THE Gympie Devils rugby league side remains an outside chance of making the finals despite fumbling an opportunity to stake its claim against the Nambour Crushers at the weekend.

Played at Crusher Park in Nambour, the Devils found their game riddled with errors to return home with a 34-18 loss.

Devils player coach Darren Burns said hope was still alive of making the finals.

“We are still alive, but now we have to rely on the results of Bribie Island,” he said.

The Devils have a bye this weekend and collect two points, catching them up with Bribie Island on the competition ladder.

Making the finals will require Bribie Island to lose this weekend away against the Noosa Pirates, leaving the Devils in a situation where they must beat Caloundra the weekend following.

However, the curtain falls on the Devils' season should Bribie Island manage to overcome Noosa.

“We will be kicking back and cheering on Noosa this weekend,” Burns said tongue in cheek.

In the game itself, the Devils started poorly and Nambour capitalised, scoring its first two tries on the back of errors from the Gympie side.

At half time, the Devils were trailing by 16 points, 24-18.

Things were looking grim and the Devils showed some change in form early in the second half when the side completed a few of its opening sets and clawed the score back to a healthier 24-18.

However, the comeback was short-lived and the Devils were denied an equaliser in the corner by the referee deciding a try in Nambour's corner was held up.

“It was a tough call and the referee was in a bad position to see clearly,” Burns said.

Nambour made good of the reprieve and scored once again to extend the lead to 28-18.

Needing two tries to level again, the Devils were put away with minutes left on the game clock when Nambour crossed for one final time.

Following the game, players' player went to Noel Haslan in a landslide.

Players to score for Gympie included: Ben Bambling, Chris Latu, Dylan McPherson, Godfrey Condon tries; Ben Bambling (one goal).