By William Crutcher
Norths Devils have continued their busiest stretch of the season by taking the mid-winter positives from a 22-18 Hostplus Cup loss to the Bears at Burleigh last Saturday afternoon.
The Devils are halfway through six consecutive matches – their most in a season that includes multiple byes. The stretch continues this Sunday when the Devils meet the Jets at Ipswich in a double-header with the women’s BMD Premiership.
Last Saturday, the Devils declined a straight-forward conversion attempt with 90 seconds remaining to enable a final shot at the Bears in a match in which both teams scored four tries.
While the Devils fell to their third consecutive loss, they remained in second place on the ladder with a 10-4 record and were glimpsing improvements in their on-field combinations.
“Burleigh are always a tough team to beat and there was some good football from both teams,” Devils coach Rohan Smith said.
“Sometimes you can play well and not win against good teams but we know there are areas that we can work on and improve.”
The Devils have had success against Burleigh in finals matches in recent years. Their thrilling 22-21 last-minute victory in the 2022 qualifying final at Burleigh followed a 34-16 preliminary final win at Suncorp Stadium in 2021.
The Devils have regained players from injury in recent weeks including three-time premiership players Jack Ahearn and Jacob Gagan, forwards Jackson Shereb and James Flack and winger Manase Kaho.
That has enabled the Devils to begin cranking combinations through a spine that includes captain and hooker Keirran Mosley and fullback Matthew Milson.
The side on Saturday afternoon featured one Dolphins NRL squad member – Kenny Bromwich returning from a neck injury – who joined the likes of Peta Hola and Sam Elliot in a forward pack that provides more experience for Zach Brooks and Lauloto Salei.
The Devils started well when winger Tony Tumusa skipped to the outside of his defender from a scrum play and gave the Devils a 4-0 lead in the 8th minute.
Burleigh would strike back in the 19th minute to edge in front 6-4 before a Bromwich offload for five-eighth Jordan Lipp ended with a perfect kick for Blake Paskins to add another try.
The teams continued to swap the lead with the Devils regaining the front when prop Justin Makirere crashed over from Moseley’s pass early in the second half.
Ahearn, who was denied a try when he was tackled over the line in the first half, was rewarded with a 79th minute desperate lunge that gave Norths’ one last chance.
BURLEIGH BEARS 22 (Adam Christensen Takitau Mapapalangi, Blake Scot , Adam Christensen tries, Josh Rogers 3 goals) bt NORTHS DEVILS 18 (Tony Tumusa, Blake Paskins, Justin Makirere, Jack Ahearn, tries, Jordan Lipp 1 goal) at UAA Park.
