lead.
Paul Ulberg scored a strong individual try in the 73rd minute before O’Sullivan’s 76th minute try gave the Devils their highest score since coach Rohan Smith took over for the 2018 season.
They almost cracked 50 but a final-minute raid broke down against a Capras team that never stopped trying.
Farnworth had opened the scoring in the 14th minute when he caught a pass from Ahearn and he finished the game with 20 points, catapulting him past 100 points for the season.
“It was important that we won because we were disappointed with how we played last week (in a loss to Wynnum Manly),” O’Sullivan said.
“It was good to get out a good 80-minute performance today. In the first 40 minutes, even though we didn’t score much, we set a good platform. Rohan said to make sure that we stuck to our game plan.
“It was a credit to the boys the way that we listened to Ro and kept going with that plan.”
The Devils had good players across the field, defending well in a first half in which the Capras had 24 tackles in the Norths’ 20.
Jamayne Taunoa-Brown and Riley Leota featured in a strong team performance for the Devils, who welcomed back Oshae Tuiasau for his first match since recovering from a knee reconstruction.
The Devils will be pleased with the work of their forwards, including Michael Sio in the starting hooker role while Pride Petterson-Robati continued to show his promise.
The victory pushed the Devils into fifth spot ahead of next Sunday’s showdown with rivals Redcliffe at Bishop Park.
Earlier in the day, the Devils fell to the Capras in their Hastings Deering Colts clash. Sosefo Filipine scored the Devils’ only try in the 6th minute before the Capras ran away with a 40-4 win.
NORTHS DEVILS 48 (Sean O’Sullivan 3, Herbie Farnworth, Connor Broadhurst, Jack Ahearn, Troy Dargan, Paul Ulberg tries, Farnworth 8 goals) d CENTRAL QUEENSLAND CAPRAS 12 (Eli No’ova, Kainoa Gudgeon tries, BJ Aufaga-Toomaga 2 goals) at Browne Park.
