Club rugby grand final day: Colts, women‘s, Reserves and Premier
Brothers secured their first Hospital Cup premiership since 2016 in a grand final thriller against the Wests Bulldogs at Ballymore on Sunday. How they did it here along with match coverage of the Colts 1, Premier Women and Second Grade finals.
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Brothers first grade snatched the precious Hospital Cup premiership trophy off a stacked Wests side that had jumped out to a 19-0 lead when coming back to win 26-24 at Ballymore on Sunday.
The Brothers first grade win notched the clubs fifth grand final victory from six attempts in a hugely successful weekend for the Brethren.
The win followed Easts’ second grade premiership winning effort over GPS which was won 46-21, and Brothers 29-22 victory over minor premiers Souths in the Colts One grand final.
Queensland Reds Academy talent Dre Pakeho (centre) took out player of the match honours in that enthralling clash.
In the Premier Women final, Bond University were crowned back-to-back premiers with a 15-12 win over Sunnybank.
Powerful No. 8 Zoe Hanna was player of the match in the Bullsharks triumphing of the minor premiers.
But 2023 was the year of the butcher stripes with Brothers securing a thrilling two-point victory over last years Hospital Cup premiers Wests.
The Bulldogs were up 19-0 at one stage, but Brothers, spearheaded by Tony Shaw medallist Harry Wilson, stormed back into the contest before a frantic finish broke the hearts of the Bulldogs who were searching for back-to-back premierships.
Down by two, the powerful Bulldogs rolling maul bulldozed from 22 metres out all the way to the try line. But Brothers were scrappy and full of heart, and as such held the ball up over the line in a 81st minute defensive showcase.
The referee blew time and the pristine Ballymore turf was flooded with a sea of blue-and-white, flocking to celebrate the club‘s first premiership since 2016.
Ecstatic Brothers fullback Paddy James was the last standing member of that premiership side to play in Sunday‘s spectacle and for Brothers head coach Brendan Gabbett, who was coaching his final first grade game, there was no better way to go out.
“I am so happy about everything that is going on for the club.,” he said.
“That‘s a massive day for the club, five out of six (premierships over grand final weekend).
“This is three years in the making. A lot of those guys I have had for three years and to finish that off today is just brilliant.”
Gabbett said on the final play there were so many nerves, but once the referee called time in rushed feelings of ecstasy and contentment.
Indeed it was an amazing way for Gabbett to go out, but he said humbly “It‘s not about that it is about these guys.”
“We could have a dynasty here. We just have to work hard at it and keep going.
“Our resilience shone through and what it meant to them. You don‘t defend your way out of that without it meaning something.
“We missed four opportunities in the first half so we knew if we were patient we would be okay,” Gabbett said about the effort to come back from 19-0 down.
“I think the club will go to the wee hours and it will be a good night.”
Earlier, Wests looked to have laid a deposit for victory courtesy of their athletic back three David Vaihu, Ben Navosailagi and Glen Vaihu, who were terrific in the first half.
On one occasion, winger Glen made a trysaving tackle on Robbie Mapa down the left touchline and moments later, on the other touchline, he helped teammates make a crucial tackle on Tim Ryan.
From their own goal line, Wests then went the length of the field to score and move ahead 14-0.
Outside centre Charlie Topu booted the ball down field and a speedy David Vaihu motored it down before linking with Navosailagi in support, who found Topu for the touchdown.
That was a beauty, after rampaging outside centre Vilikesa Raboliku had got the Bulldogs on the scoreboard with an early try.
For their third try of the first half and a 19-0 lead, dashing Wests halfback Moses Sorovi and tireless flanker Keynan Tauakipulu connected off the lineout to send lock Angelo Smith over.
On each side of the half, Brothers hooker Dom Fraser threw on his cape and scored to keep the Brethren in the fight.
His second try, in the 46th minute, was a 30 metre solo surge to the try line after the crisp passing of halfback Isaac Tarabay sent him through a gap.
The Brethren were down 19-12, but quickly went bang-bang to lead 26-24 with 23 minutes left.
