Round 4 in review: Junior statewide competitions
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Round 4 brought some close clashes, thrilling tries and plenty of fire for the Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup, Harvey Norman Under 19s and Cyril Connell Challenge.
Here is a wrap of Round 4.
Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup
Game of the week
Norths Devils and Burleigh Bears headed into their Round 4 clash both sitting on four points and in need of a win to push their campaign for a finals appearance in Pool C.
The stage was set for a blockbuster and both sides delivered, with the Devils edging out the Bears 20-18 at Bishop Park.
With a 10-4 lead at halftime, Norths were given a scare in the second half, as Burleigh piled on three tries to one to take the lead 18-16 with just minutes left on the clock.
But with plenty on the line, the Devils refused to throw in the towel and were rewarded after hooker Nayte Saaga jumped out from dummy-half to burrow under Burleigh's defence and score the match winner.
The win sees Norths move into seventh on the overall ladder and third in their pool.
Match: Devils v Bears
Round 4 -
home Team
Devils
away Team
Bears
Venue: Bishop Park, Brisbane
Other scores
Wynnum Manly Seagulls 40 def Tweed Seagulls 16
Townsville Blackhawks 24 def Mackay Cutters 20
Ipswich Jets 32 def Wide Bay Bulls 6
Northern Pride 34 def Central Queensland Capras 28
Redcliffe Dolphins 26 def Brisbane Tigers 10
Sunshine Coast Falcons 26 def Western Clydesdales 20
Bye: Souths Logan Magpies
Mover of the week
There was no major movement on the ladder this week with just a few minor shuffles in the top half of the competition. Redcliffe remain at No.1 overall and for the South East pool, while Wynnum Manly are the dark horse of the competition, after they slid up from fifth to fourth, undefeated with four wins and no bye yet in Pool C.
Ipswich Jets remain top of Pool B while Townsville Blackhawks are leading the Northern pool.
Shout outs
The powerful Wynnum Manly continued their undefeated run, led strongly as always by props Zane Ford and Beni Allen. Both laid the platform for their team and continually muscled up against Tweed.
Seagulls halfback Coby Black also had a sensational game on Saturday at BMD Kougari Oval, after he scored one try, set up another and played a hand in two more four-pointers - including one stunning cut out pass - to help his side to their impressive 40-16 victory. Black also shone with the boot.
Elsewhere, Townsville winger Tekelu Mene scoring a freakish hat-trick against Mackay Cutters while Norths hooker Harrison Hill played a major role in his side's tight win over Burleigh, not only scoring a double but showing great awareness and skill in attack.
For Ipswich, Alton Naiyep continued his impressive try-scoring run, finding a double against the Wide Bay Bulls.
Harvey Norman Under 19s
Game of the week
The Mackay Cutters and Townsville Blackhawks know how to put on a show.
In a seesawing affair at Jack Manski Oval, the Cutters and Blackhawks went back and forth on Saturday afternoon to be drawn 18-all with just seconds left on the clock.
Townsville scored through centre Thalia Clarke to even the scores, but a moment of magic came straight off the return kick-off from Mackay.
Five-eighth Emily Bella booted it downfield and a perfect bounce saw centre Jennifer Kimber claim the ball with a great take and race towards the try line, beating six Blackhawks opponents to win the game for the Cutters.
Match: Blackhawks v Cutters
Round 4 -
home Team
Blackhawks
away Team
Cutters
Venue: Jack Manski Oval, Townsville
Other scores
Wynnum Manly Seagulls 34 def Tweed Seagulls 18
Burleigh Bears 38 def Norths Devils 18
Central Queensland Capras 40 def Northern Pride 0
Redcliffe Dolphins 20 def Brisbane Tigers 14
Sunshine Coast Falcons 20 def Western Clydesdales 12
Ipswich Jets def Wide Bay Bulls (forfeit)
Bye: Souths Logan Magpies
Mover of the week
The Central Queensland Capras sprung into action on Saturday with a mammoth 40-0 victory over the Northern Pride in Rockhampton, which saw the home team move from 10th into fourth place on the ladder.
Hooker Alenna Whipp and centre Harmonie Fauid both scored a double in the win, which saw the Capras dominate from start to finish.
Shout outs
Burleigh prop Azariah Wallace was hard to stop against Norths Devils, bulldozing her way to a hat-trick in the Bears' 38-18 victory. She has an impressive frame, but it wasn't just her size that helped her break the Norths defence time and time again, but her pure determination and white line fever.
Elsewhere, the Capras put in a true team effort to notch up their huge win, but hooker Whipp and halfback Caitlin Tanner particularly dazzled with their combination.
Mackay Cutter Emily Bella was in fine form, not only helping to produce the winning play with Jennifer Kimber, but she set up two tries for Libby Surha and also combined on the first try of the game with Kimber, shooting across a beautiful cut out pass.
A shout out also goes to Tweed halfback Shanarlii Peckham who scored a length of the field try in the second half of her side's loss to Wynnum Manly. She raced around her opponents and turned on the afterburners to score under the posts.
Cyril Connell Challenge
Game of the week
The Sunshine Coast Falcons love a challenge and for a second week in a row, they held off a determined opponent in a thrilling clash to claim a victory.
After last week holding off a fast-finishing Wide Bay Bulls, the Falcons were lucky to hold onto the lead after a second half comeback from the Western Clydesdales in Toowoomba on Sunday.
The Falcons scored three first half tries to the Clydesdales' single try, before the home team came out in the second stanza to score two tries to nil.
The fight from both teams was impressive - boiling over into frustration at times - and certainly provided an entertaining showdown, which was only decided through a missed conversion for the Clydesdales.
A special mention also goes to the Redcliffe Dolphins and Brisbane Tigers, who also posted an 18-16 scoreline in favour of the Dolphins.
Match: Clydesdales v Falcons
Round 4 -
home Team
Clydesdales
away Team
Falcons
Venue: Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba
Other scores
Wynnum Manly Seagulls 16 def Tweed Seagulls 0
Burleigh Bears 36 def Norths Devils 4
Townsville Blackhawks 18 def Mackay Cutters 10
Central Queensland Capras 28 def Northern Pride 10
Redcliffe Dolphins 18 def Brisbane Tigers 16
Ipswich Jets 28 def Wide Bay Bulls 6
Bye: Souths Logan Magpies
Mover of the week
Another win for the Falcons in the Central pool sees them move from fifth into third while Redcliffe took top spot after a massive slide from previous frontrunners Norths Devils.
The Devils now sit in sixth place following their loss to Burleigh, who have jumped from ninth to seventh.
What a weapon: Marley Igasan
Shout outs
Burleigh prop Marley Igasan was huge for his team, playing with plenty of passion and energy. Igasan scored a double, ran hard and aimed up in defence to get the 36-4 victory.
Meanwhile in Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast Falcons halfback Ellyjah Birve and Clydesdales fullback Braithen Scott continued their excellent form from this season in a feisty and close battle.
Both players kicked a 40/20 and, as captains, led their teams strongly.
Match official of the week
Ryan Littleford was a standout in the Northern Pride and Central Queensland Capras Cyril Connell Challenge clash in Cairns.
A member of Ipswich Referees - who graduated grade 12 last year - Littleford has a very calm approach to his games and this showed on Saturday.
He was clear in his communication, worked hard to build player rapport, and had good control of the game in very hot, trying conditions. Littleford is seen as a "quiet achiever" of Queensland's match officials, but one that is viewed to have a strong future in the game.
