Club rugby: Brothers blitz; Easts women roar
Club rugby: The Colts 1 and Premier Women’s competitions hotted up today with Brothers and Wests storming to victories while a Souths winger showed he had ice in his veins when slotting a matchwinning penalty goal.
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Brothers Colts 1 went beast mode against Easts in a sensational showing after the Easts women began the day with a bang over Brothers
In all Colts results, Brothers ran over Easts 62-19, Wests beat Sunnybank 48-12, Norths pipped GPS 14-12 and Souths soared 18-17 over Bond University.
In a nalbiter at Souths, Magpies winger Ryley Bierton showed he had ice in his veins when nailing a penalty goal on fulltime to steal victory.
And in Women’s action, GPS got up 27-7 over Norths while the Tigers roared to an astonishing 81-7 win over Brothers.
Footnote: High praise to Sunnybank’s Lolo Sekona and North’s Will McCulloch who rose from Colts 1 to the Hospital Cup today and GPS prop Nick Harper who played both Colts 1 and Premier grade.
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But at Easts, the Greg Beaver coach Brothers team just clicked in what was their most complete game so far this season.
Their defence was aggressive, they shut down the Tiger’s wide plays with some unbelievable umbrella defence and after a tough first quarter where they had their backs against the wall, they flipped a switch and got on a roll.
When the opportunities came the Brothers boys were clinical, the forwards setting the tone with physicality.
Beaver said after picking up on a couple things in a tense first half, his team changed the game plan and played through the middle to get front foot ball.
“And we played well off the back of that,” he said as his side delivered offloads, cut out passes and long range tries.
“Defensively they put some pressure on us but we were able to turn it around so that was really pleasing.
“The boys were pretty chuffed because it was one vs two.
“You don’t need much motivation in a game like that.
For the Tigers, Jarrod Homan (foot injury and Junior Wallabies) and Nick Bloomfield (Junior Wallabies) were out but they put up a fight in their absence.
Blake Davis, George Stoddart and Tanasio Winikerei scored the tries for Easts.
For Brothers, Kadin Pritchard continued to improve, this time his defence strong in the centres.
Winger Robbie Mapa bagged a double and was “exceptional” according to Beaver.
No. 8 Charlie Bosnan, who is coming off a wrist fracture, gave his side front foot ball with every carry, while scrumhalf Will Cartwright stole the show as he sparked some champaign footy with his scoots from the ruck and box kicking.
“Will Cartwright was enormous just driving the standards especially with the forwards,” Beaver said.
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At Souths, the flu got through the Magpies camp during the week but they still managed to get the job done over Bond with a last minute 18-17 win.
Souths didn’t start well - scoring once in the first half with limited possession.
Bond were sharp as ever before falling asleep at the wheel, Souths coming out strongly in the second half before a penalty goal on full-time from Riley Bierton secured the win.
Down 17-15 with a kick to win, Bierton could’ve panicked but instead he went to his routine and kicked his team to safety.
Bierton was over 35 metres out and near the sideline so it was not an easy kick.
“He’s a good kicker. And he hadn’t kicked well prior. He was one-from-three so he stood up and kicked that one,” said coach Cian O’Connor.
O’Connor said his team was poor and they stole the win from Bond, coming over the top in the second.
No. 6 Cadell Rees and prop Lington Leli were two of South’s best but the team couldn’t execute, sickness taking its toll on the team.
But O’Connor was happy regardless, his team now seven from eight on the season.
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Rico Gear said the first half was the best rugby they’d played all year.
“We put ourselves under pressure to keep the ball alive and we scored some great tries.
“There wasn’t much in it. We probably played too much in our own half in the second (playing into the wind) and as a result we turned over the ball.
“We defended really well. They are a big forward pack and we defended them well, it was pleasing..We went really hard.
“In really tight games it comes down to moments. We got two yellow cards in the second half and it gave Souths momentum. Just enough to get them over the line,” he said.
Lock Dimitrius Williams was a lineout weapon and winger Rocco Gollings was sensational, his speed and rugby IQ coming to the fore.
Meanwhile inside centre Syris Schmidt was a handful in the midfield with his crafty play making.
At GPS, the Gallopers’ bad luck continued, suffering a two point loss at the hands of Norths.
