Club Rugby: Colts 1 upsets and nail biters; incredible Women’s victories on siren
Club Rugby: Another Colts 1 upset and a thriller at Easts in round 11 showed the hunger and competitiveness across every team. In Women’s action, a Wallaroos boost laid the platform for another thriller at Easts. All the Colts and Women’s action revealed here.
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In women’s action, Norths blitzed UQ 60-0, Easts stunned GPS in the dying moments to win 17-14, while Bond University drew with Sunnybank 17-17.
At Hugh Courtney Oval, University’s women got rolling with dynamic forward play and smatterings of expensive rugby to unseat home side Norths by 11 tries.
Despite the wet conditions, Uni winger Giverney Robinson scored three tries in the first half to emphasise her team’s willingness to play rugby.
University’s opening blitz was only possible because of the side’s forward dominance which saw recycling of possession that stretched the Eagles defensive line.
The Uni scrum was also mighty, winning a penalty which had the side ball off the back of which centre Caitlin Urwin Scored after several probing incursions, including by No.10 Chanelle Kohika-Skipper.
Just when you thought it could not be better on the scoreboard for Uni in the first segment of the clash, lock Lauren Robinson raced in under the posts for her team’s sixth first half try.
She would have scored again after supporting a break by Tess Evans, but Norths displayed great desperation to scramble in defence.
It was that moment which summed up Norths’ tenacity even if it was not showing on the scoreboard.
Ultimately Robinson did cross the try line for a second time in the second half as Uni crossed for their ninth try.
Coach Derby Malaulau said coming off a loss he wanted Uni to display a good skill set in wet weather. “And the girls proved they could do that,” he said, praising their handling.
In the slippery conditions, the bravery of both front rows should be acknowledged.
Uni’s Elani Matauimalo, Brook Savelio and Laurence Marie-Pierre Rivard all meant business.
It was no place for the faint hearted as the girls went to work, with Norths hooker Aislin Steele doing her best to inspire teammates.
Uni fullback Chloe Cocks also did a great job for her side, with sure hands in the conditions and lovely link passing after class Eagles fly half Caitlin Stewart had challenged her with attacking kicks.
In the wet University halfback Greta Cowen and later Taleah Kahotea displayed sure hands despite an increasingly slippery field.
Norths coach Dom Clarke was proud of his team’s second half rally given the side was depleted by injury, particularly to the backline.
“It was great seeing them step up and have a crack,” he said
University coach Malaulau said his team was on an upward trajectory despite a hiccup last week
“The girls are starting to switch on and understand what we are trying to achieve.
“So every week is an improvement. Obviously last week we did not play the way we wanted to so today was about trying to get ourselves back on track.
On a muddy Bottomley Park surface, the top two teams in the competition butted horns in a potential grand final match up and it was a try in the 68th minute by Easts prop Tina Brown that gave the Tigers a thrilling 17-14 victory.
Easts were down 14-10 with the clock winding down before Brown took it from the back of the ruck and dove over to secure a well-deserved win at home over the competition leaders.
Easts head coach Gary Wilson said: “ As we do every week, we stayed in a heavy contest and ground right up until the final siren. The girls always consolidate to our strong set piece and with the dominance of our forwards and skill execution in our backs, end up with very good results.”
Wilson’s standouts were of course Tina Brown and also star halfback Maggie Glassock.
Indeed Easts were the more physical side. Their aggression in the forward pack stunned GPS initially, before the Galloping girls gave back a good deal of push and shove.
The Tigers did a cracking job of getting in their heads but GPS were well and truly up to the challenge. Whether it was with the late shots, chat in the ruck, incredibly aggressive cleaning out and fight from everyone on the paddock, this blockbuster matchup had it all.
Easts wing Tivinia Misiloi opened the scoring thanks to Loretta Lealiifano. The fly half threw a superb cut out ball to capitalise on an overlap.
GPS advanced up the field immediately and barged over through their star prop Teresabell Faith Lemanu. With an unstoppable run from in close, Lemanu gave her team an important 7-5 lead, every point counting in such poor conditions.
Tina Brown hit back before half time to give her team a narrow 10-7 lead following more sharp decision making from Lealiifano to spot space and shift it wide.
GPS centre Marlugu Dixon scored an amazing try in the right corner and went on to convert it from near the sideline.
