Club rugby round 5 wrap: How the Colts 1, Premier Women games unfolded
Club rugby Rd 5: GPS claimed back-to-back victories while University made it four on the trot. See who shone in Colts 1 and Premier Women action here.
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University claimed their fourth straight win as GPS won 40-5 over Bond University at the Gold Coast in an exciting fifth round of Colts 1 club rugby.
In other matches Wests winger Carter Liddiard (two tries) helped the Bulldogs defeat Norths 24-10, Jack Henry scored the dagger as University won 12-3 over Easts at Tigerland, and Brothers prevailed 21-16 in a tight tussle with Sunnybank.
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At Easts, University’s defence won them the game.
The visitors celebrated a 12-3 shutout win, the Red Heavies conceding just one penalty goal to claim their fourth victory in a row.
Forward leaders Jack Henry and Tom Robinson had strong showings alongside mobile flanker Will Ratcliffe who filled the shoes of Patrick Sowerby.
Ratcliffe was quick, agile and relentless through the middle of the field when given a chance, as were Easts boys PJ Su’a and flanker Tom Stoddart, before he left the field.
The Tigers defence was also first class, the home side denying University on the cusp of half time with bayside boy Tane Heteraka, Drew Smith and Tom Stoddart among others standing tall.
Byron Murphy was damaging from close range for Easts, while muscular hooker Jakeb Horne’s sound defence kept the Tigers within striking distance until the final minute of the game when Jack Henry crashed over for University.
MASTERFUL MCAULIFFE
An impressive quick-thinking 50:22 kick by University flyhallf Isaac McAuliffe midway through the second half highlighted a strong kicking game from the Red Heavies first year player.
A Gregory Terrace old boy, McAuliffe had began the season well with his kicking and continued to enhance his reputation on David Wilson Field with a classy variety of kicks in what was a stop start game.
McAuliffe’s 50:22 was very impressive given it was clearly an on the spot decision when he saw space in behind and quickly turned his body to kick as the Tigers rushed up in defence.
He had other metre-eating clearance kicks throughout the game which took pressure off his side.
THE DAGGER
Tall University backrower Jack Henry landed the dagger in Saturday’s clash, after the Easts had done so well to mount phases and tread towards the tryline.
A brilliant dash from utility back Tafito Ah-Ki surged University upfield and from there, an unloading Rodney Blake found speed demon Samuela Tuisau who looked certain to score.
Easts Tigers fullback Jodeci Letalu made strong contact and stopped Tuisau in his tracks just metres from the Tigers try line, but big Henry was not going to be denied from that close.
FINAL SAY
Easts missed forward leaders Nick Bloomfield and Joe Liddy, as well as hard running centre Frankie Goldsbrough.
All three boys were away with the Australian Under-20s.
Headgeared flyhalf Andy Josefski stepped in and had a steady performance with his kicking game a highlight for Easts, while halfback Archie Xavier, winger Mac Kelley and fullback Jodeci Letalu all had good moments.
For the visitors, Isaac McAuliffe had a massive influence.
At the Kennel, an impressive heave in the final 10 minutes saw the Wests Bulldogs storm home 24-10 winners.
Wests led 17-10 with eight minutes left but winger Carter Liddiard swooped for his second try with a brilliant kick chase where he regathered the ball, and dashed away 50m to score the decisive blow.
On his way to the tryline, Liddiard shrugged off last line defenders to pull clear by 14 points.
Wests hooker Finlay King scored the other two tries for the home side, while big No.8 Tyron Fanueli and Cameron Philip scored the points for Norths.
17-year-old backrower Brock Powell was impressive in his first Colts 1 start for Norths with his workrate matching energetic Wests flankers Charlie Cooke and Alex Watkins.
Cooke and Watkins were supreme, while Norths hooker Will Rogers provided a boost at the set-piece in his first game of the season.
Wests did well kicking to corners, with Ben Mooney, Campbell King and classy flyhalf Ryan Shaw all responsible for a clinical second half display where field position won Wests the game.
Callum Reidy had another strong performance out of scrumhalf for Norths, as did Wests outside centre Dom Kallquist.
At Brothers, the young Dragons challenged Brothers and led 10-7 at halftime before the Brethren finished strong to win 21-16.
Scrumhalf Will Knight was solid for the home side, impressing Sunnybank coach Rex Tapuai.
The pint sized English boy was sharp, busy and aggressive for Brothers, who scored their points through Toowoomba hooker Jeremiah Sialau (two tries) and big No.8 Vaiuta Latu.
Latu was excellent, as was tireless flanker Paddy Dallimore and fullback Ellis Davies.
Playing his socks off again was explosive Sunnybank winger Daniel Malum, whose pressure of the kick restarts, linespeed and overall speed gave the ‘Bank a big boost in the backline.
The BBC old boy is making a habit out of regathering the Sunnybank restarts with his tremendous aerial ability. Around him, sniper Netani Lesimaikimatuku made Brothers pay with three penalty goals, mounting scoreboard pressure as the game went on.
In the forwards, trusty lineout leader Mattias Agent and promising Brisbane State High schoolboy Cyrus Suniula (hooker) were enormous for the visitors.
Indeed Sunnybank would love to keep Year 12 student Suniula for the entire season based off his positive performances in two games this season.
But Brothers grinded back in the game as they do, and after trailing by three at the main break, the home side charged past the finish line to return to the winners circle.
At Bond University, GPS hit sixth gear to defeat the Bullsharks 40-5, their biggest win in over two seasons.
