The Queensland Young Scorpions went down to NSW/ACT on Sunday.
A sluggish start proved to be the downfall for the Queensland Young Scorpions, going down to NSW/ACT in Sydney on Sunday.
The U16 side conceded the first four goals of the match, before Corey Filewood broke through for Queensland’s first of the day, late in the quarter.
Settling into the match better in the second, the Young Scorpions showed a far improved effort in the second term, led by strong contributions from their midfield brigade of Ben Keays, Adam Tipungwuti and Didymus Blanket.
A switch for Ben Glove into defence boosted the Scorpions’ back line, while Filewood continued to play well in the forward 50.
Four straight goals to Queensland handed them the momentum and brought them within a kick of the lead, however NSW/ACT managed to steel themselves to lead by 11 point at the major break.
The Young Scorpions showed their talents in the third, creating plenty of midfield run and winning plenty of the contested footy, to lead by 1 point going into the final term.
Queensland came out all guns blazing in the last quarter, but poor forward 50 efficiency meant they gave up their ascendency too easily.
As both sides began to tire visibly, the match became all about heart, as the sides drew even midway through the last.
Two goals in a row to NSW sealed the game for the Rams, and teaching them a valuable lesson about the importance of a strong start.
Queensland will have a chance to redeem themselves against Tasmania on Wednesday, who also lost their opener, to Tasmania by 38 points.
NSW/ACT 13-14-92 defeated Queensland 11-5-71
NSW/ACT: Cornell 5, Simons, Mills, Coenen, Wilson, Tiziani, Cubis, Johnston, Mannagh
Queensland: Woosup 3, Filewood 3, Tipungwuti 2, Nicholson, Driffield, Blanket
Best
NSW/ACT: O’Donoghue, Cornell, Mills, Coenen, Simons, Bance
Queensland: Keays, Tipungwuti, Glover, Filewood, Woosup
