Club rugby: Colts 1 Team of the Week, plus women’s coverage coming
Club rugby: Club rugby: Who made our Colts 1 team of the Week; plus who were the big winners in women’s matches? Story here.
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The mighty Wests Bulldogs have bulldozed their way to a 41-14 victory over GPS in a carnage at Sylvan Road.
A star-studded Wests line-up gelled together all afternoon in a tremendous team effort that saw them defend the kennel at Sci-Fleet Stadium.
Even with Marist Ashgrove menaces in Lachlan Howse, Campbell Moller and rising-Rebels-rookie Sebastian Sialau, Wests were too dominant, running in five tries in the first half.
GPS hooker Gus Dillman took five minutes to open the scoring for GPS at the back of a rolling maul, but then Wests fly half Lachlan Kerr strolled in for a cracking five-pointer off the back of clinical through-the-hands play.
Then skilful Bulldogs flanker Zac Hough linked up with electric winger Lachlan Rubens darting down the right edge, finding Kerr on his inside.
Kerr tore through GPS’s left edge to score back-to-back tries minutes later, with the deceiving fly half leaving opposition defenders stuck in their tracks with a sensational show-and-go.
to extend the lead at 12-7.
Lachlan Kerr, Brisbane Grammar School old boy, said: “We stuck to our game plan. The coach said coming into it play through the forwards and earn the right to go wide and that’s what we did.”
“I feel like we’ve got the boys to do it (win a premiership) we just have to keep clicking like that over the big teams like Brothers and UQ.”
Wests exposed GPS right edge with a simple through-the-hands backline move to push them further in front. Fullback Baxter Franey drew in his defender and put winger Will Johnston into space to score, providing a 17-7.
Bulldozing BBC Old Boy Harvey Guest made it four consecutive Wests tries when he burrowed his way in to score at the back of a rolling maul, pushing Wests further in front.
Franey sparked some magic pouncing on a counter-attack opportunity when returning a 50m GPS drop out.
Franey shaped to play out wide and popped the ball up to Kerr who penetrated the GPS defence yet again. Kerr found Guest in support who gifted Johnston a tremendous offload to dive over.
Towering GPS prop Darcy Hammond snuck in for a pick-and-drive try on the stroke of half time to inch GPS closer at 29-14, but it was a long way back for the Galloping Greens.
A short-side raid by Wests lock Emerson Treasure ticked Wests score to 34 points five minutes into the second-forty. 34-14.
Wests halfback Wilson Cochrane was rewarded for his hard work when putting reserve George Wunch into a gap to score and lead 41-14.
Wests coach head coach Rob Rioro said: “It was good just to get a dry paddock to see some of our new recruits that have come in. We have our centre Lebron who has come from Melbourne. I was pleased with his kicking game and connection in defence. He was obviously a standout.”
“Will Johnston hasn’t put a foot wrong on that edge, so he has been really strong for us over the last four games.”
Rioro said the hardworking pack did the hard yards early and we were rewarded on the back of that.
“Having big strong centres is always a huge help with Lebron and Darcy Reid, two guys that we haven’t had at the start of the season.”
RELATED LINKS
MAY 21 COLTS TEAM OF THE WEEK, WOMEN’S WRAP
AIC FIRST XV RUGBY - ST PETERS v ST PATRICK’S
AIC FIRST XV RUGBY TEAM OF THE WEEK, ROUND 4
At David Wilson Field, the Tigers escaped a University of Queensland ambush with a 17-14 win.
Easts fullback Macloud McGhee broke a 14-all deadlock about eight minutes from full-time with a penalty goal, only for University to come within a body length of stealing the match.
University launched several pick and drive assaults in the closing minutes, but Easts desperately defended their line in a match that could have gone either way.
They may have lost, but after a slow start University have found their mojo and were well in the premiership race.
The Students No.8 Fergus Nasser was outstanding and must be giving team mates plenty of confidence, while inside centre Josh Meyer had a great running battle with his opposite. Hooker Aidan Taylor was outstanding for Uni, while Tom Manca had a strong match.
Easts’ Tiane Roiri was unmatched in the lineout, scored a try and was a handful throughout the clash, while Henry Wilson shone at flanker and Xavier Boyle at lock for the Tigers.
Easts centre Gus Godwin was also dangerous throughout in a high class match.
It was a cracking game.
University drew first blood in the second half to level the scores after hauling prop Angus Ward bounded over.
This was after Uni had again backed its wide spreads which saw winger Ben McMahon scurry away to give his side field position.
Two of the competition’s continuing improvers Norths and Sunnybank had a high scoring clash which Norths won 36-21.
Norths coach Dan Ritchie said his team was “pretty scrappy and made lives hard for ourselves’’.
