THE Bycroft Cup's match of the round earned its title with Currumbin Eagles pushing the competition leaders to the final siren.

In the end the Southport Tigers took the competition points in a thrilling 20-17 victory over an impressive Currumbin at Owen Park yesterday.

Other Bycroft fixtures were not such a close one with Bilambil Jets defeating Tweed Coast Raiders 74-4 and Tugun Seahawks showed the skills that took the club to last year's final to defeat Cudgen 50-8.

But it was Currumbin Eagles' performance on the field that was a highlight of the round.

The Eagles looked like they had sewn up a memorable win with five minutes to go when Reece Worboys edged his side in front with a field goal, only for Southport to rally and score the match winning try with two minute left on the clock.

"At times we made it so hard for ourselves today," Tigers coach Jason Wilkinson said.

"There were times where it looked like we were starting to hit a bit of form but every time we did we got a bit overexcited and turned the ball over or gave away a penalty."

"But take nothing away from Currumbin. They really put in a good performance today as we knew they would."

Currumbin played an expansive, high-energy style of football for 80 minutes and while they didn't get the two competition points it was definitely a performance other teams will take notice of.

For Southport on the other hand it was a chance for them to finally get back on the field and get rid of some of the rust they've developed over the last three weeks off.

The win also means the Tigers remain unbeaten at the top of the ladder while Currumbin will drop from fifth to sixth.

Both sides went blow for blow in an entertaining first half with tries to Tu Whakatihi and two to Ken Edwards for the Tigers and tries to Blake Anderson and Corey Morris for the visitors.

Southport was boosted in the 28th minute when former Gold Coast Titan Preston Campbell came off the bench for the first time in the first grade side.

Along with the class of Campbell they welcomed the physicality of prop Chris Hodges who was intimidating in his first game of the season.

Despite trailing 16-10 at the break it was Currumbin who came out of the gates strongest in the second half.

As has been the case all season it was playmaking trio Joel Munro, Michael Burgess Will Johnstone who looked threatening for the Eagles as they kept the tempo up.

But Southport's defence was up to the challenge and combined with a smart kicking game from Craig Chapman and the guidance of Campbell the Tigers stayed in the contest.

It took until the 70th minute for Currumbin to finally get across the line and a pressure conversion from Blake Anderson locked the scores at 16.

Worboys' field goal looked to be the match winning play, but a late charge from Southport which saw Patrick Hunt muscle his way over the line mean the home side got the fairytale finish instead.

"(Currumbin) played really well and just kept on coming today," Wilkinson said.

"But to their credit our guys just hung in there and found a way to win."

"It was good to finally get to blow out the cobwebs from the last three weeks so hopefully next week we should be firing."