Club rugby colts Team of the Week; giant killing Uni topple Easts plus women’s latest
Club rugby: Here’s the latest on colts 1 and women’s action from round 4, including a major women’s upset and our Colts Team of the Week.
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The Easts Tigers Colts came late to beat University in a grand-final rematch, after a giant killing effort from the University women saw them take down competition powerhouses Easts 29-19 away from home.
A double from winger Machiko Silila F Fepuleai delivered University their third consecutive victory.
In all colts results, Easts edged out UQ 22-17, Wests defeated GPS 15-10, Brothers roared to a 43-15 over Norths while Bond University bested Sunnybank 40-7.
And in women’s matches, UQ upset Easts 29-19, while Brothers bounced back with a 41-5 win over Norths.
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In the grand final replay, Easts edged out University in another mini epic, 22-17, at Bottomley Park.
The Tigers started well, finished well but stalled in the middle before surging late.
Across the match Jakob Horne, Kaileb Crowthers, George Stoddart and Alex Kerr were consistent for the winners, with the foursome shining the light which showed their teammates the road toward victory.
Easts coach Tyrell Barker lamented a mid-match siesta but liked what he saw either side.
“We just need to refine the middle part of our game,’’ Barker said.
University coach Matt Ingram said his team lost its grip on the match despite running largely with a second half wind.
“We just couldn’t take advantage of a strong second half wind after staying in the fight and being in touch at halftime.
“It was disappointing to give up the lead late.’’
Uni hooker Charlie Wigan rose to the occasion with his best match of the season.
“It was his best performance of the season,’’ praised Ingram.
“He had a good all around work rate around the park and worked hard at set piece time.’’
Siliva Leofa and Matt Brice were good in the backs.
At Norths, Brothers secured a convincing 43-15 victory over the Eagles.
Despite a two-try effort from Australian Schoolboys fullback Will McCulloch, the visitors were counter-attack kings and as such, found the line on seven occasions.
Prop Malakai Taulani, fullback Ellis Davies, hooker Aidan Taylor (two tries), centres Kadin Pritchard and Hunter Lim and reserve halfback Douglas Swan crossed for Brothers.
Australian Schoolboys Lock Ben Daniels and flanker Jack Condon opened things up with their efforts in the forward pack, allowing fullback Ellis Davies to spark some magic when returning the ball.
Although Brothers put 28 points between them, Norths fought hard until the final whistle.
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Down the coast, Sunnybank fell short 40-7 against improvers Bond University, who were boosted by a Alex Miles double.
Coach Rico Gear said Bond’s forward set piece execution caused a disruption to the Dragons and around that “our game management was top shelf compared to earlier games’’.
He heaped praise on halfback Miles.
Flanker Lolo Sekona was the lone tryscorer for the Dragons, while exciting winger Rocco Gollings, representative prop Harrison Usher, inside centre Miles and flanker Nik Mitchell scored five-pointers for the home side.
The Dragons played an excellent first half of football into the wind, breaking the line without reward due to the desperate Bullsharks defence.
In the second half the tide changed, Sunnybank letting themselves down on defence with a couple of lazy tackles.
Winger Declan Cannon proved a handful for Bond defenders, slicing through the line on multiple occasions in the first half.
At the kennel, Wests toppled the visiting GPS gallopers 15-10 in an arm wrestle which saw neither team score points in the second half.
GPS rallied behind their front rowers Harry Gould, Michael Toohey and Nicholas Harper who won the scrum battle but gutsy defence from the Bulldogs, who had their backs against the wall in that second half, saw them come away 5-point victors.
Wests head coach Roscoe Deacon said “ It was a really gusty performance. I was really happy with our efforts in defence and our physicality.
“Our connection, effort and work rate was great. We left some points out there in attack but it’s a heck of an improvement from the last couple of weeks — without a doubt our best performance of the year.
“I think the boys are starting to get a bit of connection and positivity in their relationships. “Theres more clarity coming in the way were trying to play.
“It’s just guys getting used to things, Everyone had their best performance today. Lachlan Kerr at No.15 had his best game but honestly everyone in the team had their best game today.
“Good signs,” Deacon said about his boys showing up in the lineout and pinching a result.
Bulldogs halfback Mikaire O’Neill shone with his use of the box kick turning GPS inside out.
On more than one occasion he used the box kick and every time it resulted in a territorial-win for his side.
For GPS, there were plenty of bright spots despite another chance to secure win No.1 going begging.
