Club rugby bumper coverage - women’s colts 1
Bumper club rugby coverage: The sons of guns - and a nephew as well - emerged in colts 1. Read the Team of the Week and women’s rugby coverage as well. Full reports here.
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It was a case of back to the future when a Lynagh, Nasser and Perceval wore UQ rugby jumpers - decades after their famous fathers, and in one case a famous uncle, graced Brisbane wearing Red Heavies’ jerseys.
Tom Lynagh, the son of the great Michael Lynagh, played his first ever match for University of Queensland in colts 1 today against Souths at Chipsy Wood Oval, accompanied by Fergus Nasser whose uncle Brendan played alongside Michael for both Queensland and the Wallabies.
And a third old boy name featured, with big-hearted UQ lock Hugo Perceval playing just metres from his father Chris who was a lock powerhouse for UQ during the 1980s and 1990s.
“I knew that my dad and Bobby (Brendan) Nasser played together,’’ Lynagh said.
“It is good to have my first run in a UQ shirt alongside one of the Nasser’s,’’ he said.
Fergus Nasser added: “It is a testimony to the UQ culture and the Red Heavies’ family tradition.’’
RELATED LINKS
COLTS 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK - ROUND 1
COLTS 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK - ROUND 2
AIC UPSETS CONTINUE - ROUND 2 ACTION
And in a further twist to the tail, the Souths line-up featured Willem Johnstone, the son of Reds champion halfback and one Test veteran Brett.
Johnstone was a chip off the old block, featuring all the mannerisms of his father, along with the best pass in the business from halfback.
UQ came from behind to beat Souths 19-17 in a high class clash.
University led 7-nil, but Souths struck back strongly to recover from a disrupted scrum and pass wide where winger Nic Godden scampered over.
Uni coach Matt Ingram was delighted with the win.
“I was very happy with the boy’s performance to implement the game plan and be clinical when we entered the attacking 22,’’ he said.
“We need to fix up our discipline at the breakdown to avoid continuing to put ourselves under pressure.’’
He said flanker Jono Burnett, outside centre Tony Fuimaono and No.6 Benji Waller shone.
Earlier in the match, a powerhouse try by Souths No.8 Leandro Tupi then put the Magpies ahead, only for the scores to be locked up when UQ’s Rhys Penny snared an intercept try.
With captain and lock Joel Brown leading the way, Souths looked to be overcoming UQ on the back of an improving scrum.
But a pick and drive, mauling try to No.7 Jonathon Bennett, and then a match winning effort from replacement Will Hay after a rampaging run from Fergus Nasser, put UQ ahead.
Souths coach Cian O’Connor said his team improved greatly from round one and created plenty of opportunities.
“We need to take those opportunities as an improvement,’’ he said.
He loved the performance of No.8 Tupi, lock Brown and McLaughlin Phillips.
RELATED LINKS
Wests finally got their season moving forward with a 29-28 win over Easts at David Wilson Oval, Bottomley Park.
Bulldogs’ fly half Lachlan Kerr kicked our winning kick 50m out and it changed the momentum with 10-12 minutes left to play.
Wests coach Rob Roiri said the secret to his team’s success was showing some old fashioned grit.
“We had a few boys drop out through the week and had a few disruptions,’’ reflected Roiri.
“And on the back of our season so far, we just needed to try and play with a little bit of heart, it was more about our effort.
“We have a good team but have not been living up to expectations and training was purely about the basics, understanding our roles and putting in an effort we can be proud of.
“So we went with that against Easts at Easts. It was just that we came with a little bit of effort today.’’
Captain Alec Robinson was immense from lock for Wests, while Bulldogs lock Emmerson Treasure was tremendous and fly half Lachlan Kerr outstanding.
Kerr made a fist of playing No.10 after starting at fullback earlier in the season.
“He led us around the paddock with his kicking on the back of go forward,’’ Roiri said.
“And it was won on heart and upfront.’’
Easts coach Tyrell Barker said halfback Sam Farrar was his best.
Bond University got the job done over GPS, 24-10, with Toby Mayes, Tyler Gilbert and Harrison Usher all scoring.
Bond coach Brenden Jones said Usher at prop, classy flanker Nick Mitchell and replacement winger Leuan Cornelius were best for his team.
GPS coach Sio Kite said he liked the effort and desire but the side did not execute well in attacking zones.
“We can’t afford to leave those areas empty-handed,’’ Kite said.
He said lock Stuart Tualima was again his best forward, while No.10 Jesse O”Neill did well.
Brothers got cracking to beat Norths 43-5, with Brothers coach Greg Beaver praise loose head prop Lachlan Bishop, Benn Della Cort and fullback Athen Waia.
