Swifts, Brothers, Redbank celebrate outstanding seasons

Three clubs have plenty to celebrate after enjoying grand final success in the 2021 Rugby League Ipswich competition.

Bomber’s Blast

Anthony Breeze

Three clubs have plenty to celebrate after enjoying grand final success in the 2021 Rugby League Ipswich competition.

Here’s a recap of the highlights and achievements.

ACS Group A-Grade Premiership

The Swifts Bluebirds capped off an awesome year by coming from a 16-0 deficit to defeat Brothers.

The signs didn’t look good early for the Bluebirds as Brothers came to play and built a big early lead. However, coach Wayne Finch pulled a masterstroke by bringing on forwards Wilson Maeliasilia and Junior Muliaga who changed the game almost immediately by taking control of the middle with some devastating charges. These runs enabled his side to pile on the next four tries, allowing them a four-point advantage going into halftime.

Brothers were the team that needed to start the second half strong but it was Swifts who continued their charge with Godfrey Okot starting to show his awesome attacking skills.

Prop forward Paetou Samatou really stepped up also, which allowed the Jim Foreman Medalist (best player on the ground) Derek Hemopo to run riot in the middle of the ruck.

Wes Conlon tried hard as did some of his forwards but it was to no avail as the Swifts machine clicked into gear to strike home 42-22.

The Bluebirds were the best team all year and were deserved winners of the A Grade title this year.

The 2021 Rugby League Ipswich A-Grade champions Swifts. Picture: Bruce Clayton

Chairman’s Cup Reserve Grade premiership

This promised to be a close contest but the Brothers outfit had other ideas with a strong start which the Roosters unfortunately could not match.

Brothers went into the halftime break with a healthy 16-0 lead after some great attacking flair from winger Cameron Bundock who scored two first half tries.

Rosewood looked out of sorts and could not get any combinations going which enabled Brothers to take control and win the grand final with some super defence.

Brothers had a host of good players with second rower Damian West judged Player of

the Match.

Brothers players celebrate after the Rugby League Ipswich Reserve Grade grand final win against Rosewood at the North Ipswich Reserve. Picture: Bruce Clayton

Colts Cup

This was supposed to be an easy win for the Norths Tigers but the Redbank Bears showed that favourites don’t always win football matches.

The Bears turned on a superior effort last Sunday.

They had the match in control by halftime, skipping to a 16-0 lead.

Norths needed to start the second half the better team but it was Redbank who started roaring early with two more tries before the Tigers troubled the scoreboard.

The more the Tigers tried things, the worse it seemed to get with the Bears having the better field position and controlled the ball much better.

Captain and Man of the Match Samson Sauaso led the Bears to a memorable 40-20 victory.

Redbank Plains celebrate a try in the Rugby League Ipswich Colts grand final against the Norths Tigers. Picture: Bruce Clayton

Volunteers Cup

With Redbank and Brothers as the two best teams, this was expected to be a classic with only 14 points separating them in the four previous clashes.

The Bears came out on fire and had piled on three tries to lead the grand final 16-0 through some clever ball playing and some hard charges through the middle.

Brothers were shell-shocked and needed to calm their game down and play the football that had got them this far in the season. They gradually chipped away at the big lead the Bears had set up, giving them a chance to build on the momentum they were gathering late in the first half.

Coach Russell Myers settled his team down at the break and they came out a better organised side to overrun a tiring Bears outfit who were really feeling the heat.

Brothers won 32-20.

Forward Harry Douglas was superb in the middle and centre Matt Furner was brilliant out wide to be awarded the Player of the Match medallion.

Brothers C-Grade champions thank their fans after beating Redbank Plains in the grand final at the North Ipswich Reserve. Picture: Bruce Clayton

Quick thoughts

WINNERS: 1. Port Adelaide‘s Ollie Wines won the Brownlow Medal after a sensational season.

2. The Aussie women’s cricket team got off to a great start in their first game against India defeating them by nine wickets.

3. The Brisbane Heat who have appointed the talented and likeable Jimmy Pearson to lead their BBL charge this year.

4. The Wallabies who showed they are back in the groove by backing up their win over the Springbok with another victory.

LOSERS: 1. The IPL competition which has just started but is on shaky ground as a Sunrisers Hyderabad player tests positive to Covid.

2. Bronco Anthony Milford who was arrested during the week. What does his future hold?

NRL upwards

1. The Penrith Panthers who defeated the Eels in the game of the year. They still have a chance to win the title.

2. The Manly Sea Eagles who roared back to life in their defeat of the Roosters.

NRL downwards

1. The Penrith Panthers trainer who stopped the game incorrectly and was fined $25,000. He will take no further part in the Panthers grand final charge.

2. The Roosters did great to get this far in the competition with an undermanned team but were very flat in their loss last week.

Sporting birthdays September 23

1. 1956: Paolo Rossi - Champion Italian soccer player who won the World Cup in 1982 collecting the Golden Boot and Ball.

2. 1965: Mark Woodforde - Tennis player who won 67 career doubles titles, 61 with his great mate Todd Woodbridge.

3. 1979: Lote Tuqiri - Fiji born Aussie who represented Australia in rugby league and union.

On this day

1. 1924: The first ever Brownlow Medal was presented to Geelong’s Edward Greeves.

2. 1991: Irishmen Jim Styles becomes the first foreigner to ever win a Brownlow Medal.

3. 1993: Sydney is announced as host city for the 2000 Olympics.

4. 2003: The MCG celebrates its 150th birthday.

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