“Sunnybank put us under a lot of pressure but we managed to score some good tries off good defensive efforts,’’ Ritchie explained.
Dragons coach Brendan Underwood continued to see progress.
“We are so close to getting that elusive win but every week this group is building and getting stronger,’’ Underwood said.
He said it was rewarding to see the side winning at stages in the match but some bad decisions or mistakes helped Norths secure points.
“Our set piece was executed very well.
“This set us up for some strike plays and applied pressure to Norths.
“Also, strong carries and clearing out support players was a major improvement for us.’’
At Yarrabilba, big movers Souths had an away win 12-3 over Bond University.
Magpies coach Cian O’Connor said his team’s performance was spearheaded by No.8 Leandro Tupi, while hooker Ben Murphy and winger Te Oho Totorewa played strongly for the winners.
For our Team of the Week, we place Wests hooker Mikaele Smith-Kami at prop to get our best front rowers in the team.
Colts 1 Team of the week:
15. Baxter Franey (Wests)
14. Will Johnston (Wests)
13. Angus Godwin (Easts)
12. Josh Meyer (University)
11. Lachlan Rubens (Wests)
10. Jack Hussey (Norths)
9. Tom Manca (University)
8. Fergus Nasser (University)
7. Zac Hough (Wests)
6. Senior Pulega (Sunnybank)
5. Leandro Tupi (Souths)
4. Taine Roiri (Easts)
3. Mikaele Smith-Kami (Wests)
2. Aidan Taylor (University)
1. Harvey Guest (Wests)
Reserves:
Stuart Tualima (GPS), George Stokes (Norths), Xavier Boyle (Easts), Sam Howlett (Bond), Campbell Moller (GPS), Declan Simi (Sunnybank), Henry Wilson (Easts), Te Oho Totorewa (Souths), Jackson Connelly (Norths), Jack Small (Norths), Ben Murphy (Souths).
In women’s rugby, GPS had a nice win over the Wests Bulldogs 21-12, with Diuna Biau coming off Fijian Dura duties and producing a big match for the Galloping Greens.
Biau was a consistent threat on both sides of the ball and put in a great all around performance.
Wasis Toolis also directed play nicely for GPS, and also scored a deserved try after always threatening the loine from fly half.
“The most pleasing thing was our scrum dominance and getting our attacking game going in difficult conditions,’’ said GPS coach Mutch Kite.
“It was just great to be back playing footy after two weeks off.
For Wests, Maraea Tupai and Alana Elisaia scored tries while Hope Kareta landed a conversion.
For GPS, Marlugu Dixon had her kicking boots on, landing three goals.
RELATED LINKS
AIC FIRST XV GIANT-KILLERS - MAY 21 REPORT
COLTS 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK - ROUND 1
COLTS 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK - ROUND 2
AIC UPSETS CONTINUE - ROUND 2 ACTION
In other matches Premiers Easts pipped UQ 10-7, Bond Uni found their way to the winners post, beating Souths 15-5 and Sunnybank got rolling to defeat Norths 31-0.
Norths coach Norm Clarke said he loved his team’s effort across the board after having to back up from a Tuesday night clash.
Fly half Caitlin Stewart managed the match maturely with her boot, and her passing game a communication was spot on.
Norths No.8 Lily Connolly, as usual, rose to the occasion against class opposition, putting her body on the line. She was a threat in attack and defence.
“I’d like to improve our set piece which wasn’t up to scratch,’’ Clarke said.
“We lost momentum after forcing mistakes because of poor execution at the set piece,’’ he added.
For Sunnybank Vodo-Rasova, Luana Tongia, Wynona Baice, Renae Nona and Geem Schnaubelt all scored tries.
Easts coach Craig Wilson said it was a tough victory over UQ, with Felicity Powdrell and Claudia Mclaren leading the charge.
“Our set piece again proved dominant and provided plenty of opportunities,’’ he said.
“We look forward to working on oure ability to capitalise and finish those opportunities.’’
Uni coach Derby Malaulau said his side “lost the battle up front’’.
“But we will be looking to improv this quickly next week,’’ he said.
“Although we went down 10-7 we are showing some grit week in, week out.’’
Uni’s inside centre Amelia Lala shone for her side.
Bond coach Setu Naseri said his front rowers Tamika Smith and Shelley Fox were strong in the win, while Caity Costello was dangerous wheever she got into space.
The experience Cobie-Jane Morgan displayed guile when she came on to keep Bond down in the Souths end of the field, focing he Magpies to have to attack deep from within their own half.
Bond pair Jetaya Faufua and Dianne Waight also had some good moments.
For Bond Jemma Bemrose and Caitlyn Costello scored tries, while Zara Colless kicked two goals.
For Souths Alekermay Tauaana crossed to score.
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