Falcons 24 defeat Blackhawks 16 in Townsville

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The Sunshine Coast Falcons have defeated the Townsville Blackhawks 24-16 in a tough, uncompromising encounter at Jack Manski Oval.

Following a moving Anzac Day ceremony on field, both teams threw themselves into the battle with neither team giving an inch early on – the Blackhawks controlling territory.

However, it was Sunshine Coast who struck first with fullback Matthew Milson scoring in the 13th minute, the Todd Murphy conversion giving the visitors an early lead.

A Shaun Nona grubber-kick was pounced on by Nathan Barrett in the 28th minute, with the Nona conversion levelling up the score.

In the 33rd minute, Murphy slotted a penalty goal to give the Falcons an 8-6 lead at half-time.

Milson was in the action again in the 45th minute, giving a classy pass to BJ Aufaga-Toomaga to score in the corner. Murphy kicked the goal from the sideline to give the Falcons momentum and an eight-point buffer.

Nona was involved again, throwing a cut-out pass to Carlin Anderson to score the try and reduce the deficit to only four.

Nat McGavin increased the lead of the visitors in the 63rd minute when he scored following a kick from Aufaga-Toomaga, who somehow got his foot to the ball despite the attention of numerous Blackhawks defenders. This left the score at 18-10.

Milson put the result beyond doubt after he latched on to an inside ball from Cooper Johns in the 75th minute. Following the conversion from Murphy, the Falcons had an unassailable lead.

Barrett crossed for a double in the 78th minute, converted by Nona, but the game had gone.