Club rugby round 6: UQ, Brothers dazzle; Bond comeback kings
Club rugby: Who led the charge in Colts 1 action as University delivered a try fest and Bond a thrilling comeback? Revealed here along with premier women’s coverage.
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The Tigers took over in a second half surge to defeat the Souths Magpies as round 6 of club rugby unfolded across Queensland.
Meanwhile an exciting new crop of talent was glimpsed in Brothers 31-0 dominance over GPS at Crosby Park with the Greg Beaver coached team just too clinical for the Gallopers.
And in Sunnybank, University bounced back after a loss to the hands of Brothers last week with a sensational half century scoreline over the Dragons.
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In all Colts 1 results, Bond Uni came back to pip Norths 26-21, the Red Heavies had their way 54-7 over Sunnybank, Brothers beat GPS 31-0 and Easts edged out Souths 40-21.
And in women’s action, Souths defeated East 19-5, Bond had a massive win over Norths, GPS defeated Brothers 29-5 and Sunnybank beat UQ 44-12.
At Crosby Park, Brothers looked the part even with just five returning Colts 1 players in their starting lineup.
Robbie Mapa, Will Cartwright, Ollie Harvey, Tanna Wilson and Malakai Taulani were among the returning players, head coach Greg Beaver saying it was an exciting time for both the club and for the competition which has a hefty amount of first year Colts players.
“It’s exciting,” Beaver said after his young side dominated all aspects of the game in a 31-0 victory over GPS.
“The new guys coming through … we have a good crop.
“Dre Pakeho had his first start, controlling the game from 12. He got a try on his first touch, putting Louis De villiers through a hole and backing up.
“Our first half was great, we controlled the game, momentum, on the back of our defence. We pressured GPS with their defence and kept making them make errors in their half of the field.
“There was a good vibe at Crosby today. There’s a belief within the team.”
Outside centre Kadin Pritchard “was good today … solid,” according to Beaver.
“It’s consistency for these guys. The challenge for them is how they fit within the team. They are playing with guys who have just as good skill or better.
Unlike at school where the rangy Pritchard was at fullback, Beaver has him seeing more football at outside centre. And it is proving a winning recipe with Nudgee Old Boy De Villiers tearing up at fullback.
Beaver said he “took his opportunities, backed himself and his skill and was rewarded with a try and some line breaks.”
“Welsh boy Ellis Davis had a great game at flyhalf, out of his usual position of 15 while hooker Aiden Taylor controlled set piece and the lineouts really well.
“Great around the park, defensively, and great ball carries.”
For GPS, the scoreline could have been uglier had Sio Kite’s boys not dug their heels in.
“They were far more clinical. Clinical at the collision, they recognised when to go and when not to go.
“Greg has got them firing as you’d expect, fair play to them.
“Easily the best team we’ve played all year. They’d be the hot shots for it,” GPS head coach Kite praised.
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“We just couldn’t control their (Brothers) speed and the width of their passing.”
Prop Nick Harper, and towering lock Pat Gavin were Kite’s best on ground.
“Those two were excellent. In the scrum, I am very happy to have him (Harper).
“He (Gavin) had a good battle with Ben Daniels (an Australian Schoolboys select).
“He is coming back from an injury, so I have big wraps on Gavin.
“ I think he could go onto big things. His build but also his workrate and athleticism,” Kite said about the lock prospect out of Marist College Ashgrove.
In a game of two halves at Norths, Bond Uni came from down 21-7 to 26-21 winners.
Bond head coach Rico Gear said: “We were down 21-7 at half due to not dealing with the high ball very well. Couple mistakes there which gave them momentum. We found ourselves down.
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“We knew that Norths had quite a big, heavy pack. We knew they would tire out, it meant we needed to look after our ball in build phases.
“We did that well in the second half, scoring 19 unanswered points.
“It was pleasing that we were able to turn it around and scrape through for a win.
“Marco Andonov came on and scored right after half time which was the catalyst.
“Harrison Usher our captain, he scored two with his direct running.
“He’s in the Junior Wallabies squad which will be finalized in two weeks. Fingers crossed he makes that and tours New Zealand.
“He’s one for the future.
“Off our set piece we got the forwards going around the corner, we got on the front foot. Once we made entry in their 22, we were able to finish off those movements. That was good.
“Our halfback Oliver Connaughton was sniping around the ball, his delivery was crisp too. We were able to move around the forward pack and Kobe Waikato at 10 had a good kicking game, making their forwards run heaps which worked in our favour.
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At Sunnybank, University raised the bat for 54 of the best, the Dragons scoring just seven against a hungry Red Heavies team eager to get back in the winners column.
Uni head coach Matt Ingram said it was good to bounce back.
“ We responded in the second to get on top. To consolidate.
“We identified we’ve been lacking in effort areas, knowing we have to take our moments when they come. It hasn’t been panic stations but we put a focus on work rate and extra efforts.
