Club rugby: Colts 1 thriller, Young shines for GPS and Brothers women progress
Club rugby: An AIC First XV schoolboy starred on debut while last year’s colts 1 finalists played out another thriller. Details here, along with how Brothers women continued to progress.
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Last year’s colts 1 grand finalists Easts and University were at it again in another thriller while Iona College student Jack Leo shone on debut in Sunnybank’s narrow loss to Bond University.
In all Colts 1 results, Brothers won 40-12 over Norths, Bond University beat Sunnybank 29-24, Wests won 19-12 against GPS and Easts and UQ shared spoils with a 24-all draw.
And in women’s action GPS winger Heleina Young scored four sensational tries as GPS beat Wests 26-5, while Brothers had a big win over Norths, 68-7.
At GPS in colts 1, the Wests Bulldogs overcame the gallopers 19-12 in a stop start affair that finished with an exciting final quarter.
Down 19-12, the gallopers were hot on the Bulldogs heels but the boys from Sylvan Road had a touch of finesse which saw them finish the job – not without a tense full time tussle between the two teams who had been jawing at each other the whole game.
Leading the way with his leadership was Wests fly half Lachlan Kerr who was one of the best on the field.
He was a vocal leader whose calm presence at first receiver ensured his team was playing in the right part of the field.
There was also a good battle between Wests fullback Ryan Shaw and GPS fullback Pat Tierney who earlier in the month were vying for Queensland Reds Under 18s selection.
Brisbane Grammar old boy Shaw was selected but on the day the two couldn’t be split.
Wests centre Campbell King scored first after a thumping Ben Neilson tackle before Dom Kallquist scored the second after a strong Darcy Hammond tackle.
Fly half Jesse O’Neill and the breakdown winning Stuart Tualima scored for the home side but a Darby Duke try late in the piece secured the win.
CLUB RUGBY PLAYERS YOU DO NOT WANT TO RUN AT
A few notable performances included:
+ Kerr of course.
+ Ned Kendall and Te Moana Beale in the forward pack for Wests
+ Front rowers Jack Spencer, Tom Scriven and Mika Smith Kami who won the scrum battle for the Bulldogs.
+ The athletic Stuart Tualima who played well for GPS in the No. 8 jersey.
+ GPS halfback Brayden O’Sullivan who had one of his better games this season. He has earned the No. 9 jersey.
+ The well built Joe Doljanin at outside centre for GPS who accrued post contact metres with every carry.
At Sunnybank, Dragons coach Brendan Underwood said his team’s narrow 29-24 loss to Bond University was a reflection of continued improvement as the colts’ ranks continue to swell with returning talent.
Iona First XV forward Jack Leo was a young gun on debut in colts, helping drive the Sunnybank forwards recovery after Bond had stunned their rivals with three early tries.
“Since our win against Easts this group has been gaining momentum,’’ said Sunnybank coach Brendan Underwood.
“We had some real injection off the bench with Jack Leo (Iona College) playing his first game for us.
“Sam Sauaso, Lol Sekona and Senio Peluga were also metre eaters all day.
“While our start was not great (19-nil down), credit to the side for staying patient and playing to our game plan.’’
Alex Georgiades at No. 15 was excellent and received man of the match honours from his peers in a performance that included setting up two tries. ”We were coming home strongly and nearly got their but run out of time.’’
Bond Uni coach Rico Gear said the first half from his side, which yielded four tries, was outstanding.
“The kick exit went really well with Syris left boot while Mik Mitchell was strong with two tries and defence around the ruck.
“Sunnybank did well to put us on pressure.’’
In colts action at Brothers, the home side looked a million dollars in leading 40-nil before Norths rallied late to go down 40-12.
Brothers were missing ace flanker Jack Condon but his replacement Cooper Cameron announced himself early with two telling tackles.
Brothers forward drive and continuity punched an early hole for five-eight Finn Prass to capitalise on, with the No. 10 sending his fullback Archie Condon away to score the opening try.
Another midfield thrust – this time from centre Tom Harvey – created more depth and it was long striding flanker Oliver Harvey, standing on the wing, who found the try line.
Brothers continued its up tempo brand, supporting in numbers from inside passes while also using the width of the field with wide spreads.
Halfback Will Cartwright capitalised on the pressure created by his runners, surging into a hole with a run that ultimately led to his flanker Jack Harley burrowing over.
Norths, caught in a whirlwind and down 21-nil, did respond.
But Brothers were textbook with their exit from desperate defence, and from a turnover winger Louis de Villiers flashed forward, sprinting 30m for a wonderful solo try.
The dancing feet of Dre Pakeho then created another half chance for de Villiers, but this time Norths’ defenders covered from the inside to prevent another try.
Cartwright then sniped his second try into the second half, dousing Norths attempt to wrestle momentum from Brothers.
And when Norths did threaten with their best passage of play, Brothers backed their handling skills in contact to run themselves 75m out of trouble.
A feature of Brothers play was their ability to test defence both on the inside and outside, and the Brothers fans were treated to a glorious interchange of passing resulting in lock Charlie Brosnan getting the chocolates when he backed up down the centre of the field.
On another day Norths may have threatened, but this Brothers outfit is a super colts side, fasting moving with its defensive line and slick and energetic with the ball.
