This weekend's Round 2 Hastings Deering Colts games will see the strong Redcliffe Dolphins head to BMD Kougari Oval to take on Wynnum Manly Seagulls.
Match: WM Seagulls v Dolphins
Round 2 -
home Team
WM Seagulls
away Team
Dolphins
Venue: BMD Kougari Oval, Brisbane
The Dolphins were far too good for the Burleigh Bears last week and have started their season looking slick. After getting away to a great start, Redcliffe continued the job and were up 26-0 at half-time.
In their match, the Dolphins were able control when they gave the ball over and Redcliffe also made the most of their opportunities in possession, making 53 tackle breaks.
Coach Ben Te’o was focusing solely on results, not statistics from his team.
“I am not too worried about completions, I want to know what we do with it,” Te’o said.
Te’o however was happy the resilience shown by his team in Round 1.
“We lost four players due to COVID early in the week, we overcame that and then in the game against the Bears, we were down to 12,” Te’o said.
“We lost three to injury and two to HIA. In that time we were down to 12, they didn’t score so that pleased me.”
Jack Aiken scored three tries for the Dolphins and made three-line breaks and 234 metres in a performance that will have him waking up nice and early with his boots on to travel to Wynnum Manly this week.
Heavy lifter - Jack Aiken
“Jack is a centre from the Falcons and he’s fast and strong, it won’t be long before he’s playing Hostplus Cup,” Te'o said.
Elsewhere in the competition, six more games will be played across the competition.
The round will kick off with the Central Queensland Capras hosting Mackay Cutters.
Match: Capras v Cutters
Round 2 -
home Team
Capras
away Team
Cutters
Venue: Browne Park, Rockhampton
Last week, the Capras spent Round 1 in Ipswich and came home with two points after playing beautiful football.
The visitors were down by two at half-time, but then in the second half found a second, third and fourth gear. Five second half tries will be the Round 2 form the Central Queensland boys will want to see. Coby Williamson nearly ran home to Rockhampton with 188 metres, three tries and three line breaks.
In Round 1, the Cutters were ahead of the Pride at half-time and stayed there in the second half to post a 20-18 win at home. Flynn Camilleri made 280 metres for the Cutters, while Ethan Sweet made 33 tackles.
Western Clydesdales were in the game against Brisbane Tigers in Round 1, but then fell away and that will be what they’re trying to fix this weekend against Sunshine Coast Falcons.
Match: Clydesdales v Falcons
Round 2 -
home Team
Clydesdales
away Team
Falcons
Venue: Glenholme Park, Toowoomba
Despite having only 48 per cent of the ball, their ability to compete and score points isn’t in question. What the Clydesdales did do which will need improving was miss a lot of tackles, with the Tigers breaking away 64 times.
The Falcons returned to their nest against the Magpies with two shiny points to show the bird family. It took the Falcons a while to get moving, but once they did, it was show time.
Jai Smoothy was smooth with four conversions and a try to seal the deal.
Northern Pride started their Colts season with a two-point loss to the Cutters, with players putting in a strong effort including Robert Derby with 265 metres and Robert Flegler who made 34 tackles.
Sterling Addo-Nona made two line breaks and will test the Townsville Blackhawks defence every time he gets the ball when the teams face off this weekend.
Match: Pride v Blackhawks
Round 2 -
home Team
Pride
away Team
Blackhawks
Venue: Barlow Park, Cairns
The Pride missed too many tackles last week and they will want to see that 43 halved this round.
In their match, Townsville were ahead at the break 20-12 and with two tries in the first nine minutes; they were always going to be hard to stop from there.
Dylan White was slotting goals for fun and with 14 points is in a hot field for leading points scorer. White not only scored points, but finished with 174 metres and a try as well.
Tweed Seagulls had their game postponed due to the weather, so will play Norths and their Round 1 later in the season.
Their opponents this weekend Burleigh Bears came face-to-face with a rampant Dolphins who were just too good. The Bears took until the 42nd minute to score and by then it was just too late.
Match: Bears v Seagulls
Round 2 -
home Team
Bears
away Team
Seagulls
Venue: Pizzey Park, Gold Coast
Down 26-0 and two players in the bin, discipline is set to be a focus this week for the team in preparation for this match.
Norths Devils are in the same position as the Tweed Seagulls; their pre-season went for a week longer than they would have liked and will go into this game against Souths Logan Magpies looking to start well.
Match: Devils v Magpies
Round 2 -
home Team
Devils
away Team
Magpies
Venue: Bishop Park, Brisbane
Last weekend, the Magpies were beaten by Sunshine Coast Falcons 24-14, with the head-geared warrior for the Magpies Cruise Ten a standout. Ten should be called Cruise 11, that’s how good last year's Hastings Deering Colts player of the year was for the Magpies, scoring two tries, making 38 tackles and 166 metres.
Round 2 opponents Brisbane Tigers and Ipswich Jets had contrasting Round 1 games, with the Tigers coming away with 32-16 win over Western Clydesdales, while the Jets crashed to a 40-12 loss to Central Queensland Capras.
Match: Tigers v Jets
Round 2 -
home Team
Tigers
away Team
Jets
Venue: Villanova Park, Tingalpa
The Tigers got into the game and then streaked away like good football teams do and as the pressure kept building, they scored points.
The Jets were in front of the Capras 12-10 at halftime and things were certainly looking bright, but then in the second half, they Jets didn’t hold out the Capras who kept scoring at regular times.
Captain Mitch Harsant made 27 tackles and continues to push to play Hostplus Cup for the Jets.
You can view all QRL statewide competitions matches via QPlus.tv.