These included:
+Twin towers Darcy Hammond and Patrick Gavin will only get better from here. With third year player Hammond taking first year player Gavin under his wing, there’s no ceiling on what those two can achieve both in the lineout and in the scrum.
+Flanker Matthias Maugatai has the magic recipe of aggression, size, talent, power, and a sneaky offload which makes him even more deadly.
But, it was inside centre Tasman Barry who shone brightest in a losing side, the No.13 giant bagging a double after starting the season in the Colts 2 competition.
We knew that wasn’t going to be the case for long, the Marist College Ashgrove Old Boy an excellent ballrunner who can impact a game in any outside back position.
In women’s action, an on-the-up University outfit claimed a giant-killing 29-19 victory over last year’s grand finalists Easts, at Easts.
For the visitors, halfback Greta Gowen pounced for a five-pointer, as did fly half Giverny Robinson, F Fepuleai (two tries) and exciting fullback prospect Amy Kibble.
For the home side, their prop powerhouse Tina Brown joined No.8 Adi Lisikoveni Dreu and reserve outside back Shamaia Grey in the scorers column.
Tigers coach Shannon Symon said it was a disappointing day for the side whom he felt did not turn up with great intent.
“But credit where due, UQ outplayed us and took us on up front and beat us,’’ he said.
Best for the Tigers were Adi Dreu at No.8 who got through a power of work in a beaten pack.
At Norths, a seven-try performance from Brothers captured a stunning 41-5 victory.
Brothers coach Tony Wall said Nina, Mabel, Grace, Kaitlin and Carney were terrific for his side in the win.
“They gave the backs time, which allowed good service from Imy Ryan to fly half Jordan who was able to release Kyduam Brittany and Jazlyn.
“It was a well deserved win, a reward for the effort they have been putting through during the pre-season,’’ said Wall.
Norths coach Craig Wilson said he was really proud of the effort shown by his team.
“They showed vast improvement in their defensive skill and systems,” he said.
Indeed it was a big defensive improvement from Norths, who in rounds two and three Norths had conceded 154 points.
Outside centre Kiani Brown was a standout, as were front rowers Bridie Fitzgibbon, Leah reimer and Rebekah Pulea, who held their end of the bargain in the forward battle.
Fleet footed fullback Jordan Manega was rewarded with a try for Brothers, as was lock Mabel Johnston who, like Manega, is only 20 years of age.
Prop Nina Poletti, winger Laura Bain, and centres Lydia Durkin and Brittney Brown bagged themselves tries as well.
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ROUND 1 REPORTS, TEAMS OF THE WEEK
On the Gold Coast in a battle of the heavyweights, the Sunnybank women enjoyed a rousing 19-12 win over a strong Bond University side.
“It was a great game from both teams,’’ said Sunnybank coach Sionie Helu.
“We wanted to get into the game nice and early and put pressure on their attack.
“I thought our forwards were aggressive around the breakdown with strong contacts on D (defence).’’
Helu said halfback Ana Afuie was outstanding, “really controlling the pace of the game’’ while getting Sunnybank onto the front foot with her darting runs.
“Ana Drotini, Isabella Robinson and Luana Tongia were all great for us.
Kauna Lopa, Seta Fangloka and Zahara Temara were outstanding in the backline, with Temara an interchange sensation.
“We probably took the foot off the pedal in the second half and made some unusual pays that kept Bond in the game.
“We knew they were going to play for 70 minutesand they are an outstanding outfit.’’
Helu said it was not important his group put the success of that match behind them and push on to the next challenge.
At Wests, Bulldogs prop Tiarrie Fanuatanu was enormous, playing the entire match and being rewarded with the winning try in big win over GPS women.
COLTS 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK
1. Harry Gould (GPS)
2. Charlie Wigan (Uni)
3. Nick Harper (GPS)
4. Pat Gaven (GPS)
5. Ben Daniels (Brothers)
6. Alex Kerr (Easts)
7. Jack Condon (Brothers)
8. George Stoddart (Easts)
9. Alex Miles (Bond)
10. Ryan Shaw (Wests)
11. Will McCulloch (Norths)
12. Tasman Barry (GPS)
13. Alex Miles (Bond)
14. Declan Cannon (Sunnybank)
15. Ellis Davies (Brothers)
Reserves: Mikaire O’Neill (Wests), Jakob Horne (Easts), Kaileb Crowthers (Easts), Siliva Leofa, (Uni), Matt Brice (Uni).
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