Comets open with a win

Comets captain Tyron Haynes battles to find a way through Mackay Cutters’ defence at Browne Park on Saturday.

MEGAN LEWIS

A DALLAS Williams try as the halftime siren sounded proved to be a vital moment of an exciting first-round Intrust Super Cup victory at Browne Park on Saturday.

The match was a thriller, in which both teams enjoyed spells of domination and showed enough skills to make their supporters think the season will be a good one.

For those supporters who had watched the televised Queensland Cup game before setting off for Browne Park, it provided reassurance the competition will be exciting. The televised match between Wynnum Manly and Burleigh had resulted in a 0-0 bore, but the Comets and Cutters showed more enterprise in the opening 10 minutes than viewers saw in the whole of that game.

Even though there was a tricky wind, both coaches would be reasonably satisfied with the number of errors.

However, Cutters Paul Bramley would less pleased with the penalty count, which favoured the Comets.

When the two teams met in a trial match the Comets were kept scoreless but it was obvious from the outset there would be no repeat of that statistic as the home team showed far more creativity than on that occasion.

After dropping the ball repeatedly throughout the trials the Comets looked like a different bunch of players with their slick ball movement and instinctive passing skills.

Chris Beasley started the try-scoring for the 2010 season when he saw a gap and backed himself to score.

However, the Cutters were soon on the board when fullback Guy Williams was caught out by a long, low kick that caused him to knock-on in his own 20.

Within the set of six, second rower Mitchell Achurch was through for the try, which was converted by Justin Hunt.

Guy Williams, who played his normal faultless game after a horror opening 10 minutes, punched through the Cutters defence to get momentum in a Comets attack, which resulted in Junior Auru scoring in the corner.

Again the Cutters hit back and quick hands resulted in Obe Geia diving for the corner to make it 10-8. That looked to be the halftime score as the siren blew with the Comets 30 metres from the Cutters line. However, a couple of long passes got the ball to Dallas Williams, who set his eyes on the corner and made it despite the attention of the Cutters cover defence.

Ben Hunt’s sideline kick made the halftime score 14-10 in favour of the Comets.

In the second half the Cutters, with the wind at their backs, enjoyed plenty of territory and with Shane Muspratt always dangerous with his long cut-out passes and deft kicking game, the Comets could never think the game was won.

Tim Glasby gave some breathing space with a well-worked try, which Hunt converted, but it was the Comets’ solid defence which impressed.

Very rarely is coach Wayne Barnett totally happy but even he felt a 20-10 win first time out was a good result.

“It was a good way to start the season off,” he said.

“They (Cutters) had a very good side and will get better and better the more they play together.

“We always knew it was going to be a physical game.”

Barnett agreed his team’s handling skills had shown a massive improvement.

“We’ve worked hard on that for the past month,” he said.

Barnett was particularly happy with the unselfish displays from Beasley and Mick Esdale, who tackled themselves to a standstill.

COMETS v CUTTERS

Round one of the Intrust Super Cup at Browne Park.

CENTRAL COMETS 20 (Chris Beasley, Junior Auru, Dallas Williams, Tim Glasby tries. Ben Hunt (2) goals

MACKAY CUTTERS 10 (Mitchell Achurch, Obe Geia tries. Justin Hunt goal)