Angelo Smith had finished a right corner screamer for Wests only for Brothers prop Jaiden Christian and No. 8 Harry Wilson to each score and capture their side’s first lead of the contest.
In-form Queensland Reds fly half Lawson Creighton, powerful outside centre Michael Bond and classy outside backs Tim Ryan and Paddy James kept the pressure on Wests heading into the final 10 minutes of the game before closing it out.
Ryan made two crucial plays, one diving onto loose ball and the other dragging a dangerous David Vaihu into touch.
Brothers were shell shocked at the start but found their confidence and came back in a roaring second half display.
COLTS 1 GRAND FINAL
Brothers colts grasped the cherished colts 1 premiership trophy from a gallant Souths, withstanding a Magpies second half swoop to win 29-22 at Ballymore.
Following Bond University’s 17-14 Women’s premiership victory just 90 minutes earlier (see below), Brothers initially blew the Magpies off a gloriously lush Ballymore surface in a rampaging hit and run first half assault.
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But after blue and white wave had doused Souths, the Magpies recovered to such an extent, Brothers supporters were creeping forward nervously on the edge of their new seats.
There was nothing in it.
Souths cut Brothers margin to just 29-22 heading into the home straight, with Magpies No. 8 Dom Thygesen finding the XXXX Hill end right corner.
Had Souths drawn the game, they would have been awarded the premiership as minor premiers.
It was a close thing.
The Butcher Striped boys had led 26-3 before Souths salvaged a much needed try on the cusp of halftime, with Souths No. 10 Will Nason chipping into the hands of a flying winger Riley Bierton to plunge to earth with the ball.
Gosh they needed that after Brothers had pierced Souths armour through the middle and out wide to score four first half tries.
Brothers inside centre Dre Pakeho, who left an indentation in the Ballymore surface, so hard did he tackle, claimed the man of the match award.
Brothers coach Greg Beaver said there was no monkey on the back of his side entering the finals despite Souths beating his squad twice this season.
“We were confident if we played to our potential we could win,’’ he said.
Beaver said he was most proud of the “effort’’ of his side across the season. “They believed in each other.
He had high praise for Souths coach Cian O’Connor for his “massive job’’ after raising the colts program from recent battlers to minor premiers.
“We knew we had to beat them twice, we put a game plan together and the boys brought in.’’
Earlier, elite Brothers No. 8 Oliver Harvey pick and drove for the first of his tries, then stretched the hamstrings for his second, while halfback Will Cartwright resembled a 100m sprinter, so fast did he take advantage of a hole in Souths’ lineout defence.
Brothers hooker Aidan Taylor then pick and drove his way to the line and at 26-3, Brothers had one and a half hands on the trophy.
But after slightly delaying the start of the second half, so much time did coach Cian O’Conner have with his chargers at the break, the Magpies got their forward game together and the rest followed.
It was a desperately close match
Scores: Brothers 29 (O Harvey 2, A Taylor, W Cartwright tries, W Cartwright 3 conv, pen) def Souths 22 (R Bierton, D Thygesen tries, penalty try; W Nason 2 conv, pen)
SECOND GRADE FINAL
A relentless Easts Tigers team tamed the GPS Gallopers 46-21 to come away second grade premiers today.
The Tigers were met by a sea of blue and gold after their 29-7 second half ambush which delivered the third-seed team a sensational win.
It was a fast-paced contest which both teams thrived off – but a try on halftime by Easts’ LJ Tuivasa-Mariner swung the game in his team’s favour after GPS shot out of the gates.
The Easts forward scored with a pile driving heave, moving the Tigers ahead three at 17-14.
Then with eight minutes to go, Easts flanker Sam Richards put the game to bed with one final try.
Easts led by 15 with six minutes left and then by 22 after Villanova old boy No. 8 Sam Livingstone fed off momentum and crashed over.
Easts were on FIRE.
The icing on the cake came when sniper Will Kirk settled the scores with a tough penalty goal from out wide.
But it was GPS who began the better side, scoring a scintillating try through centre and captain Douglas Rayment to kickstart proceedings.
