Central Queensland marked the first game at the brand new Aurizon Stadium with a 24-18 win over Burleigh, holding off a late Bears push in a tight Hostplus Cup Round 8 contest in Rockhampton.
Playing at the $64 million stadium after its official opening this week, the Capras made the occasion count. They led 12-8 at half-time, were pulled back level early in the second half, then built the decisive margin with two converted tries in six minutes before Burleigh crossed late.
Peyton Jenkins gave Central Queensland the start they wanted, crossing in the ninth minute to put the home side ahead 4-0. Burleigh responded through a Guy Hamilton penalty goal in the 13th minute, trimming the margin to 4-2.
The Capras struck again through Riley Reid in the 29th minute, extending the lead to 8-2, before the Bears hit back through Lachlan West. Hamilton converted in the 35th minute to level the match at 8-8.
Central Queensland landed the final blow of the first half when Malachi Dumas crossed in the 38th minute. The conversion was missed, but the try sent the Capras into the break with a 12-8 lead.
Burleigh came back into the contest after half-time, with Phillip Coates scoring in the 55th minute to make it 12-12. The Bears missed the conversion, leaving the game locked up heading into the final quarter.
The decisive shift came through two quick Capras tries. Cooper Marshall crossed in the 61st minute and Blake Moore converted to restore Central Queensland’s lead at 18-12. Four minutes later, Trey Brown added another try, with Moore again converting to push the Capras out to 24-12.
Burleigh narrowed the margin late when Takitau Mapapalangi scored in the 79th minute and Hamilton converted to close the gap to six points. The late strike was not enough, with the Capras holding on to secure the win.
Central Queensland finished with five tries to Burleigh’s three, with Jenkins, Reid, Dumas, Marshall and Brown all crossing. Moore kicked both Capras conversions, while Burleigh’s points came through tries to West, Coates and Mapapalangi, two Hamilton conversions and an early penalty goal.
The match also featured three sin bins, with Burleigh’s Sam Coster sent from the field in the fourth minute, Capras forward Tane Kiriona binned in the 51st minute, and Burleigh’s Lochlyn Sheldon also sent to the bin in the same minute.
For the Capras, the result gave Aurizon Stadium a winning start, with Central Queensland securing the points in the first match played at their new home.