Norths never gave up, and to be honest it was appropriate they won the last 15 minutes of the game.
MacKenzie Fox and Will Rogers rewarded their toiling teammates with tries, and it gives the Eagles sometime to work on going into next weekend.
At UQ, a grand final rematch unfolded between Easts and University and like last year, neither side could be split.
Following last season’s 22-all finals draw, the Tigers and Red Heavies again today shared spoils 24-24.
Easts scored four through speedy winger Will Quinn, outside centre Gus Godwin, flanker Kaan Askew and No. 8 George Stoddart while the home side scored three thanks to Patrick Sowerby, breakaway Ronan Austin and fly half Will O’Brien.
Easts led 10-0 early only for their lead to be erased amid an unanswered 21 point run from University.
Up 21-10, the Matt Ingram coached university team could have iced the game but Easts were hungry as ever. The Tigers pounced and with 15 minutes to go the scores were deadlocked at 24-all. It was an arm wrestle to finish and the telling defence of University centre Mac Kelley helped repel Easts late.
Easts coach Tyrell Barker put it simply saying “we had opportunities … but whenever we scored we let them back in.”
Locks Alex Kerr and Tom Twaddell, No. 8 Stoddart and Quinn played well for the visitors.
Quinn scored a stunning solo try and made plenty of line breaks throughout the game.
In the backline, Churchie old boys Sam Farrar, No. 9, and Archie Wilson, No. 10 connected well.
Ingram said with players out, he’d take the draw. “We went down 10-0, went up 21-10 and we should’ve iced it.
“We let Easts back into it and they put us under pressure.”
Ingram noted that subsequent to all the changes there could have been a lack of trust on defence.
Despite this, his side “grinded it out and didn’t stop working.”
Prop Harrison Swane continued to shine with another dominant showing in the scrum, while Mr. Everywhere man Pat Sowerby stood tall again.
“Mac Kelley came up with clutch plays on defence,” Ingram praised about tackling hero Kelly.
In women’s action at Crosby Park, Brothers women’s development continued at pace when the group scored a 68 — 7 win over Norths at Crosby Park.
Off the back of forward dominance and excellent ball handling and continuity, Brothers outside centre Rebecca Davidson had a storming start to the game.
Twice she crossed in the first half, including after Jennifer Ravitiai and lock Mabel Johnston had handled, and on another occasion left a Norths defender strewn on the ground with a bustling effort.
Brothers continued to flow, with front rowers Evie Robertson and O’Laughlin joining the passing chain, while Nina Poletti’s running was a handful.
Only dogged last ditch defence by Norths slowed the scoreboard, and the Eagles should be commended for their grit across both halves.
But the weight of possession was too great for the visitors and onward Brothers marched.
Davidson crossed for one of her tries after a golden pass from Brittany Brown as she was falling to ground in a tackle.
It was a fabulous delivery of a ball under pressure and highlighted the confidence and desire of the Brothers girls to back their skills.
The Brown-Davidson combination also featured again after fullback Brown attacked from fullback, passed to her winger Breanne Shepherd who then found Davidson.
Brothers halfback Kirra Burke also had splendid service from her forwards which aided Brothers rampage, while Brothers back rowers and locks displayed great hands and strong running.
Brothers inside centre Lydia Durkin deservedly crossed to score when she displayed the hunger of a mountain lioness to chase down a kick.
All the while Norths were putting numbers in front of Brothers, but Brothers had an ability to loom in support and out flank their rivals.
It was an extremely impressive effort by Brothers and full credit to their coaching staff and senior players for the manner in which they executed their skills.
Down 30-nil at halftime Norths responded after the break with their best passage of play, a rollicking forward oriented response.
Norths pounded their way 50m upfield, with one forward and then another taking it up which led to a converted try. All of a sudden things looked better at 30-7.
But the speed and athleticism of Brothers outside backs was once again to the fore, with replacement.
“Having not even the same backline for one week (this season) has been really tough for us,’’ said Norths No. 10 Lacey Fairley. “But it was a great effort by our girls.’’
But she said it was also an “awesome effort’’ from Brothers who she alluded to were evolving into a strong team in the competition.
Earlier in Premier Women action at Ashgrove, the Gallopers had their way when winning 26-5 over the Wests Bulldogs.
Queensland Reds winger Heleina Young was at the peak of her powers with a four try effort, three of which came in the first half.
And it wasn’t just her sizzling pace that gave GPS the edge but perhaps the underrated aspect of her game in her defence.
She was more involved than ever, getting touches in attack and lining up runners and making sure of the tackle when Wests poured on the pressure in the GPS danger zone.
It was as if she was gliding from sideline to sideline. One moment she was bringing down the unstoppable Maraea Tupai and the next she was making a timely cover tackle.
Gutsy defensive efforts were abound, and that was needed to shut down the likes of flankers Hana Lane and Melehifo allana Sikimeti and dangerous wingers Michelle Curry and Jess Nugent who were always a threat.
GPS Fullback Ella-Jaye Harrison-Leaunoa and outside centre Adi Unaisi Biau could be seen making brave defensive plays near the try line.
On two occasions Wests mounted the phases and came ever so close to scoring, only to be denied by a defensive barricade which held firm until the final minute when Curry cashed in on the right wing.
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