CHOCOLATES and boiled lollies, that’s what each team took away from Saturday night’s Ipswich Rugby League opening game at Daniels Park.
Norths will enjoy their Easter break after taking home the chocolates, racking up 62 unanswered points in a complete demolition of West End. The Bulldogs have a fortnight to find some answers.
Post game, Norths coach Boss Cecil wasn’t getting over-excited about the result but was pleased his team stuck to their game plan for much of the contest.
“We didn’t really know what we were up against and they (West End) just looked a bit out of sorts,” he said.
“Those types of games you can lose your way.
“You play outside your structures because the game frees up so much but we were good throughout.”
Led by three tries from five-eighth Josh Roberts, the Tigers were never troubled as they piled on 11 tries to nil in the 80-minute whitewash.
Rather than focus on the stellar attacking performance, Cecil applauded his players’ commitment to defence.
“The zero is probably the more pleasing thing,” he said.
“The scoreline probably didn’t show that. When West End had the ball, they were very good.
“They put us under defensive pressure but we held on and kept our structure.”
In the opposing coach’s box, West End mentor E.J. Garrett was left bemused by the inept opening round performance.
Garrett described the effort as a “shocker” and said this team would have to go back to basics to turn their form around for round two. “As a squad, we’re very disappointed with the result,” he said.
“Sixty-two points, I didn’t expect that.
“They just played well and we never got into the game.”
West End fans can console themselves in the fact that seven Bulldogs players made their debut on Saturday night and should be better for the experience in coming weeks.
Article courtesy of the QT.
http://www.qt.com.au/story/2012/04/02/norths-smash-west-end-in-opening-game-rugby-qrl/
