Bulldog pups learn hard way

THE only cure for inexperience is learning your lesson, as West End’s under-18s are finding out this season.

With just one win and a number of near misses, it is time to put what they have learnt so far into practice.

“Most of our players last year went up (to opens), so it is more of a rebuilding year this year,” coach Jay Woodward said.

Yet Woodward believes they should be higher on the ladder than their current seventh spot, five points behind fourth-placed Springfield.

“We’re not getting beaten by a whole lot,” he said.

The loss to Brothers last round was costly, enabling the Brethren to get a three-point jump on the West End Bulldogs.

“It was a game I thought we should have won,” Woodward said.

“We probably played at 60 percent capacity.

“If we played like we did against South Burnett and Goodna we would have won.

“Another year in the under-18s and they’ll be better for it.”

Of his young team there are several who Woodward thinks will push for Ipswich Diggers under-18 jerseys next year.

Hooker Jacob Sinn and second-rower Jordan Upkett are two.

“Jacob is a good little player,” Woodward said.

“He’s tough as nails, makes 30 to 40 tackles a game and scoots out of dummy-half.”

It sounds just like a younger version of favourite son Vinny Stephan and Woodward agrees.

“I told (club president) Chris Scott at the start of the year that there is a ready-made replacement when Vinny leaves.”

While the young brigade has huge potential, Woodward says they still rely too much on captain and prop Bronson Tepa.

West End takes on third-placed Swifts this weekend. Woodward knows they will have to start converting promise into wins soon if they are to make the semi-finals.

“There’s no reason we can’t make fourth spot,” he said.

“It is just a matter of getting them to believe in themselves.”