GREATER Northern Tigers representative sides bombed out in all four games at Farrer Memorial Agricultural College's John Simpson Oval at the weekend.
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The Mick Schmiedel and Aaron Watts-coached women's tackle and men's under-23s both lost their trial games against their Newcastle opponents while Muswellbrook's Steve Haylen and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs-mentored under-16s and under-18s lost their second round Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cup matches to the Central Coast Roosters.
Greater Northern Tigers area manager Scott Bone said the women's and men's under 23 sides both acquitted themselves well.
"Both coaches were pretty happy with their trials," he stated.
"The girls lost 12-8, three tries to two, but were down three tries in the first third.
"They played three 20-minute periods.
"The under-23 men were defeated 24-16, six tries to four, but played well."
The two teenage outfits both led their respective Cup matches early, however threw away their chances with poor handling.
The Haylen-coached under-16s must beat North Coast Bulldogs at the Port Macquarie Regional Stadium on Saturday, February 29 (1pm kick-off), to have any chance of making the semi-finals.
Learoyd-Lahrs' under-18s must also win as well as they are equal third with six other sides on two points behind the unbeaten Monaro Colts and North Coast Titans.
Then it's a trek to Lismore on March 7 to play the North Coast Bulldogs on a day when the under-23 men and women's tackle squads open their Country Championship quest with first round games against the North Coast Bulldogs.
Their second round fixtures are a week later at Aberdeen's McKinnon Oval against the Parramatta Eels.
It will be a huge day for the Tigers with all four rep sides playing crucial Country Championship matches while the Greater Northern under-15s play the Canterbury Bulldogs, too.
ANDREW JOHNS CUP
Round 2 - John Simpson Oval, Farrer
- CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS 22 (Benjamin Taylor (19th m), Lauchlan Bissaker (22m), Ty Harris (40m), Bryce Davis (47m) tries; Bissaker 3 goals) d GREATER NORTHERN TIGERS 14 (Jake Clydsdale (10th min), Aidan Bermingham (16m), Lewis Hippi (57m) tries; Mitchell Kemp goal)
- Other games: GSR Tigers drew with Illawarra South Coast Dragons 16-all, Eels d North Coast Bulldogs 24-14, Northern River Titans d Newcastle Knights 28-22, Penrith Panthers d Riverina Bulls 26-0, Western Rams d Monaro Colts 20-8
LAURIE DALEY CUP
Round 2 - John Simpson Oval, Farrer
- CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS 26 (Bailey Vallance 2 (24th and 58th mins), Witika Rees-Hatu (8m), George Wilson (32m), Mackenzie Zammit (52m) tries; Rees-Hatu 2, Bryce Jones goals) d GREATER NORTHERN TIGERS 16 (Harrison Freeman (5th min), Daniel Kelly (15m), Brayden Reid (69th) tries; Mitch Henderson 2 goals)
- Other games: GSR Tigers d Illawarra South Coast Dragons 22-20, North Coast Bulldogs d Eels 32-12, Northern River Titans d Newcastle Knights 54-16, Riverina Bulls d Penrith Panthers 34-16, Monaro Colts d Western Rams 26-12
Points tables
- ANDREW JOHNS CUP: Panthers 4, Rams 4, GSR Tigers 3, Eels 2, NC Bulldogs 2, NR Titans 2, Knights 2, CC Roosters 2, Illawarra SC Dragons 1, GN Tigers 0, Monaro Colts 0, Riverina Bulls 0
- LAURIE DALEY CUP: Monaro Colts 4, North Coast Bulldogs 4, NR Titans 2, Western Rams 2, GN Tigers 2, Illa South Coast Dragons 2, Riverina Bulls 2, Central Coast Roosters 2, GSR Tigers 2, Western Rams 0, Eels 0, Panthers 0, Knights 0