For a majority of the game, Manunda were the better side, but the class and experience of the North Cairns core, plus an almighty half-time blast from their coach, was enough to get them home in their Saturday afternoon clash.

A spirited last quarter led by talisman Kane Richter, Adam Mueller and Scott Rowe helped them to a 13.13 (91) to 10.10 (70) truimph that pushed them two wins clear of fifth-placed Cairns City.

Manunda chose not to travel to Port Douglas last weekend – and a decision that is still to be adjudicated on the AFL Cairns, most likely in the next few days – but they turned up at Watsons Oval on the weekend and really made their presence felt.

Easily the better of the two sides early, the Hawks played smatter and efficiently with and against a stiff breeze and found themselves up by about three goals for a bulk of the first half.

Some electrifying grabs from Dwayne Bosen snapped the Hawks’ hold on the game though and slowly but surely the worm turned.

Tempers flared as the gap closed, two yellow cards for foul play handed out inside five minutes after half-time.

Erasing the deficit midway through the third term, Norths extended their narrow lead in the final quarter and celebrated what coach Dave Arnfield conceded was an ugly win.

“We outplayed them in the last quarter, but they were the better team for the other three,” he said.

“We had that experience step up when we needed it and those wins (when you aren’t playing well) are always very satisfying. We dug in and won a game that was important in the scheme of the ladder.”

The usually reserved Arnfield couldn’t help but lose his cool at half-time, the spray ringing out across the confines of Watsons Oval.

But it seemed to work, given the Tiger’s urgency and run improved and slowly over-came some tired Hawks legs.

“They are a great young side and will be a real force if they can keep their young guns together for a few seasons,” Arnfield said of Manunda.

Mueller finished with four goals, while Bosen and Rowe had two each along with Manunda’s Bradwell Dick and Corey Flint.