The Lewie Fire premiership game was an enjoyable lead-up to the big Blackhawks game later in the day and the Devils seemed to have the game in the bag after a dominant first half.

Town went into the sheds 40-12 up with Blackstars seemingly a spent force.

But they came out with renewed purpose in the second half to make an entertaining game of it in front of a large and appreciative crowd.

Blackstars made their intentions known with a try on 41 minutes and then another six minutes later.

With their inability to convert either opportunity they seemed out of contention with the score at 40-20.

But Blackstars kept coming as their rally continued with Scott Kyle crashing over from dummy half and then Herbie Walden chipping and suddenly it was an eight point ball game at 40-32 with the Blackstars supporters in the crowd believing a great escape was possible.

Reality intervened with a try to Townies which captain-coach Marty Paulson expertly converted from the sidelines.

That seemed to deflate the Blackstars and from there on it was all Townies.

The crossed the line a further three times in the dying minutes as the Blackstars ran out of legs.

The final score read Townies 58, Blackstars 32.

Earlier in the day the premiers Wanderers kept their slim title defence hopes alive as they defeated Brothers 58-6 in the first game at Alex Inch Oval.

Then after the main match the Mount Isa and Normanton ladies played out an entertaining 26-26 draw.

The big occasion wasn’t confined to Mount Isa.

Elsewhere Cloncurry christened their new field at the Recreation Grounds with a comprehensive 56-12 defeat of the Normanton Stingers to remain on the heels of the Stingers and Townies at the top of the ladder.

Cloncurry are at home again this Saturday with a 6pm game against Blackstars.

There are two games in Mount Isa: Brothers v Normanton and Town v Wanderers.