On paper it was a fifth-place Byron Bay Red Devils taking on the fourth-placed Murwillumbah Mustangs in the first elimination round for the U/18s on Saturday at Cudgen in the NRRRL.
Byron Bay’s Max Ruskin scored first and the Bay went to halftime with a solid 16–0 lead.
Murwillumbah fought back in the second half but it wasn’t enough against a determined Byron outfit.
With two tries each from Max Ruskin and Kuyan Laurie, and conversions from Malik Kelly-Torrens and Clay Buckley, the Devils finished the match with a 22–14 win.
Coach Mitchell Krause was very pleased with the commitment of the team, which has now secured a semifinal berth against Marist Brothers at Casino on Saturday. The Brothers lost their qualifying final to Cudgen 24–10.