Jacob Rabai and Patrick Nicholson had involvements, and Nicholson was involved again moments later when GPS took a commanding 14-3 lead.
Nicholson was elite all game, and for the second try himself and Jacob Stower combined to out winger Niven Longopoa in.
GPS’ lead shrunk when Easts lock Charlie Scott scored the first try and then when a bollocking Mariner cashed in, Easts found their groove.
Up 17-14 at the break it looked like anyone’s game but in the second 35 minutes it was one way traffic.
This was despite GPS second rower Ethan Lucey recapturing the lead at 21-17 to begin the second half.
Indeed, fast finishing Easts ran in four tries in an unanswered 29-point-run to storm past the winners post.
Jayden Carroll, Livingstone (two tries) and Richards were the try scorers in that second half heave.
WOMEN’S GRAND FINAL
Zoe Hanna was an intercept hero and Amahi Hala the toast of the coast as Bond University claimed the Premier Women’s premiership 17-14.
With three minutes remaining, and Sunnybank locking and loading their armoury trying to run down a 10-7 deficit, No. 8 Hanna burst out of the defensive line and extended her arm to snatch possession from Sunnybank.
From the turnover Alex Halloran and Melanie Wilks moved the ball wide, sending centre Hala on a glorious 65m run to the line.
Hala beat fullback Ivania Wong on her run to the line, igniting wild celebrations from Bond supporters.
Sunnybank then scored late, but too late and the title was won.
The win was a triumph for Laurence Faifua, the Bond Uni women’s coach who is standing down after back-to-back premierships.
The early rising Bond Uni, up well before sunrise this morning, challenged Sunnybank all over the park with confident ball handling both in the middle and out wide.
But the Sunnybank side should take a bow as well, not for their rugged, robust forward game, but for the defensive net which they clung to all game.
The match was extra special for Bond No. 8 Hanna, the Campbell Medallist for Player of the Match.
It was also relief for Bond hooker Jaida Faleono to actually get onto the field after missing last year’s decider due to concussion.
She injured her knee and missed two-thirds of the game, but at least she got onto the field.
“It is a very special day,’’ she said.
“We have had so many people come in and out due to injury, we lost a player Thursday night.
But this win is a big thing especially with our coach Lawrence leaving.
“Going back-to-back, and in my first grand final, this is so special.’’
It was 10-nil at halftime but could have been double had Sunnybank not launched a desperate salvage operation to stay in the contest, with rousing cover defence headed by Joana Rakaka, Luana Tongia and Ivania Wong preventing tries.
Bond played plenty of rugby, with Melanie Wilks, Caity Costello and Gabriella Rivers focal points but the Dragons put numbers in front of the wide shifts, and also the bumping pick and drives that followed tackle contact.
RELATED LINKS
CLUB RUGBY GRAND FINAL PREVIEW: COLTS, PREMIER AND WOMEN LATEST
GPS RUGBY TEAM OF THE DECADE SO FAR
THE BEST 23 PLAYERS SINCE 2010 – MIKE WALLACE REVEALS
GPS RUGBY DOYEN NOMINATES TSS’ BEST IN 14 YEARS
The 10-nil halftime advantage came courtesy of Wilks’ penetrating burst, and with her conversion and penalty conversion, Bond were part of the way to victory.
Bond suffered a blow when hooker Faleono left the field with a leg injury after making a long run.
Sunnybank’s power game finally conquered the Bond defence with 12 minutes to go when mobile prop Laiema Bosenavulagi burrowed over. Cecilia Smith’s conversion then reduced Bond’s margin to three points, 10-7.
But could Sunnybank generate enough field position in the remaining minutes to challenge again with their forwards or Ivania Wong’s speed through the backs?
Hanna and her flanker Jemma Bemrose were enormous for the Bull Sharks, as was Wilks in the midfield and No. 10 Georgia Grey in both attack and defence.
Scores: Bond 17 (M Wilks, Amahl Hala tries, Wilks 2 conv, pen) def Sunnybank (L Bosenavulagi, L Tongia tries C Smith 2 conv)
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