Biloela to feature in Rugby Capricornia’s three senior grand finals

Saturday’s grand finals promise to serve up high-quality, hard-fought contests in all three grades. Your ultimate preview here, including coaches’ comments and the players who could decide the results.

Biloela will for the first time feature in all three of the Rugby Capricornia senior grand finals in 2023.

In a first for the Biloela Rugby Union Club, its teams will contest the region’s three senior grand finals on Saturday.

Biloela will take on Colts in A-grade, Dawson Valley in reserve grade and Frenchville in the women’s 7s at Rockhampton’s T.A. Nutley Field as the Rugby Capricornia season comes to an exciting close.

The men are chasing their maiden A-grade premiership, while their opponents are out to break an 11-year drought.

Their reserve grade team has the chance to win back-to-back titles, while Drovers are looking to have their name etched on the trophy for the first time since 2001.

And the women are desperate to get one back on Frenchville, who have denied them in the grand final for the past two years.

Biloela have the chance to win all three senior Rugby Capricornia premierships in 2023.

Biloela stalwart Peter Kurtz will be in the thick of the action as coach of both the senior and reserve grade outfits.

He said having all three teams into the finals was a great achievement for the club, which was founded in 1979.

“It means a lot,” he said.

“As with all sporting bodies, a lot of work goes in behind the scenes for the players to get out each week to play.

“It’s good to see the club flourish at this time of the season.”

Kurtz said both men’s teams featured players who had come through the club’s ranks, such as Jayden Robertson, Ryan Jensen and Eli Blake, and life member Matt Appel whose passion and commitment was an inspiration to the younger members.

1pm, reserve grade: Dawson Valley Drovers v Biloela

Dawson Valley Drovers are “switched on” and looking forward to Saturday’s showdown, according to coach Ben Cumming.

He is expecting a tight contest, given the results between the two teams this season.

Drovers beat Biloela by just one point in the first week of finals.

All up, they’ve met four times, with honours shared two apiece.

“We’ve had a pretty good preparation,” Cumming said.

Dawson Valley Drovers are preparing for a tough battle against Biloela in the reserve grade grand final.

“The key for us will be sticking to our game and controlling the structure of the game. It’s about keeping it basic, not getting ahead of ourselves and not doing anything too fancy.

“Our strength is our ability to put a consistent game together. It starts with our defence and our ability to control the ball when we’ve got it.”

Cumming said Biloela was a strong attacking team and his players would need to work hard to contain their speed and agility.

Biloela coach Peter Kurtz knows there will be little in it.

“The last games played between these two clubs came down to the wire and only a couple of points separated them,” he said.

Biloela and Dawson Valley have had some close games this season, including in the first week of finals where the game was decided by one point.

“The battle in the forwards will be key as Drovers have a big mobile pack, while we have a smaller, determined pack led by Tim Gamble up front.

“If we can open space out wide, we should be able to capitalise.”

Dawson Valley Drovers’ game breakers: Hooker Murrin Gill, fly half Josh Heck

Biloela’s game breakers: Scrum half Eli Blake, fullback Joseva Tuisolo

2.40pm, women’s 7s: Biloela vs Frenchville

Frenchville are gunning for the three-peat, and player and co-coach Jess Allen says they are ready to go.

“Everyone seems to have their head in the game and is focused on what’s to come,” she said.

“Bilo have got great defence and attack. It’s definitely not going to be easy for either team; it’s going to be a physically challenging, hard game.

Frenchville 7s player Amber Shephard (left) and teammates and co-coaches Jess Allen and Sydney Corcoran are looking to score three straight premierships together.

“We need to play to our strengths and do what we do best.

“The key for us is to stay positive, stick to our guns and do everything we’ve been practising.”

Allen, fellow coach Sydney Corcoran and Amber Shephard have been part of Frenchville’s two consecutive premiership wins and will have a big say on whether it’s three come Saturday.

Biloela’s line-up includes two sets of sisters - Shannon Spratt and Mikayla Schulke and Bonnie and Faith Maynard - who will also have a big influence on the result..

Coach Josh Harris said it had been another successful season for Biloela, who had claimed the minor premiership and were keen to reverse the result of their last two grand final appearances.

Biloela will play reigning champions Frenchville in the Rugby Capricornia women’s 7s grand final.

He is expecting a high-quality contest against Frenchville who he said have played well all season.

Harris said there was plenty of talent in his line-up.

“We have some great defensive players in Elly May and Bonnie Maynard,” he said.

“Isabella Gunnourie and Faith Maynard will take an opportunity if they see an open spot to run the ball and we‘ve got experience in attack with Carly Hill.”

Frenchville’s game breakers: Alenna Whipp, Amber Shephard

Biloela’s game breakers: Elly May, Faith Maynard

3.30pm, A-grade: Colts v Biloela

Colts are out to claim their first A-grade premiership in more than a decade, something coach Jamie Blake says is fuelling his players’ desire for victory.

“At the start of the year, they were looking at the photos of past premiership winners hanging on the wall of the clubhouse,” he said.

“Every one of them said they wanted their photo up there. We’ve instilled in them every week that if they work hard they will get that photo.”

Colts were the A-grade men's minor premiers and are looking to win their first title since 2011.

Blake said Colts were a well-balanced side that boasted talent across the park and they would need to be on song to counter Biloela’s aggressive forward movement.

“I believe our biggest strengths are the belief we have in each other and the way we get through adversity,” he said..

“We’ve got a job to do and the boys know that. They’re ready to rip in and give it everything they can.”

Biloela coach Peter Kurtz said discipline would be key for his team, which has had some close contests with Colts this year.

“The game will be an exciting one as both teams like to take advantage of the broken play,” he said.

Biloela will take on minor premiers Colts in the Rugby Capricornia A-grade grand final.

“Defence will play a big part and how we contain their mobile loose forwards.

“We will need to get the one percenters right and play a full 80-minute game.

“Colts will be determined and have the home field advantage which will make them very hard to beat so we’ll need to bring our A-game.”

Colts’ game breakers: Inside centre Viliame Nabole, loose forward Manueli Valelala

Biloela’s game breakers: Flanker Marika Balawakula, fly half William Schulke