The Central Queensland Capras were beaten 28-10 by the Ipswich Jets at Richardson Park – Woogaroo Field in Round 17 of the Hostplus Cup, with the home side building an early 16-point advantage before shutting down a second-half Capras response.
Ipswich opened the scoring through Sione Hopoate in the second minute. Lachlan Ilias missed the conversion, but the Jets quickly extended their advantage when Corey Ross crossed in the 10th minute.
Ilias converted to give Ipswich a 10-0 lead and leave Central Queensland under early scoreboard pressure.
The Jets added their third try through Jayden Wright in the 25th minute. Ilias again converted, pushing the margin to 16-0 and giving the home side firm control of the opening half.
Central Queensland found a response seven minutes later when Banjo Walker crossed for the visitors’ first try. Blake Moore was unable to convert, but the score reduced the deficit to 16-4 and gave the Capras a foothold before half-time.
Ipswich added to its lead shortly after the restart when Ilias kicked a penalty goal in the 42nd minute, moving the score to 18-4.
The Capras continued to work back into the contest and were rewarded in the 55th minute when Zac Garton crossed for their second try. Trey Brown converted to bring Central Queensland within eight points at 18-10 with more than 20 minutes remaining.
That was the point at which the match was still within reach, but Ipswich produced the next decisive scoring play.
Tony Francis crossed in the 65th minute to restore the Jets’ advantage and move the score to 22-10. David Bryenton missed the conversion, leaving the Capras needing two converted tries to draw level.
Central Queensland was unable to add to its tally, and Ipswich closed out the result through Dantoray Lui in the 77th minute. Bryenton converted to complete the scoring at 28-10.
Walker and Garton provided the Capras’ two tries, while Brown added one conversion. Ipswich finished with five individual try scorers, with Hopoate, Ross, Wright, Francis and Lui all crossing. Ilias contributed six points through two conversions and a penalty goal, while Bryenton landed the final conversion.
The Capras reduced the margin after falling 16 points behind, but Ipswich’s early scoring burst and two tries in the final 15 minutes proved decisive.
