Reigning women’s and B-grade premiers knocked out of preliminary finals
Two more reigning Darwin Rugby Union champions have been knocked out of contention for season 2024-25, both losing at the weekend. Recap all the action from week 2 of finals here.
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Three new champions will be crowned Darwin Rugby Union victors for the 2024-25 season after the remaining two reigning champions were knocked out at the weekend.
While the penultimate weekend of rugby dished up three expected results, that doesn’t mean the action wasn’t full on.
Catch-up on all the talking points from each match here.
FINALS WEEK 2
A-GRADE
University Pirates 59 def. 19 Darwin Dragons
The black and white righted last week’s wrong in the form of a nine-try winning performance at the weekend. The Pirates who were dealt a 15 point defeat last weekend turned on the firepower in its do or die prelim clash with Darwin Dragons. The minor premiers were a class above the stout-hearted Dragons with fullback Stylianos Vrontos landing another hat-trick while the ageless trio of Asiveli Rauga (two tries), Robbie Butcher (7/9) and Waisale Sekitoga (one try) all stood tall across the park. Credit where it’s due the Dragons did trouble the Pirates on a number of occasions, crossing for three five pointers in the defeat.
WOMEN
Palmerston Crocs 31 def. 7 University Pirates
Palmerston are through to the big dance having knocked off reigning champions University Pirates in a heavy defeat. The Crocs were on top of the Pirates all game, outworking the defending champions across the park. The Crocs’ superior workrate and speed behind the ball overwhelmed the Pirates who looked a tad off the pace. Palmerston’s Erin Luchetti was on fire, snagging a brace as Roxy Mahony-Gilchrist continued her stellar form with another five pointer, while Victoria Alley shored up the tally with three conversions. The Crocs will now have the daunting task of coming up against the powerful Darwin Dragons, the same side who bested them a week ago.
B-GRADE
Casuarina Cougars 20 def. 15 Swampdogs
The Cougars not only got revenge, but secured a shot at redemption at the weekend in the process. Casuarina did it the hard way coming from behind in the second to take out the one score win against the Swampdogs. The Cougars got four past the Dogs with Ilalio Lutua scoring two, but kicking was an issue, the side going 0/4 from the spot. Mark Gillam and Nathan Everett scored the Swampdogs’ majors while Hayden Austine added the extras with one conversion and a penalty goal.
FINALS WEEK 1
A-GRADE
Darwin Dragons 24 def. 20 Casuarina Cougars
Semi-final 1 between third placed Cougars and fourth placed Darwin produced the upset of the round. The back-to-back champions were sensationally defeated by a Dragons side that only had three wins for the season. Both side recorded three tries a piece with the boot of Katherine Roos’ Terry Gillet being the difference maker for Darwin. Gillet scored 3/3 from the spot and a penalty goal. The Dragons will now face-off against University Pirates for a shot at the big dance, the same side that handed the Dragons a 108-5 defeat in Round 6.
South Darwin 32 def. 17 University Pirates
The Rabbitohs brushed aside minor premiers Pirates in a dominant showing that saw them firing on all cylinders. The top of the table clash was somewhat one-way traffic, as South’s scored five majors to Uni’s two. Dan Cakau was on song with a double, so too his partner in crime Shunsei Okzaki who kicked two from the spot and a penalty. Robbie Butcher was the Pirates main contributor, scoring one try, kicking 2/2 and a penalty goal. South Darwin will watch on closely this weekend to see who they face in the grand final.
WOMEN
Darwin Dragons 36 def. 10 Palmerston Crocs
Minor premiers Darwin kept its undefeated season alive, comfortably handling Palmerston’s gallant challenge. The Dragons secured a 26-point victory and earned a chance at redemption having fallen in the final hurdle 12-months earlier. Darwin crossed for six tries with Cassiela Wapau bagging a brace and two from the spot. Palmerston standout for 2025 Roxy Mahony-Gilbert snagged two majors of her own. The Crocs will play 2024 champions University for a place in the grand final.
University Pirates 17 def. 5 South Darwin
The Pirates came up trumps to the tune of a 12 point winning margin over South Darwin. Two wins against each other through the regular season, University turned it up at the weekend when it mattered. The Pirates scored two tries in the first and one in the second to South’s lone Deanna Peckham five pointer.
B-GRADE
South Darwin 25 def. 24 Casuarina Cougars
Casuarina were the victims of another upset at the weekend, this time at the hands of South Darwin who pulled off a spectacular one-point victory. Last year’s runner ups Casuarina were neck and neck with South’ all game, the two both scoring four tries a piece. Shawn Stewart scored a double for Casuarina while the Rabbitohs had four individual efforts. Kicking was once more the downfall of the Cougars who went 2/4 from the spot. Funnily enough the Rabbitohs were also poor from the spot making just one from four, but it was the penalty goal by Francis Wapau that saved the red and green outfit in the end.
Swampdogs vs. Katherine Roos (forfeit)
Katherine forfeited the contest resulting in a walkover victory for the reigning champions. READ MORE ABOUT THE ROOS’ DECISION HERE.
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Originally published as Reigning women’s and B-grade premiers knocked out of preliminary finals
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