All three affiliate clubs were in action this weekend as Glebe and Ipswich returned to the field following breaks over the Easter weekend.
Sydney Shield and Ron Massey Cup | Close Encounters with Canterbury
Glebe Dirty Reds 44 def Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 42
It was a case of “a win’s a win” for the Glebe Dirty Reds on Sunday, following a heart-stopping end to their 44-42 win over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Wentworth Park in the Ron Massey Cup.
The Reds dominated most of the match, leading 32-12 at half-time and 44-12 midway through the second stanza.
But remarkably, Glebe very nearly capitulated, allowing the Bulldogs to score five tries in the final twelve minutes of the game.
Fortunately, Aaron Zammit’s men held out one last Bulldogs raid in the final seconds to secure a two-point victory.
Despite the late collapse, Glebe impressed throughout much of the match, with former Roosters Craig Garvey and Kane Evans as well as Apisalome Saukuru, Callum Ellis and Vito Tevaga the standout performers.
Glebe Dirty Reds 18 def by Moorebank Rams 24
Meanwhile, the Dirty Reds’ Sydney Shield side paid the price for a string of unforced errors, losing to the Moorebank Rams 24-18 in the earlier game.
The Reds trailed 16-nil earlier in the second half, but fought back gamely to trail 24-18 inside the final minute. Among the best performers were the Roosters-contracted Iobe Taukeiselili, along with Casey Morgan and David Nurthen.
Special mention to Roosters Flegg squad member Brodie Briggs who made some solid carries in his first game back after tearing his ACL last year.
QLD Cup | Jets Grounded by Late Surge
Ipswich Jets 32 def by Redcliffe Dolphins 40
Thirteen tries were scored in the Ipswich Jets' Round 4 match against the Redcliffe Dolphins, with the home side downed by eight points in a 40-32 defeat at North Ipswich Reserve.
Both sides struck within the first six minutes, with Ipswich's Byron Johnson crossing, before Redcliffe took the lead after scoring the next three tries.
The Jets struck back in the final ten minutes of the half through Aaron Schoupp and Alofiana Khan-Pereira, with both fliers' touchdowns closing the gap to six points at the break.
The pair continued their form early in the second stanza as the Jets took charge and claimed the lead, with a Ryan Foran try in the 50th minute giving them a ten-point advantage with half an hour remaining.
Unfortunately, a late surge from the Dolphins saw the lead squandered, with a try in the final minute putting the nail in the coffin for the determined Jets, downed 40-32 at full-time.
The Ipswich Jets will turn their attention to the Burleigh Bears in Round 5 when they return to North Ipswich Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
Andrew Johns Cup 2024 Grand Final Highlights: Roosters vs Tigers
