Central Queensland Capras were beaten 24-20 by Western Clydesdales at Aurizon Stadium, Rockhampton, in Round 2 of the BMD Premiership, after fighting back from 12 points down before a late try decided the match.
The Capras led 8-6 at half-time and dragged the contest back to 20-all late in the second half, but Zoe Robson’s 64th-minute try gave the Clydesdales the final break in a tight, shifting contest.
Central Queensland opened the scoring through Maycee Brown in the 17th minute, with the five-eighth crossing to give the home side a 4-0 lead. Mariah Denman missed the conversion, leaving the margin at four.
The Clydesdales answered in the 26th minute when Morgan Prentice scored. Former Capras player Reeghyn Beardmore added the conversion two minutes later to put Western Clydesdales in front 6-4.
Central Queensland had the final say of the first half. Nhi’arla Faiumu Malone crossed in the 29th minute, and although Denman’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful, the Capras went to the break ahead 8-6.
That lead disappeared quickly after the restart.
Georgia Sim scored in the 36th minute to put the Clydesdales back in front 10-8, then added her second try in the 42nd minute to stretch the margin to 14-8. Beardmore missed both conversion attempts, but Western Clydesdales had taken control of the scoreboard.
The visitors extended their run in the 46th minute when Jessikah Reeves crossed. Beardmore converted to push the Clydesdales out to 20-8, completing a three-try burst that left the Capras chasing the match.
Central Queensland’s response came through the middle of the second half. Ihndara McLeod scored in the 52nd minute, with Denman converting to bring the Capras back to 20-14. Five minutes later, Madeline Johnson crossed to cut the margin to two.
Delaney Claridge converted Johnson’s try in the 58th minute, levelling the scores at 20-20 and giving the Capras a chance to complete the comeback.
The deciding moment came six minutes later. Robson scored in the 64th minute to put the Clydesdales back in front 24-20. Gemma Walker missed the conversion, but the four-point margin was enough for the visitors to close out the result.
Johnson, Brown, Faiumu Malone and McLeod scored Central Queensland’s four tries, while Denman and Claridge kicked one conversion each. Sim led the Clydesdales scoring with two tries, with Prentice, Reeves and Robson also crossing. Beardmore finished with two conversions from five attempts.
The result leaves Central Queensland with a narrow home defeat after leading at half-time and briefly hauling the match level, before the Clydesdales found the final try.
