AFTER an impressive opening round win which saw them beat Souths Logan 42-16 – the Redcliffe Dolphins came quickly back down to earth following their trip to Ipswich.
The home side were able to hold on to claim a thrillingly-close win, upsetting the Phins side 32-30.
As defending premiers in this age group and as a team who also represent a club that often expects success – the loss was a good lesson for the young side. However, it is one coach Tony Vidler hopes they only need to learn once.
“(In many ways) we were our own worst enemy – and we made some defensive lapses we shouldn’t have and … I think we failed to get up mentally after the big win at home in the opening week,” Vidler said.
“The nature of the comp is that it is more like a sprint – and I think you can only really afford to drop one game.
“We will have the motivation this week and we will be looking to correct our mistakes.”
This weekend won’t get any easier for the side however and they will have to travel to Bycroft Oval to take on the only undefeated team in Pool A so far in Gold Coast Green.
“Gold Coast Green are the team to beat … and they performed well in beating Norths last week,” Vidler said.
“We will need to be on our game this weekend.”
In other Pool A Meninga Cup matches from round 2, Souths Logan beat Gold Coast White 26-20, Gold Coast Green downed Norths Devils 28-24 and Wynnum Manly were too good for Easts 44-24.
Keegan Hipgrave and Sam Swift scored doubles in the Green’s most recent win over Norths, the 2013 Cyril Connell Cup champions.
In Pool B of the Meninga Cup, the Townsville Stingers and Sunshine Coast Falcons are setting the pace.
The Falcons continued their strong start last Saturday with an impressive 34-16 victory over the Mackay Cutters at Stockland Stadium.
Townsville piled on the points in their big 52-10 win over the Toowoomba Clydesdales, with Rhein Frank, Gideon Mosby-Gela and Cooper Bambling crossing for two tries each.