Joe Doljanin, Harry Gould (two tries), Ewald Kruger, Jack Leo and Jackson Munn scored the tries for the visitors, while Ieuan Cornelius scored Bond’s lone try in a game where lock Charles McCauley stood out like a sore thumb.
He and hooker Oliver Barret were first class for the home side, but it was one way traffic with representative outside centre Joe Doljanin having a stellar performance.
Doljanin had started the season on the wing but has now found a home in the centres where he bends the line next to hard running South African 17-year-old Chris Jansen.
Jansen and his roommates Kruger (hooker) and Spencer Alcock (flyhalf) were top notch as well, with Alcock enjoying his extra set of eyes with classy fullback Jude Knapp barking orders and attacking space from fullback.
“His organising skills really help Spencer,” GPS coach Kris Kuridrani said of the Knapp-Alcock combination.
In the forwards, Kruger, Gould, tall timber Xalian Salakaia-Loto and captain Stuart Tualima were brilliant, with Rebels Academy player Tualima leading the way from captain.
“He (Tualima) adds x-factor” said Kuridani.
“He really drove our offload game today and adds x-factor to our attack. Leading the team you can tell he is in another environment.
“His voice is the voice you want to hear in the trenches.”
PREMIER WOMEN
Sunnybank v Brothers
The Dragons used the power of its pack and mid field to knock aside Brothers 78-nil at Crosby Park.
Sunnybank set up the win with a complete first half performance which included a dominant scrum pinching attacking ball from Brothers.
Brothers fought back for a lengthy period in the second half, but in the final 15 minutes the floodgates opened, leading to a succession of tries.
After Ivania Wong had opened the scoring, centre Amanii Misa clubbed forward to give her side momentum that flanker Alekermay Tuaana took advantage of to score.
The Dragons fielded a big, powerful pack, but it was not all brawn from the Bank.
Fullback Kalisi Longopoa scored a sensational solo try, counter attacking from 65m out with a dashing sideline run chasing her own chip kick. It was highlights reel stuff.
Brothers were tenacious and willing, emphasised by the dogged defence of centre Anna Mawhinney and the play of both sides of the ball by No.8 Doreen Narokete.
They also rallied strongly after halftime despite trailing 38-0, and even held ground against the Sunnybank scrum.
Brothers also tried to quicken play up and while it was the right idea, the execution was more miss than hit.
But there is considerable promise in this group if they can be more cautious with their handling under pressure.
While the Dragons attack glistened, their defence was also outstanding to blunt Brothers second half rally.
From start to finish Sunnybank blindside flanker
longopoa was outstanding.
One of Sunnybank’s best tries came after a short pass exchange between locks Luciah Silao and Moeja Wright which helped breakaway Meleane Mahina score.
Easts v University
On David Wilson Field at Easts, Tigers front row spearheads Tina Brown, Lana Cooper-Finau and Cheyenne Letalu had a brilliant scrummaging performance which helped deliver a 17-5 victory over visitors University.
The trio of Brown, Cooper-Finau and Letalu were dominant at scrum time, marching the opposition backwards time after time to win penalties.
University forwards Seilala Otuafi, Matauimalo Malele Iafeta, Nena Williamson and Anelisa Vito Sula were damaging with their carries in reply, but after a disjointed week of training the Tigers front row set the tone at scrum time which excellent centres Loretta Lealiifano and Natalie Moors fed off.
Lealiifano’s more direct running and pinpoint passing on both sides was a highlight for Easts, who had a boost with Rosie Ebbage returning at lock and Leilani Hills scorching on the wing.
SPEED TO BURN
For the Tigers first try of the day, winger Leilani Hills showed again why she should be kept on high alert.
The speedy Little Athletics ace who was a Queensland State champion hurdler, saw space and took it midway through the first half and scored the try of the game.
The pacy 19-year-old tore down the left touchline and dotted it down under the sticks after a jawdropping 70m dash where she burst past multiple University defenders.
The Tigers led 7-0.
REDS ROOKIE RUNS RAMPANT
With Nat Wright out of the line-up, her Reds running mate Caitlin Urwin stepped up to the plate and delivered a stunning 70 minute performance where she was unlucky not to score.
The Reds outside back was lightning in open space, carving through the Easts defences with her turn of speed and elusiveness.
She was University’s most dangerous back, while Lillian Kolb was University’s chief operator with the boot.
Kolb’s kicking was booming, getting the Red Heavies out of danger and applying pressure on the Tigers’ back three players with an array of deft attacking kicks.
POWER PERSONIFIED
There was a fierce forward battle unfolding, with powerful No.8 Zophronia Setu, fearless lock Anelisa Vito Sula and mobile flanker Lauren Robinson offering boundless energy for the Red Heavies.
The back row of Setu and Robinson worked wonders for University, with Setu’s crash running and pilfering complimenting the running game of breakaway Robinson, whose fend and offloading ability created chances for University in the wider channels.
TRYSAVERS
The effort of Easts impressed coach Tony Mills, and none highlighted that effort better than Renez Bates and Brooke Gilroy who produced big defensive plays when the game was in the balance.
Before Easts ran away with it after scoring late tries, University threatened to take the lead with a promising left edge attacking raid.
But pint sized winger Bates made a tremendous cover tackle, followed by a similar effort by Gilroy to put an end to University’s momentum.
In the context of the game, Bates and Gilroy came up big, putting their body on the line to stop what started as a Robinson rampage.
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