It looked like game over at 14-10 with minutes to spare, but a last minute heave from Easts saw them advance up the field and triumph 17-14 thanks to a try in the dying moments from Brown.
It was a huge boost for the Tigers to have Wallaroos captain Shannon Parry back, playing her first game of the season.
Parry won four straight premierships with Easts (2008-09-10-11) and came back on Saturday with a bang after captaining the Wallaroos in all five tests this year.
Parry said: “I’m really happy with that win knowing GPS are at the top of the table. For me it’s just good to be back down at Easts. It’s my first game back for the season and I’m looking forward to the next 6-7 weeks at home.”
“It was a gutsy win from the girls to win in the last minute against a top quality opposition. I really love being back here with the club,” Parry said.
GPS head coach Mote Kite said: “ I am proud of the effort. Easts were a class outfit. I thought their set price was excellent and we just needed to work on our scrum and execute on our chances.”
“I thought our flanker Adi Unaisi Biau was outstanding. Halfback Sarah Lewis again was awesome and our captain led by example. Our forwards did really well. It was a ding dong battle and we just missed out.”
He said it was Tina Campbell’s first game at No.8 and she played excellently, “She’s really classy.”
In other Premier Grade Women action, Sunnybank and Bond University drew 17-17 at Bond.
Bond got off to a great start as they have been doing all year, however Sunnybank did well to remain in the contest.
It was neck-and-neck the entire game with both teams hitting back after conceding a try.
In a physical battle, both teams had their opportunities to ice it.
Bond University coach Setu Naseri said: “ I am happy with how we played given we were coming off a bye. It does take a bit to get that cohesion. We were always in the contest, we just weren’t clinical enough when it mattered most.”
The old duck Shelly Fox at prop played well, chasing everything, while Skylar Adams at fly half directed things exceptionally
Lock and captain Elisha Godsiff and the front row in Grace Qaranivalu Tamika Smith were standouts.
In Colts 1 action, Norths upset University of Queensland 15-14, Bond University triumphed over Sunnybank 21-0, GPS and Easts drew 10-10, while the much-anticipated clash between Brothers and Wests was called off due to the weather conditions.
GPS Colts 1 v Easts Colts 1:
It was an arm wrestle between Ben Bannister and Campbell Mollers defence and gutsy Easts Tiger Xavier Boyle and forceful centre pairing Jarred Homan and Connor Chilver at Bottomley Park that amassed to a 10-10 draw.
GPS, spearheaded by the inspiring ball-carrying of Lachlan Howse and Darcy Hammond, were able to capitalise when opportunities presented themselves.
However, consistent try line pressure from Easts exhausted the Gallopers, and the chance to triumph was presented at the siren with a penalty goal.
It wasn’t to be. Both teams were left with muddy grass and a bitter taste in their mouth.
Easts lock Xavier Boyle said: “ We weren’t able to adapt our structure to the weather conditions which led to a few mistakes and over complicating and forcing those 50/50s.”
“We could have slowed the game better. In the second half we played down our end and we couldn’t get the simple stuff done.”
Although they didn’t get the result, Boyle said there were plenty of positives to take away like the set piece.
“We managed to expose the back field and play well for territory. Our defence all throughout the game was really strong. I’m proud of how we came together as a team with terrible conditions, especially when we had one player in the bin we really dug deep defensively during that 10 minute period,” Boyle said.
Easts centre Jarrod Homan opened up the scoring for the Tigers when he sliced through the defence and ran 35m untouched to slide into the left corner.
It took 40 minutes for GPS to dive over for a five-pointer, but it was none other than the trusty Darcy Hammond. After coming up short countless times in the Easts 22, GPS finally turned possession into points and got their first lead of the game at 7-5.
Homans centre partner in Connor Chilver hit back for the Tigers immediately. standout fly half Oryaan Kalalo dabbed a smart cross field kick in over the GPS defence and Chilver came up with it.
It was heated even with players shivering. Two even sides, tied at 10-a-piece with 15 minutes to go.
Easts fullback Blake Davis gave his team their best chance to go-ahead, forcing a scrum 5m out from the line, however the GPS brick wall defence stood tall and repelled every pick-and-drive.
You’d need a tackle count on GPS centres Campbell Moller and Tom Cox, flanker Ben Bannister and physical prop James Pierce.
