Ball control key to U-20’s finals hopes

NORTHERN Pride’s under-20s team will have to improve their ball control dramatically if they are to do some damage in the finals of the Hastings Deering Colts competition.

Coach David Scott said his side only completed seven of their 30 sets against Tweed Heads on Saturday afternoon at Barlow Park and would be no chance of beating Souths Logan with a repeat of that performance.

“It’s not the way we want to come into the finals with a door-die game next week,” he said.

The Pride youngsters trailed 12-6 at half time, but returned looking like a new team, scoring three straight tries to lead 22-12.

“We had them beat. The body language of the Tweed players was poor when we led by 10, but then we kept dropping the ball and they got some belief,” Scott said.

The Seagulls scored three tries in the final 13 minutes to win 26-22.

When the Pride did have the ball they looked dangerous, particularly the speedy outside backs.

“The talent is there. We have a lot of young boys, including a couple of under-18 lads,” Scott said.

Scott said it was the Pride’s first game at Barlow Park for almost three months – they last played on their home ground on June 2.

“It’s not an excuse but it has been ages since we’ve played here,” he said.

If the Pride beat Souths Logan, they will play the winner of the Victoria Thunderbolts and Wynnum Manly.