QCUP Round 4: Ipswich Jets vs Mackay Cutters

Jets sparkle

FANS of the Ipswich Jets were treated to an exhilarating display of backline skill as the men in green passed their biggest test of the Queensland Cup season so far.

The Jets did not demolish the Mackay Cutters. Instead they ran around them with sweeping backline moves and cut-out balls to rack up a 32-12 victory at North Ipswich Reserve yesterday.

The Jets scored six tries to two in the win, a game that was essentially wrapped at halftime when they led 20-0.

The Jets executed some sublime set plays but mixed it with excellent offloads to entertain the healthy crowd.

However, it was far from a perfect performance, with the Jets? first 10 minutes after halftime poor as they conceded back-to-back sets and the Cutters capitalised to grab their first points.

The Jets could also have put 40-plus points on the Cutters if they did not drop the ball a handful of times with the tryline within sight.

But this is a Jets team set to rack up plenty of wins this year.

Jets? coaches Ben and Shane Walker said their team?s performance was just ?okay?.

?I think we played better in our two drawn matches,? Ben Walker said.

?Our defence again was excellent. The boys are taking a lot of confidence from their defence.

?They know they can keep teams out and even today the Cutters? tries were off kicks.?

Before the game, the Cutters were rated as the Jets? hardest opponent this year.

Mackay came into the match with a 2-1 record that included the scalp of the Norths Devils.

But the Jets showed no fear in attack, scoring in just the sixth minute when Todd Riggs threw a beautiful cut-out ball to a hard-running Jacob Ling.

Brendon Lindsay then waltzed through the Cutters? line after a backline movement and five minutes later the Jets were in again when Joe Tomane finished off a set play that went through seven sets of hands.

Ramon Filipine then made a great try-saving tackle in the 12th minute to deny the Cutters? their best opportunity to score.

Nuggetty second rower Lorenzo Maafu won the Jets? players? player award.

He was outstanding in the first half especially, beating the first tackler every time he caught the ball.

The Jets? cause was helped with an injury to Cutters? five-eighth Grant Rovelli, a NRL veteran, who went down late in the first half and did not return.

Shane Walker said despite the impressive win, there was plenty of improvement in his team. ?What is pleasing for us is that we are getting results while not being at our best,? Walker said.

?There?s a lot of belief in this group and they?re gaining confidence every week.?

Cutters coach Anthony Seibold said nothing went right for his team yesterday.

?We were well behind on the penalty count which doesn?t help and the ball didn?t bounce for us. It just wasn?t our day,? he said.

?They Jets played well and we knew they would.

?In those two draws at the start of the season, they showed how good they would be this year.

?But for us, it was not a good performance and we were just outplayed.?

The Jets had just one Gold Coast Titans player, Tomane, in their team yesterday with Luke Capewell back in the NRL.

Ipswich Jets 32 (Joseph Tomane, Brendon Lindsay, Tyson Lofipo, Jacob Ling, Smith Samau, Ian Lacey tries; Brendon Lindsay four goals) def Mackay Cutters 12 (Chris Giumelli, Lewis Balcomb tries; Liam Taylor goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.

http://www.qt.com.au/