Round 7
Central Comets 18 l. Ipswich Jets 40

2007 Wizard Queensland Cup Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Australia > Queensland > State/Metropolitan Level Competition: Wizard Queensland Cup

Screaming Jets' Celebrations Soured
Sun April 29, 2007
Source: www.qrl.com.au

Ipswich Jets coach Kevin Walters was reluctant to rejoice in his club's 40-18 victory against the Central Comets on Saturday night, following injuries to strike-weapons Ricky Bird and Ricky Dodd.

Halfback Bird limped out of the Browne Park contest with a hamstring tear midway through the first half, while Dodd suffered two badly broken fingers in the second half.

Speedster Dodd is the most serious of the pair and may not return until just before the finals, with initial diagnosis placing him on the sideline for as long as three months.

The loss of the duo was compounded by a neck injury to form forward Scott Alo, however the big prop is expected to be right for next Monday's Labour Day showdown with top-ranked North Queensland at Carrara.

There is an outside chance that match may bring the first appearance of Chris Walker in Ipswich colours, providing a perfect replacement for Dodd's attacking nous.

"We do have Chris coming back to us, but I think the Gold Coast has been talking about a little longer," coach Walters said.

"I think he might miss (the Young Guns) and be with us the week after."

With two wins and a bye from the last three rounds, Ipswich has moved up the table considerably to be on the fringe of the top five.

Walters noted that the growing understanding between players and the club's much-improved depth has them placed well to compete against the heavyweight sides.

Against the Comets the Jets led 24-12 at halftime and again showed a propensity to play through injuries as they closed out a rugged second half.

Four Central players - captain Wayne Barnett, Peter Penaia, Mick Esdale and Brendan Gibb - went on report in a second stanza where no love was lost.

Jets prop and former Comets firebrand Aaron Sweeney was also in the thick of it, baited by his old teammates but getting the last laugh with a rare and well-celebrated try.

Despite now losing seven games to start the year and firming as odd-on favourites for the wooden spoon, Central showed encouraging signs in patches.

"They always give you a tough game up in Rocky and I don't think they'll go too many more weeks without a win," Walters said.

"It's just a matter of them putting together their footy over 80 minutes."

Round Eight has Central enjoying the bye and its first points of the year. Meanwhile the Ipswich v North Queensland game at Carrara Stadium is scheduled for a 4.55pm kick-off next Monday.

IPSWICH 40 (Ricky Dodd 2, Michael Ryan 2, Ricky Bird, Trevor Exton, Aaron Sweeney tries; Steven West 3, Geoff Chalk 2, Ricky Dodd goals) d CENTRAL 18 (Nat Bowman, Pat Dall, Mick Esdale tries; Nat Bowman 3 goals) at Browne Park, Rockhampton.

Report sent by: www.qrl.com.au

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