Junior statewide competitions Round 5 preview

In defence, William Saunders made 22 tackles and tried hard to stop the wall from breaking, while in attack Mason Barber scored a try, made two line breaks and 110 run metres.

It’s taking Tweed too long to get into games and Wynnum Manly scored five times in the first 22 minutes - 32-6 at half-time is a big mountain to overcome.

Tweed coach Sam Meskell is sure about a few things from here.

“We’ve taken a few valuable lessons from the past two weeks,” Meskell said.

“We’re looking forward to the battle with Souths who are always a tough opposition."

Meskell has been impressed in the first month of the competition by some Seagulls and hopes to get back to that Round 1 feeling.

“Isaiah Scanlan has been impressive in work rate and through the middle,” Meskell said.

“Mason Barber has been a real attacking threat for us.

“We started the game well in Round 1 and controlled possession early.

“The last two weeks we haven’t done ourselves any favours with early errors both in attack and defence.

“Hopefully if we tidy up a few things we can play with a bit more energy and confidence."

On the other side of the paddock, the Souths Logan Magpies aren’t problem free either. The Magpies are coming off the bye but were beaten by the Wynnum Manly Seagulls 30-26 a fortnight ago.

The Magpies scored five tries but lost by four, with Wynnum Manly’s Coby Black slotting over five goals.

The Magpies controlled everything but the score - with 59 percent of the ball and three less tackles, you would normally win the game.

Arthur Folau will have needed the rest last week after running for 191 run metres against Wynnum Manly while Lewis Symonds made 25 tackles.

The Magpies will be searching for a repeat of that overall performance this week and with the bye, they will be fresh and ready to tackle Tweed.

For the full round draw and team lists, click here.

Harvey Norman Under 19s

The Norths Devils Harvey Norman Under 19s team are hosting their neighbours in the Redcliffe Dolphins on Sunday and will be part of a 75-year-old feud.

The Devils have lost their first three games and will be looking to use the Dolphins to springboard onto bigger and better things this season.

The Devils did a lot right against the Bears - they controlled the ball and completed sets - but they missed 30 tackles.

Those tackles led to tries and three first half tries put the Devils under pressure, as they went from 16-12 down at half-time to a 38-18 loss.

Highlights for the Devils were Kiara Schubert with 14 tackles and Grace Giampino with 101 run metres. Meanwhile Jordan Jackson made two line breaks and scored a try.

Coach Jake Rowden wants to see longer periods of football from the Devils.

“We do a lot right, we just do it for 35 minutes,” Rowden said.

“I’d like to see that pushed out a lot further. We have a good, healthy rivalry with the Dolphins and a lot of girls go to school together so hopefully we can fire up and play some footy.

“I have been impressed with Grace Giampino. We aren’t a big team so she has to do a lot of our go forward and she does that.

“Ava Walters too fills in any spot we need.”

On the other side of the not-so-friendly fence will be the Dolphins.

The Dolphins accounted for the Tigers last round and will be looking to continue that good form. Something that will need addressing is the Dolphins' completion rate and getting to kicks to finish off their sets.

The Dolphins only finished 12 of 24 sets.

Redcliffe attacked well with seven line breaks and that ended with five tries which is a good return on investment.

Reegan Hicks made 17 tackles for the Dolphins and Aspen Nakao finished with two line breaks. Lock Armarni-Lea Auvae made 115 run metres.

For the full round draw and team lists, click here.

Cyril Connell Challenge

A baby dolphin is called a calf and the youngest calves riding the Dolphins hysteria are the Cyril Connell side that plays Norths Devils this week.

The Dolphins are top of the table with three wins from three games.

The Dolphins got to kick off the festivities at Kayo Stadium last week ahead of the NRL clash with a win over the Brisbane Tigers, 18-16.

The Dolphins started well and worked from there to secure the win.

Two tries in the first 10 minutes gave them something to work on when the points dried up a bit and fullback Mereki Warradoo went to the sin bin for 10 minutes.

Redcliffe only had 47 per cent of the ball and completed 18 sets but somehow found a way to win.

Coach Chris Little is happy but wary.

“Norths are a well-coached side and have good players that we need to watch,” Little said.

“We are fighting really hard at the moment. We have some players out but the thing I have really liked this season is our players are really stepping up.

“Our front row with Taufa Taulani and Tylah Akai has been great.

“Our discipline is certainly something we can work on. We had a player in the sin bin and 16 penalties against last week.

“That’s certainly not something we can keep doing.

“Our halves have learnt to communicate and that is certainly helping our team.”

Meanwhile for the Devils it’s a case of a bear attack from Burleigh last week. Norths lost 36-4 against the Bears and are in sixth spot on the ladder with two wins.

The Devils form is inconsistent - they beat Wynnum two weeks ago 40-4 and then had the bye and lost to the Bears in a complete turnaround.

It was a hard day out for the Devils with only 40 per cent of the ball and having to make 31 more tackles than the Bears.

Life was tough.

This week will present a chance to turn around their form and find that edge from two weeks ago.

For a full round draw and team lists, click here.

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