Junior statewide competitions Round 4 preview

The last time the Clydesdales and the Falcons met it was the Sunshine Coast who took the win, 28-10.

Last round the Clydesdales started well and scored three tries in the first eight minutes but then didn’t score again after the 23rd minute.

At halftime, down by the two, the game was still there but then in the second half the Clydesdales’ defence failed them and the Jets ran away with the win.

Ill-discipline also cost the Clydesdales with two players put in the sin bin.

The Clydesdales only had 46 per cent of the ball but Bailey Rathmell defended the house down with 24 tackles, and on the other side of the ball Bodhi Sharpley made 163 run metres.

Clydesdales coach Paul Boase is looking for a wall to be built around fortress Toowoomba.

“Our first up contact, getting in front, that’s what I want to see,” Boase said.

“Bodhi Sharpley is in the middle and he has been great for us and his mate Bud Smith, they’re our leaders.”

Meanwhile, the Falcons enjoyed a big day out against the Wide Bay Bulls last week, winning 58-20.

The Falcons did everything right in the big victory and displayed poise and skills.

With 61 per cent of the ball and 10 tries, you rarely lose many games.

Mason Kira got the party started with the first try and then knuckled down to his task of 142 metres of ground won the hard way for his team.

The Falcons only made 144 tackles and making 16 of those was Jayden Smith while Jack Philp scored a try from his two line breaks.

For the full draw and team lists, click here.

Harvey Norman Under 19s

The Redcliffe Dolphins and Brisbane Tigers will collide on Saturday in the Harvey Norman Under 19s.

When they last played each other in 2022, it was the Tigers' day as they claimed a 44-4 victory.

So far this season, the Tigers won their first two games but then crashed against the Bears last week, losing by two points at 22-20, while the Dolphins have had a win and a loss, going down last week against the Tweed Seagulls, 28-4.

The Dolphins started well with all the momentum, leading after 11 minutes.

But from there Tweed scored five tries and the Dolphins came away with a Round 3 loss.

Dolphins coach Jason Goulding thinks sticking with Plan A might have been the best option.

“We went away from our plan and started doing our own thing... the girls learnt a valuable lesson,” Goulding said.

“The last 15 minutes against Tweed we got what we deserved and they scored four tries.

“We were good for a lot of the game but that’s a lesson, you need to be good for the whole game.

“We are excited about coming home and being up against a traditional rival like the Brisbane Tigers.

“Our hooker Diantae Savage has been great for us out of dummy half and she will be a weapon again this week.

“Reegan Hicks is valuable for us too.”

The Tigers lost a close game by two on the Gold Coast to the Bears. It was five tries to four but the sending off of hooker Tahliya Tavita cost the Tigers and they were forced to finish the game one down.

Tigers coach Paul Nieuwenhuyzen is looking for an improvement in defence this week against the Dolphins.

“We went try for try with the Bears and that is always going to end in tears,” Nieuwenhuyzen said.

“We score a try and then drop the kick off and you’re under pressure, then they score.

“I am looking for us to finish our sets and keep them out after we score."

For the full draw and team lists, click here.

Cyril Connell Challenge

On Saturday the heat will be turned up on the Cyril Connell Challenge at North Ipswich Reserve for the Jets and Wide Bay Bulls.

Both the Bulls and Jets are looking for their first win of the season.

The Bulls are coming off a loss to the Falcons at 34-26 and the Ipswich Jets went down to the Western Clydesdales, 24-16.

The last time the Jets and Bulls played each other was a good day out for the Jets, who won 32-16.

The Jets started well against the Western Clydesdales with Tyson Walker and Xzavier Timoteo scoring in the first half and within three minutes of each other.

At halftime the Jets were up 8-6 but from there it didn’t go to plan with the Jets not kicking a goal.

It was four tries each but Clydesdales fullback Braithen Scott kicked four goals.

Jets coach Jye Tuaimau-Gadsdon knows what he wants fixed.

“It’s our defence that is putting us under pressure,” Tuaimau-Gadsdon said.

“We are not winning the contact and teams are rolling through and then we made an error and they have the ball 20 metres out.

“Our focus this week will be making sure we are winning that defence against Wide Bay.”

The Wide Bay Bulls are also looking for their first win of the year; it didn’t come against the Falcons but they are confident that a trip to Ipswich might bring about the change they are looking for at the moment.

The Bulls scored five tries and that should be enough to win games. They will look to take their first half form into this week against Ipswich.

The Bulls were winning last week at halftime, 16-10, but finished with 51 per cent of the ball and missed 31 tackles, unable to stop the Falcons scoring back to back tries.

Riley Maule defended the Bulls' middle with 19 tackles while Johannes Smith was the prop taking the Bulls forward with 125 run metres.

Fullback Harrison Braithwaite made two line breaks and will need that skill again this week.

Bulls coach Andrew Filo knows the Bulls are getting closer to that first win of the season.

“We lost by two to Toowoomba and then lost to the Falcons... we started really well and things were going smoothly against the Falcons but we just lost our way either side of half-time,” Filo said.

“Our middle is performing so we know that’s where we will be tested again this week.

“Our winger Owen Hess has been great and our relationship with the Dolphins has really strengthened rugby league in the area.”

For the full draw and team lists, click here.

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