Club rugby round 6: Colts 1, Premier Women’s
Club rugby: Revealed here - this weekend’s top colts 1 and premier women players as Brothers colts made a statement and Bond University and Sunnybank’s women surged strongly.
Local sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sunnybank’s women marched on with yet another win while Brothers colts 1 put on a show to defeat Wests and stake a claim for premiership favouritism this season.
AIC FIRST XV RUGBY: WHAT HAPPENED IN A DRAMATIC ROUND 4
In women’s results, University beat Norths 87-0, Wests were strong in a 48-5 win over Brothers, Sunnybank soared 27-17 over Souths and Bond University dealt with GPS 28-0.
And in Colts, Bond University pipped GPS 22-18, University secured a 19-12 win over Norths, Souths beat a gutsy Sunnybank side 28-5 and Brothers ran over Wests winning 61-5.
In colts action at Brothers, the home side bounced back superbly after last week’s loss against South’s, a stunning 61-5 victory over the Wests Bulldog’s beginning Ladies Day in style.
Men among boys the Brothers forward pack looked, front rowers Rory Beech, Andrew De Jager and Braxton Asi delivering dominant set piece performances to lay the foundations for victory.
The imposing figure of lock Tanna Wilson, offloading brilliance of dynamic flanker Jack Condon and the bench impact of towering Australia Schoolboy back rower Charlie Brosnan the other keys to success as the Greg Beaver coached Brothers team battered and bruised their rivals.
But, high praise to Wests who found a fire within them in the second half to temporarily stop the bleeding.
The home side catapulted ahead early with Beech dealing the first blow by way of a pick-and-drive.
Their second try came in the 20th minute with Brothers winning the territorial kicking battle in fine fashion.
After busy scrum half Will Cartwright and fleet footed fullback Ellis Davies traded kicks with Bulldogs Lachlan Kerr and Ryan Shaw, Brothers decided to counter attack and with two passes they were over.
RELATED LINKS
CLUB RUGBY POWER RANKINGS, 50 KEY PLAYERS SO FAR
It was an encapsulation of the 2022 schoolboy rugby season, with Churchie’s centre and Australian Schoolboy Dre Pakeho finding Brisbane State High’s speed demon Toshi Butlin, who found the final link in St Peters Lutheran College’s finest rugby talent of the 2020s in Kadin Pritchard.
It was the prettiest of tries.
De Jager crossed next off the back of great phase play close to the line.
Soon enough Brothers were a mile ahead up 35-0, with Beech bagging his second and Brosnan bounding over thanks to his support running.
A shining light for Wests was hardworking open side flanker Trey Soli who scored his team’s lone try from the ruck.
Flanker Te Moana Beale, No. 8 Ned Kendall and lock Darby Duke proved damaging in the lead up.
But, back momentum swung in the favour of Brothers and Butlin, a speed machine, joined the party with two tries.
Dre Pakeho dazzled with a try of his own but the Butlin double was the icing on the cake. As too was Archie Condon’s try on the siren.
At Norths, Uni won by the skin of their teeth in a 19-12 thriller.
University head coach Matt Ingram said Xavier Grambower set the tone for his team’s performance against Norths with a desperate charge down try in the first minute.
Flanker Jordan Dick was also tireless at the breakdown and worked on the inside for his teammates, while fullback Matt Brice showed his class.
“He had some skilful touches for a try and set up space regularly,’’ Ingram praised.
“I loved the enthusiastic start to fly out of the gate and then control the remainder of the first half,’’ Ingram said.
“It was frustrating in the second half as we took some poor options and control which put us under pressure and Norths were good enough to take advantage.’’
Norths coach Tom Donnell said his side managed to play a very strong second half which put the Eagles back on the front foot.
He said it as hands down the best performance his side had managed so far this year.
But, Norths were left with a bitter taste in their mouths as the game was called off 10 minutes early as the referee had the incorrect time.