“The start was scrappy and we didn’t play how we wanted but after 20 we started to click and play our game plan.’’
He said off the bench Oliver Harvey and Tevita Mapa also lifted the side.
Norths coach Dan Ritchie said his team was within sight, 5-12, at halftime.
“The final score reflects the high penalty count. It is very hard to score points when you don’t have the ball or 15 players.’’
He said prop Julius Sua, lock Jack Small and halfback George Stokes were his best.
Colts team of the week
Fullback: Athen Waia (Brothers)
Wingers: Harry McLaughlin Phillips (Souths), Rhys Penny (UQ)
Centres: Tony Fuimaono (UQ), Leuan Cornelius (Bond)
Halves: Lachlan Kerr (Wests), Sam Farrar (Easts)
Backrow: Alec Robinson (Wests), Jono Burnett (UQ), Nick Mitchell (Bond)
Locks: Joel Brown (Souths), Emmerson Treasure (Wests)
Props: Lachlan Bishop (Brothers), Julius Sua (Norths)
Hooker: Harrison Usher (Bond)
Reserves: Stuart Tualima (GPS), Benn Della Cort, (Brothers), Oliver Harvey (Brothers), Leandro Tupi (Souths), Benji Waller (UQ), George Stokes (Norths), Tevita Mapa (Brothers), Jack Small (Norths)
In women’s club rugby, Norths had a local derby victory over Brothers 15-5 at Hugh Courtney Oval.
Norths coach Dom Clarke heaped praise on his team for its defence after the Eagles conceded just one try - from a charge down.
“We really absorbed a lot of pressure in the second half and we were able to get down the other end and put it out of reach,’’ he said.
He said he would like to back up the defence more by attacking better, but he was delighted with the win.
Best for Norths were fullback Gemma Lawrence who started like a house on fire, scoring two tries.
And lock Caitlyn Lofthouse “was the type of player you’d love to play with.’’
Korbyn Broomhall also got on the scoring sheet for Norths, while Corrie Aitsi scored for Brothers.
Brothers coach Shirley Russell said “both teams played well in trying conditions.’’
“The girls on both sides tried to play positive rugby.’’
Brothers captain and lock Mabel Johnson was the Brothers’ Players Player, leading by example and tackling strongly. “She tried to be everywhere,’’ Russell praised.
Nina Poloetti at tight head prop was also “very strong in ball carry and cemented the scrum’’.
“And she displayed good leadership in the set pieces today.’’
There was drama at Chipsy Wood when University and Souths drew 10-all, with Eleanor Gambling and Machiko Silila scoring for Uni, and Michelle Jones and Mary Tuaana crossing for the Magpies.
University coach Derby Malaulau said against bigger rivals, his team defended well but unfortunately did not execute with the ball.
“That resulted in a draw,’’ he said.
“I’d like to see improvement in execution of basic skills and that will be our key focus,’’ he said.
Souths’ campaign was spearheaded by Amelia Brown who played open side flanker.
“Her work rate was exceptional, she brought pressure on defence and really covered well when breaks were made on first up tackles.
“Amelia was directly responsible for saving two tries with her scramble defence,’’ praised coach David Baldwin.
Baldwin said he was pleased with the “enormous heart’’ the girls displayed.
“We lost seven girls from the last game to illness during the week, and lost a further two on Saturday morning, so the heart and resolve on show was exceptional.
“It is something to be very proud of.’’
But he was to see improvement in tactics. “With some small tweaks we can improve significantly and the outcome would have been much different.
“For example, in wet conditions, we should have played territory more and we have arguably the best kicking in the comp, so should have leveraged that.
“But there is plenty to be excited about,’’ Baldwin said.
The women’s Tigers also had a nice win, 17-nil, over Wests while GPS downed Bond Uni 36-19.
Easts coach Craig Wilson, having watched Ally Kemp Rosie Ebbage and Laina Cooper Finua score tries, said it was an excellent performance given the Tigers were under strength.
“Our ladies played the game with a great deal of control and the set piece was dominant,’’ he said.
“If we can look to build defensive connection and secure our ruck, it will go a long way to improving our game flow.’’
He heaped praise on his halfback, Felicity Powdrell.
For the Galloping Greens against Bond, the six try performance included scores by Grace Ropati, Tina Campbell and Sarah Lewis.
Bond’s best were Grace Qaranivalu, Jemma Bemrose, Shannon Symond, Grace Baker and Tshinta Kendall who all carried on solid round 2 form.
“Bond started strongly and kept pace with GPS but two serioues backline injuries disrupted the rhythm.’’ said Bond coach Setu Naseri.
“Bond’s set piece is still a work in progress and last night some of their catch and pass skills as well as decision making let them down.’’
He said that would be a focus at training.
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