“Particularly in the second half, once we got a flow. It was pleasing.
“We’ve had a couple players going into first grade, and we’ve been hit by injuries in tough games.
“Hopefully the squad can build on it,” Ingram said about forming new combinations in the face of lineup changes.
“We had a few debutants. Will O’Brien at fullback and Hunter Price at No.6.”
Brisbane State High Old Boy Siliva Leofa continued to impress Ingram.
“Siliva is a good communicator with lethal footwork. He takes the half opportunities that others don’t even see.
“Will Robinson took us forward when we needed it. As an older player, the boys look for him under the pump.
“He was all effort today in the tough areas, making tackles and getting wins at the breakdown.”
Meanwhile, Sieg Mackellar made his return in the No.11 jersey, coming in off his wing and looking for ways to get involved.
He, along with O’Brien scored in a good day for Uni supporters.
And at Easts, the Tigers took their chances in the second half in a 40-21 triumph.
Inside centre Jarrod Homan, lock Tom Twadell and prop Kaileb Crothers were coach Tyrell Barker’s best on ground.
But we can’t forget about scrumhalf ace Sam Farrar who scored not one, not two but three tries.
Souths head coach Cian O’Connor said: “We were in it at 14-14 with very limited possession. We struggled to control possession and we took the lead at 21-14 in the second half.
“Then a penalty try, and a yellow card … It was downhill from there.
“Jarrod Homan scored two for Easts and set up one in the second to pull away from us.
“We didn’t recover from that.
“They were good, big and fast.
“There were a lot of things in our control that we didn’t do very well so it was just a bad day. They put pressure on us, penalties on us at the ruck, we didn’t respond very well.
“It led to them accessing our 22 with ill discipline, dropping balls,” O’Connor said about what led to the Magpies second half downfall.
“Thomas Parker Ryan, came back from a dislocated kneecap and his first Colts 1 start was quite impressive,” O’Connor said.
“Dom Thygesen was solid but he had to go off with a knee injury.”
He had been Souths’ best forward, on Saturday and all season.
“Willem Pienaar came back from an ACL and was super. He came on for Thygesen.
“A power athlete, Pienaar enjoyed his first bit of action in over a year.”
Women’s action, Sunnybank coach Pale Feaunati said his team’s big win over UQ was due to his experienced players “fronting up’’.
“The old-timers played with a lot of determination.
“UQ were a big test for us and the team played well together to get through the arm wrestle.
“Sam Lingman was outstanding, leading from the front in her attack and constant pressure in defence.
“Rosie Rasovo was also great in attack before she left the field injured scoring in the corner.
“We are still learning, and the ladies are doing a really good job . They are a sponge when it comes to learning.’’
Both GPS coach Mutch Kite and Brothers coach Tony Wall saw positives in their team’s performance.
Kite said Brothers were strong but he was pleased to get out of Crosby Park with a win give the unavailably of players due to injury and representative commitments.
“Our best players were stand in captain Amelia Brown who lead from the front and had strong defence which menaced the opposition.
“Losailo Sita Payne was solid in the midfield with her hard running and scored two tries.
New player Mana’ia Fotu also impressed in her first hit out with her strong defence and destructive runs.’’
Brothers coach Tony Wall said despite his team’s defeat, development was continuing across his squad, including courtesy of winger Rachel King who made her debut on the wing.
“We felt like we were always in the game, which is exciting for us as a group.
“We are continuing to create opportunities, and as our experience grows, our conversion rate will enhance.
“We had a mountain of defence to do and the players committed to the task stoutly, against a strong running GPS team.
“We defended 21 phases on our line near the end, and then followed with a try towards the end of the match.’’
Brothers forwards’ were led by rising star Haddasha Todd, the experienced Grace Sullivan and supported bt Mabel Johnstone “who selflessly moved into the front row’’.
Averil Bowring and a young, emerging prop Lynly Pratt did well up front.
In the backs Becky Davidson and Britt Brown in the midfield played well, while Lydia Durkin steered the side around.
Meredith Schultz in the outside backs continues to contribute in attack and defence and another new player, Rebecca Sandford, adapted quickly.
Meanwhile, the University of Queensland’s best were Anelisa Lole and Ciare McAlpine in its loss.
McApline was strong defensively and carriedthe ball and also made line breaks while Lole at loosehead prop was non stop with her defensive effort and also carried the ball strongly.
She also communicated well with the team, keeping their spirits up.
“My girls made too many errors and allowed Sunnybank to capitalise on those mistakes,’’ said coach Savelio.
“When the girls found themselves behind on the scoreboard they couldn’t get back into the game, panic set up and processes were not followed.
“But too Sunnybank’s credit they played a very structured game that denied us from using out wide and they took us down up front and down the middle.
“It was a good lesson for my girls to learn after winning four games in a row.””
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