Club rugby latest: GPS gallop into finals, Brothers warm engines
Club rugby: Colts 1, women’s latest here as the GPS women keep their season alive and Brothers’ Colts warm their engines for finals.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The GPS premier women claimed their biggest win of the season today, not by margin but in terms of what it means.
With their 31-23 victory over Bond University, the Gallopers moved into fourth place on the ladder, shifting Easts into the fifth seed.
GPS head coach Mutch Kite said “This is the most rewarding year of making finals.”
“The last couple years we were minor premiers and we may have taken it for granted, but this year it’s even more special.
“I’ve been in finals campaigns in the past, but this is the sweetest,” Kite confirmed about a season which presented its challenges. For example, “teaching a No. 8 to play prop.”
With one round remaining and Norths their last opponent, GPS looked poised to return to the finals’ series yet again.
In Premier Women results, GPS beat Bond Uni 31-23 and Wests defeated Brothers 31-7.
In Colts 1, Brothers defended the house down to beat Wests 45-0, UQ dealt with Norths 19-14, Bond Uni beat GPS 40-26 and Souths won 54-26 over a gutsy Sunnybank.
In the women’s match at Yoku Road, Heleina Young dashed away for four tries to keep the GPS (44pts) season alive.
Easts (41pts) had a bye today and will face Brothers next week.
Kite said his team had prepared well all week, saying “I knew the girls were switched on mentally.
“We minimised our errors and now all eyes are on the finals, focusing on the next job.”
Kite said the pleasing thing today was the team’s attack.
“We were able to execute. We let Bond in with a few mistakes and they are such a good side they made us pay … But it’s exciting for us that we can still improve on this.
“I think they were pretty composed … Last week we were able to hold them (No. 1 Sunnybank) out on the first defensive set.”
Norths Devils (rugby league) recruit Sita Payne was impressive for GPS at inside centre, complimenting defensive powerhouse Adi Unaisi Biau who played outside centre.
But it was Young who stole the show, with GPS doing a great job of creating plays involving her rather than saying “here go run wild.”
She is lethal either way.
Looking ahead to a potential finals match up against UQ, Kite said their fly half (Chanelle Kohika-Skipper) was their biggest threat.
“She directs play really well we will have to be on our game,” Kite said in an early scouting report.
“It’s gonna come down to who wants us the most.”
In Colts 1 action At Souths, the depth of the Magpies again shone through with a 54-26 win over a gallant Sunnybank side.
It was a mammoth team effort from the home side who ran in eight tries. Seven of those Riley Bierton converted.
Inside centre Joe Saina was destructive through the middle, beating the Dragons up with his ball-carrying, which freed up Bierton and Jaidyn Cody on the edges.
Sunnybank scored four tries in a strong effort, however their defence let them down.
“Missed tackles again lost us the game,” coach Brendan Underwood concluded.
“We didn’t have the ball yet we scored four tries which is satisfying.
“Finishing the game with a scrum against the head then scoring a try was well deserved on the effort.”
Senio Pelufa and Tom Sullivan were the Dragons’ best.
CLUB RUGBY KEY PLAYERS, ROAD AHEAD
At UQ, the Red Heavies escaped a pressure cooker to pip Norths 19-14.
Norths were relentless for the entire 70 minutes, but such is the strength and poise of this University side, they just know how to win.
The Eagles stuck to their game plan, and created pressure off the back of that according to assistant coach Tom Donnell.
Indeed it was a lack of execution when in attack mode that saw Norths miss out on points.
“I really liked how we dug in and played for the full 70 minutes … Credit to UQ,” Donnel said.
Returning from injury in style was fly half Jack Hussey, who controlled the attack brilliantly for Norths. And in the forwards, front rowers Cameron Ebbage, Will Rogers and Rohan Mann muscled up in what Donnell said was a great forwards-showing.
Again Tafito Ah-Ki and Siliva Leofa (UQ) connected well at No. 9 and No. 10, building just in time for the Finals’ series.
At Sci-Fleet Stadium, Brothers warmed their engines with a 45-0 victory over Wests.
The defence of the visitors was unforgiving, and their transition play damaging as ever.
Twice off turnovers, Brothers flipped a switch and quickly went the distance to score tries.
At the fore was scrumhalf Will Cartwright, as was the forward powerhouse of Hopo Leota and Cooper Cameron.
CLUB RUGBY PLAYERS YOU DO NOT WANT TO RUN AT
At GPS, Bond University came away 40-26 winners over GPS thanks to a try-fest by wingers Rocco Gollings and Luca Aresani pando.
Bond Uni coach Rico Gear said his wingers finished with six tries between them on the Bullsharks way to the 14-point-victory.
“Tom Maher (fly half) controlled the game well while Alex Miles (outside centre) was very strong on the ball and his carry had GPS struggling to put him down,’’ Gear said.
That gave Bond go forward thrust and they were able to play off the back of his runs, and also a strong set piece.
GPS coach Sio Kite agreed the Bond scrum was too strong.
“As a result we struggled to get a foothold in the game,’’ Kite said.
“As always we didn’t quit but it was just not our day.’’
He said centre Joe Doljanin was classy and tough even through he worked off the backfoot.
Footnote: Sunnybank v Souths women’s game is still in progress.
Ward’s way the only way in Tav’s Lew Cooper Cup round 7
Taverners under 17 cricket’s round 7 reveal: Gold Coast Dolphins all-rounder takes seven wickets, snares a run out and scores half century in a Player of the Round performance. See who else shone from your club here.
Club cricket: Brightest sparks from last round revealed across premier men, women grades
Queensland premier club cricket: Who shone brightest in men’s and women’s first, second and third grade matches last weekend, which included premiership glory for Uni and Norths? All is revealed here.