Club rugby colts Team of the Week:
Club rugby: Who made our The colts 1 team of the weekend after the Souths Magpies soared - while the Sunnybank Dragon’s women roared
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Sunnybank’s women announced themselves as premiership favourites while Souths Magpies colts 1 emerged from the shadows to topple Brothers and stake a claim for top billing this season.
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In women’s results, Sunnybank beat GPS 43-7, Souths won 47-5 over Brothers while Easts eased to a 22-7 win over Wests in a hard fought clash.
And in colts results, Easts won a high scoring clash against Wests 38-22, UQ pipped Bond 22-17, GPS found the go button to beat Sunnybank 44-17 and Souths defeated Brothers 34-29.
Sunnybank’s women’s win was profound, a comprehensive performance in what started like an early semi-final showdown, but became a show piece performance for the Dragons.
GPS had to be the first to score in the second half after trailing 17-nil, but it was enterprising Sunnybank who found the chalk, with centre Kalisi Longapoa combining with her flanker Shy Rowlands. Down 22-nil the match was over.
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GPS did cross soon after courtesy of breakaway Tayla Rowe, but the Bank surged back through elite second rower Longoria.
Could you open a match with a better try than Sunnybank scored? Highly unlikely.
A bruising, bustling run on the clubhouse side from Joana Villisi Rabaka created space on the other side of the field for a wide spread.
Through the hands it went, ending with inside centre Eseta Fagaloko striding over to finish a classical piece of flowing Sunnybank rugby.
Both sides continued to pour through in defence, meeting ball cleared from rucks with pile driving shoulder tackling.
Gosh it was frantic as the Galloping Greens and Dragons put their bodies on the line.
It was Sunnybank’s bustling pressure which led to their second try when forward leader Samantha Lingman charged down a kick, and then was fouled chasing the ball leading to a penalty try. It was 12-nil.
GPS seemed to panic under the defensive pressure, losing their composure and structure.
Sunnybank then upped the ante, with athletic forwards used as edge runners before the outside backs were sent on their way.
A magnificent individual try was scored by Sunnybank prop Isabelle Robinson, a skilled tight forward whose rampaging effort over 15m finished with a five pointer.
Lock Leona Tauelangi was outstanding for the Dragons, but as a unit Sunnybank had snared momentum to lead 17-nil.
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In Colts 1 action at Souths, the Magpies out enthused Brothers to claim a thrilling 34-29 win.
Souths head coach Cian O’Connor said his team prepared very well during the week after a very disappointing loss to Easts in round 6.
“We did our prep well for brothers and finally executed our plan.
“We showed what we are capable of. We had moments where we dropped off but it’s getting less and less each week.
“We let them in for some soft opportunities which Brothers always take on you,” O’Connor said, assessing a much improved effort from his team.
“Big improvements from where we were last week, we were very disappointed to lose. T
“This week we produced more of our attacking shape, and executed when in their zone.
“All points came from tries. We just took care of it. Our forwards did well and the backline played off the back of them when we were in their 22.
“We finished them (tries) off.
“The first time we have scored over five tries in a game this season.”
O’Connor’s best was winger Ryley Bierton who “had his best of the season.”
Bierton was electric, scoring a try from half way and setting up another with a break from inside the 22.
No.8 Cadell Rees was also excellent replacing Dom Thygesen, spearheading a dominant backrow in Tom O’Callaghan and Fraser Leslie.
Willem Pienaar, returning from an ACL injury, came off the bench and was outstanding as was lock Jake Kurbatoff.
The pair of them won lineouts, breakdowns and set piece.
Brothers coach Greg Beaver said his side was out enthused by Souths on their Ladies Day.
“We managed to get back into it. Simplified what we were doing.
“We were losing the breakdowns. Souths were pretty direct. They tried to bully us. One of the things I say to our guys is the other team is allowed to play footy and they did today,” Beaver said in praise of what O’Connor is doing with his side.
“They’ll be there or thereabouts this year. They will be strong.
“Cian is doing a good job. If Trevor King or Willem Johnstone drop back they’ll be very strong.”
