Easts, Redcliffe and Valleys remain undefeated after the opening fortnight of the Brisbane Rugby League Struddy’s Sports pre-season competition.
The Tigers put 80 points on Carina on Saturday, with Leon Ellia-Nuikore notching a hat-trick, while Redcliffe defeated Normanby 54-6.
The Dolphins have conceded just two tries in their opening two matches.
But the surprise packet of the pre-season has been Valleys.
The Diehards have beaten last year’s grand finalists in successive weeks to sit third on the Struddy’s Sports ladder.
They defeated Ipswich 39-20 on Sunday after accounting for Wynnum Manly RC the week prior.
While pre-season form doesn’t necessarily translate to the season proper, the results are more than promising for a club that finished second last in 2015.
At Kougari Oval on Sunday, the Seagulls rebounded from a loss to Valleys with a 36-20 victory over Logan Brothers.
The home team started strongly, opening with tries in the first ten minutes to prop Andrew Clayton and winger Mitch McMillan, who pounced on an error from Logan Brothers fullback Codey Kennedy.
Logan Brothers clawed their way back into the game, trailing 14-10 at the break when powerhouse prop Tikko Noke barged over.
But a quick beginning to the second half saw the Seagulls again pull away.
Clayton’s second opened up a 36-16 lead with ten minutes to go before a late try to Logan Brothers brought the final margin to sixteen points.
STRUDDY'S SPORTS BRL PRE-SEASON ROUND TWO RESULTS
Saturday 12 March
EASTS TIGERS 80 (Leon Ellia-Niukore 3, Michael Pouhila 2, Michael Kai 2, James Salter 2, Aidan Lee 2, Sam Gee 2, Jake Hargreaves 2, Jamie Anderson tries; Guy Hamilton 8 goals) def CARINA 8 (Grayson Morgan, Michael Egan tries) at Suzuki Stadium, Langlands Park, Stones Corner.
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS 56 (Tyson Gamble 3, Christian Hazard 2, Kyle van Klaveren, Rinsma Saueha, Taylor Brown, Dan Randall, Ashley Harawira tries; Tyson Gamble 8 goals) def NORMANBY HOUNDS 6 (Matt Trnka try; Marc Jarman goal) at Purtell Park, Bardon.
GATERS 32 (Marlon Doak 2, Shaun Rees, Luke Strasser, Brendan Tailford, Tommy Webber tries; Stephen Tunnicliffe 2, Marlon Doak, Dwayne Duncan goals) def WEST BRISBANE PANTHERS 24 (Harry Pondekas 2, Kennedy Pettybourne, Sam Carson tries; Luke Pollock 4 goals) at Kev McKell Oval, Arana Hills.
Sunday 13 March
WYNNUM MANLY REDLAND CITY SEAGULLS 36 (David McKenna 2, Andrew Clayton 2, Jeriah Goodrich, Te Carew, Mitchell McMillan tries; Joshua Marshman 4 goals) def LOGAN BROTHERS 20 (Tikiko Noke 2, Jack Anderson, Charles Burchell tries; Ben Jackson 2 goals) at BMD Kougari Oval, Wynnum.
VALLEYS DIEHARDS 39 (Tom Collins, Rez Phillips, Rhett Webster, Dan Murphy, Dylan Mislov, Cody Herrington tries; Andrew Lancaster 7 goals; Dan Murphy field goal) def IPSWICH JETS 20 (Daniel O’Reilly, Fine Faingaa, Peter Whittaker, Lionel Foote tries; Mikaere Beattie 2 goals) at North Ipswich Reserve.
LADDER
Easts 6 (+98), Redcliffe 6 (+88), Valleys 6 (+25), Wynnum Manly RC 4 (+10), Normanby 4 (+2), Ipswich 4 (-9), Gaters 4 (-30), West Brisbane 2 (-18), Logan Brothers 2 (-40), Carina 2 (-124)
Win: 3 points, Draw: 2pts, Loss: 1pt.