On the other side of the ball, lock Ethan Lucey and No.8 Lachlan Howse were metre-eaters while fullback Rhonan Jensen applied pressure with his kick returns all afternoon, plugging the muddy corners.
For Easts, you couldn’t go past Kalalo with his crisp passing and great decision making in the face of great GPS line speed.
With an aggressive Xavier Boyle hungry after his yellow card early in the game, the threats of wings Byron Tokome and Gus Godwin who was always applying pressure, the game was totally up for grabs.
Hammond was in the wrong place at the wrong time and made a high tackle on the siren.
Although they fought hard, GPS were lucky to come away with a draw after giving Easts the chance to ice the game with a penalty goal.
GPS coach Lewis Torkington said: “ We’re pretty deflated. Pretty unlucky. We didn’t play any footy down our end in the second half. The full 35. It was a really tough effort, it’s a shame we didn’t get the win.”
He said Bannister and Howse were standouts with their grit and physicality in defence.
“ We weren’t able to execute our attack unfortunately. I think we deserved a bit of pay for the effort with that last kick there. Just a bit of justice for our effort,” Torkington said.
At Norths, a good defensive effort and a few great tries saw the home side come away with a stunning one-point-victory over UQ.
With a penalty try and a try from prop Jaidyn Walker off the rolling maul and strong defense at the end, Norths were able to hold UQ off.
Flanker Daniel Healy led the way with the defence. Norths head coach Daniel Ritchie said: “ He’s a smart player, knows when to hold back or go. He was right in the thick of it. He was immense for us today.”
“That’s three on the trot now so there’s some confidence in the group now.”
Lock Jack Small and flanker Leo Langbridge were fantastic come lineout time, while fullback Hamish Muir was dangerous with ball in hand. Ritchie said: “in trying conditions he kicked really well and put the opposition under pressure.”
UQ head coach Matt Ingram said: “We didn’t control field position well in the conditions. We gave Norths far too much possession and forced ourselves to defend. We put ourselves under pressure and Norths were too good in the end.”
“ We’ll bounce back. Slight hiccup, we just have to be smarter with how we play, especially heading into finals.”
Fullback Ben McMahon was tireless at the back, returning the ball and relieving pressure well.
Prop Angus Ward had a great game and dominated the set piece, which Ingram said was frustrating as they weren’t able to capitalise on the good platform he set.
Captain and inside centre Josh Meyer defended his guts out and was the reason UQ stayed in the game.
Down the Gold Coast, Bond University were able to pull away 21-0 winners over Sunnybank.
A very good Bond pack dominated which provided ample opportunities for the home side, however Sunnybank’s defence was excellent.
Sunnybank head coach Brendan Underwood said: “We discuss as a group a few goals that are wins for this team. From our effort I can still say that we won in a few areas we list as important for us. Defence especially.”
A couple of times when Sunnybank had the opportunity to display what a threat they could be on attack, superb 70m raids were not awarded due to last minute knock ons.
Their effort was reflected by only being down 14 points down at half time. This was due to the great defence and kicking game of inside centre Moses Jones who kept his team in the fight.
Underwood said with the weather his team discussed going forward before going wide to the edges.
“We actioned this and continued to push the Bond team to tackle. Reverting to direct play brought us territory with exceptional work around the park by flanker Fehi Mehin,” Underwood said.
Pushed passes in the trying weather conditions stopped any further points.
Underwood said: “This team continues to grow and will always stay in the hunt for 70min. We will keep staying together and develop and it’s only a matter of time until we are rewarded with a win.”
COLTS 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK
Fullback: Ben McMahon (UQ)
Wing: Hamish Muir (Norths fullback)
Outside centre: Campbell Moller (GPS)
Inside centre: Jarrod Homan (Easts) and Moses Jones (Sunnybank)
Wing: Josh Meyer (UQ centre)
Fly-half: Oryaan Kalalo (Easts)
Halfback: Jayden Muller (GPS)
No.8: Lachlan Howse (GPS)
Flanker: Ben Bannister (GPS) and Leo Langbridge (Norths)
Flanker: Daniel Healy (Norths) and Fehi Mehin (Sunnybank)
Lock: Xavier Boyle (Easts)
Lock: Ethan Lucey (GPS)
Prop: Darcy Hammond (GPS)
Hooker: Michael Toohey (GPS)
Prop: Tane Pardoe (Easts)
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