Live stream: Emmaus, Shalom, The Cathedral, Rocky Grammar in NRL Schoolgirls Cup CQ semi-finals
Emmaus showed their grit and The Cathedral College some of their attacking power to set up an intriguing grand final next week. Check out both semifinal REPLAYS.
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Five-eighth Manaia Faiumu Malone scored a hat-trick as The Cathedral College charged into the Dolphins Schoolgirls Challenge decider.
They produced a clinical display in their 32-6 semi-final win over Rockhampton Grammar.
Unbeaten through the regular season, TCC got an early jump on their rivals, with fullback Kayla Vella scoring in the opening minute.
She added another and Faiumu Malone grabbed two of her three to give TCC a 20-0 lead at halftime.
In a replay of the first half, Malone crashed over under the posts just one minute after play resumed to extend the lead to 26-0.
Grammar rallied and were finally able to apply some sustained pressure.
Halves Heidi Silvester and Kyra Kent tried to manufacture some points, but they were repelled by TCC’s impenetrable defence.
TCC managed to turn that defence into attack and lock Maycee Brown ran in their sixth in the 45th minute.
Grammar were rewarded for their courageous effort with a try to Silvester minutes from full-time.
A brilliant solo effort, she sliced through the defensive line from about 40m out to score one of the best tries of the day.
EMMAUS 20 d SHALOM 8
Emmaus College overcame an early deficit to book their place in the Dolphins Schoolgirls Challenge grand final.
The Rockhampton team advanced with a 20-8 win over Bundaberg’s Shalom College in the first of the semi-finals played at Rugby Park.
Emmaus coach Nikki Carpenter had predicted a “really tough game” and that proved to be the case in the opening stages.
Shalom fullback Bella Barrett scored the first try to give the visitors a 4-0 lead six minutes in.
Emmaus College v Shalom College - NRL Schoolgirls Cup
But Emmaus hit back with two tries in quick time to claim an 8-4 lead.
Shalom responded and the teams were locked at 8-8 with four minutes to play in the first half.
Emmaus worked their way back down field and darted over for their third try in the last minute to take a 14-8 lead into the break.
They picked up where they left off, scoring early in the second to extend their lead further.
A gallant Shalom would not surrender and tried desperately to add more points but Emmaus would not be denied.
PREVIEW
Runners-up at the Confraternity Carnival, The Cathedral College has its sights set on going one better in the Dolphins Schoolgirls Challenge.
The skilful outfit take on Rockhampton Grammar in Tuesday’s semi-final. Emmaus College faces Shalom College in the other game, with the grand final to be played on Tuesday, August 13.
Catch all the games LIVE and EXCLUSIVE as part of Kommunity TV coverage of schoolgirls footy. Check out the full week-long Queensland schedule below.
TCC finished the regular season in first after going through the rounds unbeaten, but their coach, Damon Moore, knows their opponents are sure to come out firing on Tuesday.
“Grammar have nothing to lose, all the pressure is on us,” he said.
“They get the luxury of throwing the kitchen sink at us.”
But Moore knows he has the personnel to get the job done.
Six of his players - Manaia Faiumu Malone, Salome Mann, Josie Wogand, Maycee Brown, Zoe Robson and Rhiannah Brown - were named in the Confro Merit Team.
Moore said they would lead the way, with Queensland schoolgirls rep and excitement machine Robson, in particular, set to have a big influence on the result.
“The girls are really committed, and we’ve played really well as a team,” he said.
“They are excited to continue on that form from Confro and, hopefully, progress further in this competition.
“They haven’t played a lot of footy in the last couple of weeks, so they’re refreshed and ready to go.”
Grammar coach Todd Wells said his team had prepared well, despite having a few injuries hanging over from Confro.
“We’re looking to have our best performance of the competition when it counts - in the semi-finals,” he said.
Grammar boasts a powerful forward pack led by front rower Gracie Finger who, with her strong carries and committed defence, is making a big impression in her first year of league.
Their experienced halfback, Kyra Kent, controls the direction of the team, with her sound decision-making and great kicking game putting them in a strong attacking position.
In the other game, formidable forward Stevie-Lee Dixson will look to continue her great season by helping lead Emmaus to victory.
She was an integral part of the CQ Capras under-17 team, led the Norths under-17 girls to the Rockhampton premiership and earned a place in the Confro Merit team.
She and her co-captain, Mattice McLeod, who played in the BMD Premiership this season, are ready to lead the way.
Coach Nikki Carpenter said while Emmaus was not the biggest team, they played with plenty of spirit and determination.
“Our biggest advantage is we have a lot of touch players who use eyes-up footy and have speed to burn,” she said.
Emmaus’s spine of fullback Dominique Saunders, halves Hannah McCrohon and Lilla Pratt and hooker Sophie Barnes had been lethal in attack and in identifying opportunities for their teammates.
Carpenter said Shalom played a similar style of footy to her girls.
“I think it’s going to be a really tough game, and we’re going to have to work really hard,” she said.
“I think it will come down to whoever can stay in the game and keep up the work rate.”
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