Had those 10 minutes been played out then Norths may well have taken the points such was their upper hand in the second half.
Wingers Mackenzie Fox and Sam Dickie soared for the Eagles.
At Sunnybank, the Dragons played some great footy but the ever-improving Souths Magpies were too much to handle.
In the end, the visitors claimed the clash 28-5.
RELATED LINKS
BROTHERS LEGENDS HONOURED BY HILL NAMING
MEET THE WESTS BULLDOGS PREMIER GRADE CAPTAIN
South’s coach Cian O’Connor said: “We gave players an opportunity to start who haven’t this year and they handled themselves.
“Sunnybank were good today and made things very difficult for us.
“We will take the five points and regroup for a tough game against Bond next week.”
O’Connor’s best on ground was Jake Kurbatoff who, at lock, was excellent with his work rate.
Sunnybank coach Brendan Underwood said it was an amazing game of rugby.
“Great football by our guys who played for 70 minutes.
“Tom Sullivan (prop) was excellent both in scrum time and around the park so he got the best on ground.
“Ailaoa Jonathan Gregor Nanai at five-eight found gaps all day and was explosive through the middle.
Underwood said a few opportunities were missed and a yellow card against Souths would’ve made things interesting.
But, the referee opted against 10 in the bin.
“Our game plan was executed well.”
And at Bond University, the Bullsharks were clinical in a 22-18 triumph over GPS.
GPS head coach Sio Kite said it was a competitive game in which his side struggled to deal with momentum swings. And to compact that, Bond took their opportunities when they arose and closed out the game expertly.
Sio praised the set piece of the Rico Gear coached Bond side, with the Gallopers best area their mauling effort.
“There were promising signs but the critical issue is our attention to detail and discipline,” Kite said.
“I don't think we are too far off. But, we can say that all we want. We have to convert the opportunities.”
Once again tighthead prop Nick Harper toiled for GPS. And, it hadn’t been going unnoticed, the 19-year-old having a cameo in the Hospital Cup clash that followed.
According to Sio, he did not look one bit out of place.
“He runs all day, tackles all day, scrums all day … nothing less than an honest effort from him.”
Helping Harper was open side flanker Luca Gassman.
“He made selfless plays. If we can repeat that more often that would be good,” Sio said.
In women’s action on Jack Ross Oval at Brothers, the Wests Bulldogs returned to the winners circle by way of a convincing 48-5 win.
The Bulldogs forward pack were full of aggression but to Brothers credit, they stood tall and were competitive come scrum time.
“We played well,’’ said Brothers coach Tony Wall.
“We were led in the forwards by Poletti, Johnston and Samaila, with good performances from Manega, Durkin and Becky Davidson who got a well deserved try.
“Again their were strong conttributions from the bench, with Rebecca Standford, who is new to rugby, doing well.
“But Wests played well for their win.’’
It was on the edges where Wests were most deadly, with speed demons Jess Nugent and Gemma Lawrence lurking on the wings with pace to burn.
Burning defenders was a given, they just needed the ball and some space. Thankfully, mobile lock Dillyn Blackburn brought her A-game, bustling her way through the line all afternoon.
RELATED LINKS
The sizzling speed of winger Lawrence earned Wests the early lead after gutsy Bulldogs defence denied Brothers, inspired by No. 8 Nicola Munday, near the try line.
Wests scored again in no time after the fend of prop Tiarrie-Lee Fanuatanu advanced her team up the field.
In the try scoring passage, a brilliant offload from centre Holly Class-Auliff gifted flanker Hana Lane a five-pointer.
The Sylvan road girls pounced again to make it three tries in just 10 minutes, an in-and-away from centre Maddison Mellish breaking the line and quick thinking from fullback Sabay Lynam finding the quickest on the field in Lawrence.
A speedy 50 metre dash from the strike winger put the visitors up 17-0 heading into half time.
