Category: ISC

Devils’ late rush not enough

The Norths Devils stormed home with a late rush of tries but it wasn’t enough to reel in Wynnum Manly Seagulls in an entertaining Intrust Super Cup clash at Bishop Park today.

In front of a bumper Sunday afternoon crowd, the Devils closed within a try of the Seagulls before the visitors scored against the run of play for a 34-24 win.

The Devils lamented a first-half lapse when the impressive Seagulls scored four tries in 17 minutes to scamper to a 30-10 halftime lead.

The Devils almost pulled that back, surging home to trail by only six points with two minutes remaining. They were again in scoring position but an attacking kick was snared by Wynnum fullback Edene Gebbie, who ran the length of the field from his in-goal area to score as the fulltime siren sounded.

The game was a match of two halves, reflected in the performance of Wynnum centre James Roberts whose electric first-half try was not matched by any memorable second-half moments.

Instead, the Devils piled on three tries, including two within three minutes to centre Luke Pollock.

However, the Devils couldn’t land the late blow to knock over the third-placed Seagulls.

The Devils will head to Rockhampton to meet CQ Capras next Sunday hoping to return to the top four.

The Devils needed the attacking spark that they have developed under coach Rohan Smith to get back into today’s match when it seemed to be slipping away.

That was most evident as they sliced through Wynnum’s edges in the second half as they held the tiring Seagulls scoreless for all but the last 10 seconds.

Wynnum started the match well, capitalising on a Norths error in the first set to score in the opening minute through former Devil Matiu Love-Henry.

Winger Delouise Hoeter scored in the sixth minute as Wynnum reached an 8-0 before the Devils hit back.

Troy Dargan’s try in the 13th minute brought the Devils back to 6-8 and promised a recovery for the strong home crowd.

But Wynnum kept ahead, weathering another try from winger Herbie Farnworth who continues to impress for the Devils.

Earlier, the Devils led early but were unable to hold off a fast-finishing Wynnum in the Hastings Deering Colts clash. The Seagulls won 34-18 despite early tries that put the Devils on a path to topple the second-placed Wynnum.

INTRUST SUPER CUP: WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS 34 (Matiu Love-Henry 2, Deloiuse Hoeter, James Roberts, Alex Barr, Jayden Berrell, Edene Gebbie tries, Pat Templeman three goals) d NORTHS DEVILS 24 (Luke Pollock 2, Troy Dargan, Herbie Farnworth, Jack Ahearn tries, Farnworth 2 goals) at Bishop Park.

HASTINGS DEERING COLTS: WYNNUM MANLY SEAGULLS 34 (Brock Richardson 2, Dredin Sorensen-McGee, Clayton Mack, Lachlan Perry, Zane Wallace tries; Shannon Gardiner 5 goals) def NORTHS DEVILS 18 (Jake Strasser, Daniel Atkinson, Michael McGrath tries; Joshua James 3 goals) at Bishop Park.

 

Broadhurst closes on century

As Connor Broadhurst closes on 100 Intrust Super Cup matches, he can draw plenty of links with players on opposition teams.

The Baralaba junior – a childhood friend of Corey Oates – has spent time in the Parramatta and Gold Coast systems before continuing his impressive career with Norths Devils.

This Sunday, Broadhurst is set to face another former teammate when the Devils take on James Roberts and the Wynnum Manly Seagulls at Bishop Park.

Broadhurst and Roberts were together in the Titans’ NRL system before their careers took different turns.

Now, they may end up opposing each other depending on where the Seagulls decide to play Roberts as the Brisbane Broncos centre returns to the Intrust Super Cup.

If Roberts plays his preferred right centre position, he will be opposite Broadhurst and in the vicinity of Devils backrower Nixon Putt – one of the hardest-hitting defenders in the competition.

Broadhurst said he was continuing to enjoy his busy football career. Just a few weeks after his 25th birthday, Broadhurst sits on 97 ISC appearances to add to his 52 matches in the NRL Under 20 competition.

He also featured for the Queensland Residents in their win over New South Wales two weeks ago, cementing Broadhurst’s credentials as a player with genuine NRL claims.

“I’ve enjoyed being able to play a lot over the years and, by doing that, I’ve met a lot of teammates and played under different coaches,” Broadhurst said.

“It’s been really enjoyable at Norths this year. It’s really good that we have the style in which Ro (coach Rohan Smith) likes to use the ball across the park and we can play on any opportunity that we see.

“We’ve done well so far but we know there are areas that we can continue to improve on and Sunday will be another good test for us.”
Wynnum goes into Sunday’s match in third place while the Devils are fourth, buoyed by a 42-18 win over Mackay Cutters at Bishop Park last Saturday night.

Broadhurst was active from the opening minute of that match, slicing through a tackle for a 40-metre run that linked with Putt for a fast opening try.

Away from the field, Broadhurst is a high school teacher, using a Diploma in Education that he gained after completing a degree in Exercise and Sports Science.

Devils crack Mackay hoodoo with win

Teenage winger Herbie Farnworth scored three tries as Norths Devils ended their Mackay hoodoo with a 42-18 Intrust Super Cup victory at Bishop Park tonight.

Farnworth sealed the match with an individual try in the 73rd minute, sprinting 40m from dummy half. With five conversions tonight, he lifted his season tally to 78 points and showed why the Brisbane Broncos were keen to wrest the young Englishman from the clutches of soccer giants including Manchester United.

The Devils ended a three-match losing streak against the Cutters, whose twin wins in 2018 impacted on Norths’ chances to end their finals drought.

But the Devils were impressive tonight, blasting into action when second-rower Nixon Putt crossed from the opening set of the match after Queensland Residents centre Connor Broadhurst busted the line.

When Broncos half Sean O’Sullivan dummied and scored six minutes later, the Devils were away.

O’Sullivan was active again close to halftime when he clasped an intercept, surging down the right-hand side where he found Farnworth’s speed to create a 22-6 scoreline.

Three tries in five minutes in the second half pushed the Devils to 38-6 but Mackay kept fighting and grabbed tries in the 64th and 68th minutes. The fightback was expected given the reputation that the Cutters have established for being a difficult team to break down.

The win pushed the Devils to a 7-3 win-loss record, setting up an exciting clash with Wynnum Seagulls at Bishop Park next Sunday.

There was plenty for Devils fans to like tonight, including two tries for Putt who continues to impress his new supporters at Nundah. Captain Jack Ahearn was also rewarded for his energy with a 58th minute try.

Farnworth racked up the points to continue the impressive start to his young career. He made an immediate impression for the Devils as an 18-year-old in round 1 last year but he suffered a broken hand in his debut.

He returned almost two months later, scoring an excellent try against Easts but he broke the same hand in the act of scoring.

Tonight’s team tally of 42 points equalled the highest for Norths since coach Rohan Smith took over at the start of last season. The Devils had defeated Souths Logan 42-16 in round three as their 2019 season began to take shape.

It was an important result for Norths tonight, rebounding from a loss to Tweed Heads Seagulls before the representative break.

Norths welcomed Pride Petterson-Robati as Devil No.1288, making his debut from the interchange bench.

Earlier today, Mackay Cutters fought back late in the Hastings Deering Colts match to defeat the Devils 20-19.

NORTHS DEVILS 42 (Herbie Farnworth 3, Nixon Putt 2, Sean O’Sullivan, Paul Ulberg, Jack Ahearn tries, Farnworth 5 goals) d MACKAY CUTTERS 18 (Carlin Anderson, Brenden Treston, Jayden Hodges tries, Anderson 3 goals) at Bishop Park.