Tanna Wilson stood up for Brothers, as did playmaker Dre Pakeho who was “great defensively and took it to them.”
“Will Cartwright also stood up at halfback.
“Boys will review hard,” Beaver said, looking forward to next week’s Ladies Day clash against Wests at home.
At UQ, Pat Sowerby again stood tall, this time alongside Ronan Austin, Harry Swane and Ethan Pass as the Red Heavies beat Bond Uni.
“The first half was a bit disjointed from both teams and there was not much footy played, but in the second half things changed. “It was great to get a response from our side after halftime to score twice early,’’ said Uni coach Matt Ingram.
He said in this period the line out drive was outstanding.
But he said in the first half “we put ourselves under pressure giving away piggyback penalties to let Bond back into it despite a red card.
“Overall I am really happy with the effort and defensive resolve to close it out,’’ Ingram said.
Bond coach Rico Gear saw plenty to like. “We did really well considering two yellow cards for Koby Mackay,’’ he said.
For Bond Zeb Misios was very strong, displaying a big work rate, while Nikotimo Mateiwai off the bench was outstanding.
Easts had a rousing 15 point win over Wests, with forward Alex Kerr and back Gus Godwin top on the pops.
“It was a great fightback in the first half and there was patience and steady heads to continue playing after lots of penalties and two yellow cards,’’ reported Tigers coach Tyrell Barker.
Wests coach Roscoe Deacon said his team continues to improve. “For large parts of the game we played some of our best footy of the season, but a couple of unforced errors released all the pressure we were creating,’’ Deacon said.
“We were right in the game up until the final five minutes so it was disappointing that we leaked two tries right at the end to blow out the scoreboard.
“The boys can take some confidence in pushing one of the form teams in the competition, and being in the contest all the way.
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At Ashgrove, Stuart Tualima again led the way for GPS in its win over Sunnybank - but he had plenty of helpers - including Matthias Maugatai and Zach Masinewa.
“Without him (Masinewa) we probably lose the game. He was electric,’’ praised GPS coach Sio Kite.
Kite said Maugatai was “physical as usual’’ while Tualima was “very polished and finally got to show his all around game’’.
Sunnybank winger Alex Georgiades scored a couple of tries in his team’s defeat.
Coach Brendan Underwood said he unexpectedly lost a winger before the match, then watched his side endure an early red card and give away some penalties. “Discipline is the key and we do ourselves no favours here,’’ Underwood said.
“The competition knows we can play rugby but we contribute for just 50 minutes.
“Until we change our mindset things will not change.’’
COLTS 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK
15. Gus Godwin (Easts)
14. Alex Georgiades (Sunnybank
13. Zach Masinewa (GPS)
12. Dre Pakeho (Brothers)
11. Ryley Bierton (Souths)
10. Ryan Shaw (Wests)
9. Ethan Pass (Uni)
8. Pat Sowerby (Uni)
7. Stuart Tualima (GPS)
6. Jake Kurbatoff.
5. Ronan Austin (Uni)
4. Alex Kerr (Easts)
3. Lington Leli (Souths)
2. Michael Toohey (GPS)
1. Harry Swane (Uni)
Bench: Nikotimo Mateiwai (Bond), Tanner Wilson (Brothers), Darby Duke (Wests), Willem Pienaar (Souths), Zeb Zeb Misios (Bond), Cadell Rees (Souths), Tom O’Callaghan and Fraser Leslie (both Souths), Matthias Maugatai (GPS)
In women’s action between Souths and Brothers, Brothers coach Tony Wall continued to watch progress despite coming up against an outstanding Magpies side.
“Our defence was good, especially in the first half when we defended multiple attacking raids on our line,’’ Wall said.
But credit to Souths. In the last 15 minutes they really upped the tempo and stretched us.’’
Wall said his side lost two important players to injury, but said the bench gained great experience. “I am very proud of how everyone reacted to adversity and stood up.’’
For the winners, Souths coach David Baldwin said flanker Hollie Twidale, No.10 Leka Tuaana were outstanding.
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