Wests came out of the gates sharp in the second half, applying pressure in the Brothers 22 before No. 8 Finao Mikaio speared off the rolling maul and planted it down in the left corner.
And then, physical lock Melehifo Allana Sikimeti cashed in on her team’s crisp passing and offloading skills to move out of sight at 29-0.
But even with scoreboard pressure mounting, Brothers continued to fight.
After a smart positional change saw playmaker Jordan Manega move from halfback to fullback, and the continued heroics of ball carrying dynamo Lynley Pratt in her pink headgear, Brothers pounced for their first try.
It was inside centre Rebecca Davidson who trampled her way past defenders and muscled over, much to the delight of the home supporters.
29-5 was an accurate depiction of the game but a late three try flurry from the visitors saw their lead balloon out to 48-5.
Nugent struck down the left touchline with a scintillating solo effort, before Fanuatanu and bench utility Darcy Milfull made their marks.
Milfull, in limited playing time, breaking two tackles in a 60 metre surge to the try line.
It must be said that Brothers were awfully unlucky on the Fanuatanu try, with the referee missing a knock on in the lead up.
Brothers responded admirably with body-on-the-line defence which consisted of two try saving tackles.
But, not long after, the dam wall broke and promising 19-year-old Sunshine Coast product Fanuatunu was in.
At Sunnybank, the Dragons delivered another mighty effort to claim a 27-17 victory over Souths.
Magpies women’s coach David Hanson said his side had a morale victory - even if they did not get the points.
“The girls really did themselves proud today. After a slow start they came home strongly in the second half.
“They displayed plenty of heart and character to put the best side in the comp under pressure and with the girls we have returning from long term injuries, the group has a bright second half of the season to look forward to.’’
“The players showed a lot of character when our backs were against the wall,” said
Sunnybank women’s coach Sione Helu.
“Our No. 8 Luana Tongia was outstanding today.”
Tongia’s hard work allowed winger Liliahn Swadling, flanker Samantha Lingman, bench utility Christina Sekona and centre Kalisi Longopoa to cross.
RELATED LINKS
CLUB RUGBY PREVIEW: PLAYERS TO WATCH
At Norths, University ran in 15 tries on their way to a 87-0 victory.
Indeed the tries were shared around but Miss Hilliar scored two, Amy Kibble two, Giverny Robinson three and Caitlin Urwin three.
Playing her first game of the season was centre Amy Brice, sister to Matt Brice who is a Queensland Reds Under 18s talent tearing it up for University’s Colts 1 and Hospital Cup teams this year.
University head coach Savelio Savelio was a big fan of Brice’s game and what she brought to the team in game No.1.
“A hard running, hard hitting, ball carrying centre.
“We were missing that in the first round.
“She had been playing in America and slotted into the team nicely today.
”She was really impressive with her skills, catch and pass … sound and solid tackling technique.”
Savelio said it was a game where University couldn’t stick to their structure but all in all it was good for the confidence.
“The effort they put in today was huge.
“It’s hard when their game falls at the door when you’re making so many breaks … the game was more open than it normally is.
“It wasn’t the structure, or the processes (that impressed Savelio), but the efforts were huge.
“We had a good sit down after the game, saying we were happy with a big game and the scoreboard but we were unhappy we didn’t stay in our structure.
“There’s always room to improve,” he said.
For Norths outside centre Kiani Brown and new recruit Lovianna Fanene stood tall.
AIC First XIII rugby league Team of the Season after Iona triumph
Who has made the AIC First XIII rugby league Team of the Season following Iona’s premiership confirmation? All is revealed here, along with the best of the best who just missed selection.
BJRU grand finals: Players of the Day includes next-gen Nudgee weapon
BJRU grand finals: See who the Players of the Day were after five stunning Div 1 and 2 deciders between Easts, Logan Saints, Caboolture, Wynnum, Souths, Brothers, and Riverside. The list includes an exciting outside back from Nudgee that set Bottomley Park alight on Sunday.