CDRL WRAP, Rd 18: Ivanhoes all but locked in finals

Ivanhoe Knights have all but locked in their spot in the finals, but coach Lindsay Styles is not celebrating yet. FULL ROUND WRAP >>

IVANHOE Knights have all but locked in their spot in the finals, but coach Lindsay Styles is not celebrating yet.

The Smithfield club travelled to Vico Oval to face Kangaroos in a clash between the two teams left in the chase for a finals spot.

And they left the grinners, with the win, two valuable competition points and, arguably, as slightly easier last two rounds which all but cements another appearance in the Cairns District Rugby League A-grade finals.

That isn’t how Styles looks at the 30-20 win.

This is a coach who turned to experienced warhorse Brent Oosen as his 40th player used this season, showing the extent of the club’s injury crisis, depth and one-club mentality which has driven the club to success.

Ivanhoes gun Rhy Young Picture: Brian Cassey

And with games against Tully Tigers and Southern Suburbs remaining, Styles isn’t going off early.

But he did celebrate the win, which he said was a reward for players who, through every win, loss, injury, and illness, have never stopped believing they could be among the top sides in the competition this season.

“We’re still not in there yet, but it’s great to see the boys get the reward for their efforts,” said the first-year coach.

“The boys have never lost that belief.

“Even when we had that losing run, they kept working, they kept training, and they kept playing hard.”

Saturday’s clash was a classic between two teams who knew their season depended on earning a victory.

They traded tries throughout the clash, before young centre Caiban Thaiday put the result beyond doubt when he sealed his hat trick with just a few minutes left on the clock.

Styles said Thaiday, who has just returned from injury, and Kelly Valmadre combined well on their edge, while fellow returning centre Will Messa was another standout who scored for the visitors.

Regan Herd was in good touch for Ivanhoes again. Picture: Brian Cassey

Kangaroos, who were led well by Theo Majid but had two players sin binned, fought until that final siren.

Majid scored two tries as the experienced playmaker steered the side around the park well, while Daniel Woodhouse and Tyson Phineasa, both of whom have starred throughout the season, also crossed for tries.

Kangaroos havea tough, but not impossible, mountain to climb if they are to finish in the top five.

They travel to Jilara Oval to face a dangerous Yarrabah outfit this Sunday, then finish the season at home against second-placed Innisfail.

The Mooroobool club must win both, hope Ivanhoes drop at least one of their remaining two games, and overcome a 100-point gap between the two clubs’ points differental.

SEAHAWKS BRING SHOWTIME TO YARRABAH

YARRABAH celebrated a successful return to their home ground, running in 10 tries in an entertaining 46-24 thrashing of Mareeba Gladiators.

Four Seahawks – Sam Bann Jr, Telston Bounghi, Wade Smith and Japeth Mundraby – scored doubles as the team returned to Jilara Oval for the first time since they were stood down and rubbed out of the CDRL competition for a week.

FNQ Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League again had to source referees external to the Cairns District Rugby League Referees Association after the organisation stood by its decision to not supply officials to games involving Yarrabah.

With all of the drama surrounding that suspension, and the ongoing impasse with the CDRLRA, Yarrabah admittedly has not trained much, but come gameday they have been driven by the desire to rediscover the fun of the game.

It’s why, for a second consecutive week, they totally mixed up their team sheet, with forwards in the backline and key playmaking positions.

Elsewhere, 2008 Olympian and professional boxer Paul “Showtime” Fleming watched on as the Tigers brought the fight to Mossman-Port Douglas in the club’s Indigenous round game. While the Tigers fell 32-22 to the league leaders, it was a top performance from a club which has bounced back from several tough seasons.

On Sunday, Brothers jumped into second with a big win against Edmonton, while Atherton beat Suburbs.

RESULTS

MOSSMAN-PD SHARKS 32 (S Anau 2, K Anau, Baira, Nona, Crampton tries; Murgha 4 goals) def TULLY TIGERS 22 (Ketchell, Mukundi, Papani, not supplied tries; Nona 3 goals) at Tully Showgrounds.

IVANHOES KNIGHTS 30 (Thaiday 3, Timu, Valmadre, Messa tries; Knowles 3 goals) def KANGAROOS 20 (Majid 2, Woodhouse, Phineasa tries; Woodhouse 2 goals) at Vico Oval, Mooroobool.

YARRABAH SEAHAWKS 46 (Bann 2, Smith 2, Bounghi 2, Mundraby 2, Golchert, Murgha tries; Bounghi, Satrick Hunter-Flanders goals)def MAREEBA GLADIATORS 24 (Fourmile, Elu, Wyborn, Wood tries; Lyall 4 goals)at Jilara Oval, Yarrabah.

BROTHERS 60 (Heron 3, Er Suavai 2, Peni, Wigness, El Suavai, Purcell, Savage, Smith tries; Peni 8 goals)def EDMONTON STORM 14 (Harris, Mimi, Simpson tries; Simpson goal)at Stan Williams Park, Manunda.

ATHERTON ROOSTERS 36 (Grogan 2, R Griffin 2, Pedro, Cuda, C Griffin tries; Grogan 2, N Curcio 2 goals) def SOUTHERN SUBURBS 26 (Thomas, Lowe 2, Watson, Chambers tries; Chinfat 3 goals) at Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium, Atherton.

INNISFAIL LEPRECHAUNS had the bye.

RESERVES

Tully Tigers 40 def Mossman-PD 24.

Kangaroos 30 def Ivanhoes 20.

Yarrabah def Mareeba (forfeit)

Suburbs 20 def Atherton 18.

Brothers v Edmonton.

Innisfail had the bye.

UNDER-18s

Kangaroos 38 def Ivanhoes 6.

Mareeba 54 def Yarrabah 22.

Atherton def Suburbs (forfeit)

Brothers 22 def Edmonton 20.

Innisfail and Tully Tigers had the bye.

WOMEN

Kangaroos 26 def Edmonton 12.

Yarrabah v Mossman-PD (no result).

Follow @MMcInerney89

Originally published as CDRL WRAP, Rd 18: Ivanhoes all but locked in finals