It came down to execution and Norths took their chances. GPS, disjointed and unable to pounce on their chances.
GPS coach Sio Kite said it was disappointing to again lose by a small margin, but he was still very optimistic that his side is getting closer and closer.
This year GPS have lost to Souths 10-5, Wests 15-10, Bond 22-18 and now Norths 14-12 so they have been very competitive.
Sio said the effort is there, but his boys needed to back themselves and realise they have still been putting in good performances.
He noted perhaps the wariness on the last pass could be the difference.
Prop Nick Harper announced himself as the best tighthead prop in the competition with sheer dominance in the scrum and strong carries with the ball.
And it’s not going unnoticed, the 19-year-old having another stint off the bench in First Grade.
No. 8 Stuart Tualima was another one of Kite’s best.
And at Sci-Fleet Stadium, Brendan Underwood’s Sunnybank side fell victim to injuries and sickness in a 48-12 loss against Wests.
Underwood, the Dragons coach, said his team played great for 40 minutes of the game but it was his side’s inability to play for the full 70 minutes which led to their downfall.
“There were no yellow cards from us which is great … it was 12-12 with two minutes to go before half time but not executing our exit strategy meant we leaked another try right on half time.
“That didn’t help us going into the break at 19-12,” Underwood said.
“We just can’t compete for 70 minutes. We were in the fight but our execution is just letting us down.
“I believe it’s a mindset thing, Colts 1 is good footy. You have to play 70 minutes, you have to do the basics right. Sometimes it’s decision making, execution. which just lets us down.
“We leak points too quickly. We were playing some great footy. 40 minutes of it but for30 minutes of it, whether it’s the set piece or not finding touch at the right time … from that we just leak points.”
Winger Patrick Chalk scored a cracking intercept try where he read the play and struck away 55 metres, Chalk one of the most consistent players for Sunnybank this year.
Perhaps the most exciting storyline to come out of the game for Sunnybank though was the debut of forward Samson Sauaso.
And if you don’t know Sauaso it won’t take long before you do. He is an Ipswich State High alum who just last week was playing for the Ipswich Jets Hastings Deerings Colts team.
And my word can he play. But Underwood said he wanted to give union a go and after joining the team last week he is already making an impact.
“Samson Sauaso is great. He brings x factor in defence. He joined the squad this week and came off the bench.”
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And in Premier Women’s action at GPS, the Gallopers won 27-7 over a gritty Norths outfit.
GPS head coach Mutch Kite said his team couldn’t get any momentum going nor could they adapt to the referee.
“But we are happy with the five points. It’s quite tight in the top four,” Kite said, happy with the result despite wanting to put some more points on the board.
“Got to give credit to Norths, they had a strong scrum … We could’ve executed better.
“We had to forfeit last week (17 players out) but luckily we were able to still remain in the top four.
“We still need to get better, we haven’t hit our straps quite yet but with people coming back hopefully we can,” Kite said, excited for what was to come in the second half of the season.
Sarah Lewis made her return in the No. 9 jersey after time away in the Wallaroos camp.
And it was easy to see just how sharp she was, the scrum half offering crisp delivery, two tries and expert decision making.
Tessa Vaoga at No. 8 was also strong with some destructive runs.
“She (Vaoga) scored a try and flanker Amelia Brown scored her first try for the club,” Kite said.
Norths coach Gary Wilson said the Eagles improved effort was a testament to how hard his side had been working this year.
“Their consistency in training, and a couple of key ins in Greta Smith (flanker) and Lovianna Fanene (centre) brought a lot of go forward and energy.
“But today it was the effort of our front rowers. We had an edge over GPS in that regard and we used that to our advantage.
“We noticed that most of our opposition points had been from transition ball, and that was still true today. We still have work to do in transitional defence.
“Very proud of the girls,” Wilson said.
Front rowers Heather Latu, Leah Reiher and Bridie Fitzgibbon along with centre Kiani Brown turned up.
At Easts, the Tigers roared to a 81-7 victory over Brothers to remind the competition just how lethal they are.
Trusty Brothers centre Rebecca Davidson scored the lone try for her side while Wallaroo Madison Schuck relished her return to clubland with three tries.
Flanker Haidee Head and fullback Piper Flynn scored two apiece as Easts ran way 74-point-victors.
Footnote: Other games coming soon
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