Club rugby: Women’s report; Colts Team of the Week
Nudgee and BBC past premiership winners starred in colts 1 club rugby today as giant-killers Norths struck again. Full report, women’s coverage here.
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Two flyhalfs and a former St Joseph’s Nudgee College First XV captain were first class in an exciting colts 1 clash won 29-20 by Brothers over Souths at Crosby Park.
Brothers maintained its push for the minor premiership, recovering from a 3-10 deficit to find its mojo during a 26 point second half performance.
But two late tries by Souths narrowed the gap to just four points until Brothers centre Tim Ryan engineered a try for fullback Will Cartwright.
Brothers No.10 Harry Grant and his inside centre Lastus Auakai were special for the winners, while Souths flyhalf Harry McLaughkin-Phillips was elite.
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Harry McLaughkin-Phillips, a BBC premiership winning player in 2020, displayed the endurance of a marathon man, switching between the front line and fullback. He sure earned his energy drink at match end.
With telling runs and deft passing, Auakai was outstanding at inside centre for Brothers. You’d go a long way to see a better pair of quick hands than those he displayed when he put his mate Grant in to score a crucial second half try.
And Grant was up there with the best of them, and with his energy, passing, running and defence. He was almost one and a half players.
Upfront the Brothers scrum won the day, but Souths spirit was emphasised late when the Magpies set piece rallied to lead to possession which gave field position for prop Saipele Tamilo to cross.
Brothers were under strength, but regardless Souths were making progress this season in colts 1 under coach Cian O’Connor.
“We started well but they scored off two set piece lineouts which should not happen. Defensively we did not communicate properly,’’ O’Connor said.
“So we got hurt by that. But we scrambled well and came back, but rushing to try and get a win we had a poor kick-chase, poor kick-off and gave Brothers possession.’’
O’Connor said both colts 3 and colts 2 had wins over unbeaten Brothers teams, while his colts 1 side was “not far away’’ and colts 1 was progressing.
Brothers coach Greg Beaver said at halftime his team needed to address its “accuracy and detail around our attack shape and our breakdown’’.
“When we fixed that, we backed ourselves. Our transition footy was good in the back end of the second half which allowed us to get in front.’’
Souths launched its bold bid for an upset win early on the back of Willem Johnstone’s judicious kicking game and a forward pack prepared to meet their rivals head on with and without the ball.
There was also some nice ball movement directed by McLaughlin-Phillips, but the foundation of the Magpies’ push for victory came down to the commitment of their front eight.
Souths led 10-5 at halftime, overcoming a powerful Brothers scrum and a try to prop Malakai Taulani after a midfield break by Brothers flanker Leo McCarthy had been supported by No.10 Grant.
Souths try came courtesy of centre Peron Faimalo who had loomed in support after a probing McLaughlin-Phillips had offloaded despite being tackled by Auakai.
However, Auakai then started to impact the game, sprinting 35m to score just after halftime after a superb pass by Brothers half Oscar Varrcahio following line out ball.
Souths then counter attacked from inside their quarter when Johnstone and McLaughlin Phillips sent fullback Fonofili Logoileu away, but Auaksi’s cover tackle buried him over the sideline.
Auakai was having a busy afternoon and it was he who sparked a thrilling 65m try scored by Grant. That try raised Brothers to 17-10.
Then lightning hands by Auakai led to a crucial try scored by fly half rant after Grant had sprinted across field to make an extra man on the outside of his midfield.
Will Cartwright’s sideline conversion then made it 24-10 and the game was almost safe.
To the credit of Souths scrum, they won back a penalty as the Magpies launched a late bid to close the gap, leading to a rolling maul try by powerful prop Saipele Tamilo.
Fullback Logoileu then broke free again only to be caught by Brothers scramble, but impressive lock Dom Thygesen burrowed over and it was 24-20 with minutes to play.
Brothers centre Tim Ryan then finished the match with a flourish, bursting through to put his fullback Will Cartwright over to score.
At David Wilson Field, Bottomley Park, the Norths Eagles swooped on another hit and run away mission, piping a fast finishing the Tigers 23-22.
Last month Norths also unexpectedly toppled Wests at Sylvan Road and the Eagles were fast emerging as semi-final contenders.
Norths coach Dan Ritchie said his team’s scrum stood up to provide a foundation for the side. “We played some really good rugby in the first half and managed to hold on.’’
It all started from the front three - Ollie Harris, Rohan Mann and Jaidyn Walker, while lock Jack Small was again an inspiration.
Rewarding their forwards for the toil was fast on his feet fullback Hamish Muir who is a real talent, inside centre Declan Ries and reliable link man, halfback George Stokes.
At Yoku road, four doubles across the GPS scoresheet saw the home-side get themselves back in the winning circle with a dominant 46-5 victory over Sunnybank.
GPS came out firing, and Sunnybank were stunned, conceding four consecutive tries in the first half before prop Sione Fotuaika burrowed his way in to eat away at the 22-point buffer.
With Rhonan Jensen’s boot advancing the ball, Ben Bannister’s support running, Darcy Hammond’s ball-carrying and Campbell Moller’s decision making on when to inject himself into the game, The Gallopers had all the momentum and indeed they capitalised.
In the end, four GPS boys: Campbell Moller, Joe Doljannin, Matthias Maugatai and Tom Cox went to the sheds each with two tries to their name.
Reminiscent of his time playing centre for the Marist College Ashgrove First XV, Moller burned through the line untouched to begin the proceedings.
Next to strike was wing Joe Doljannin hooker Michael Toohey spotted space out wide and threw one of the crispest cut out passes you’ll see from a hooker.
Moller was back in the mix again moments later, but this time it was to execute the sort of attacking rugby GPS is renowned for. Rhonan Jensen booted it down field and Moller’s sensational kick-chase effort was rewarded.
GPS head coach Sosesio Kite said he was happy with how his team stuck to their processes and playing in the right areas where “Jensen really helped.”
Centre Tom Cox scored the next, before Sunnybank’s best got his team on the board. Fotuaika, in what coach Brendan Underwood described as his best game all season, dove over to make his presence known before the break.
Maugatai extended GPS’ lead at 29-5 with a try after half-time, then it was Doljannin thanks to the draw and pass from Jensen who snuck in for a double.
Maugatai earned himself his second try moments later with a strong run from the ruck. Kite said: We’ve moved him from No.8 to lock and he’s been a standout. He’s good in tight, and he’s only a young fella (Under 18s).
Cox followed suit of Moller, Maugatai and Doljannin who had all scored two, and powered his way over the defenders to settle the scores at 46-5 and bring up GPS’ 8th try.
GPS lock Ethan Lucey said it was a big win as they continue to build form. “It was good to score some points as it’s something we’ve struggled with earlier on in the season. But we’re hitting our stride now.”
Lucey said although his team could have been better with their executionand discipline, they are happy to start the run home well with the goal of the top four in sight.
Underwood said positional roles and responsibilities in zones was a priority for his team,
“playing a more traditional, simple game plan due to the changes.”
“We needed players to simplify their roles to the overall game plan but we let ourselves down. There were a few enterprising passages but again we fell well short.”
Underwood’s best on ground was wing Zac Maseinawa who performed excellently.
Colts 1 Team of the Week
Fullback: Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Souths)
Wing: Hamish Muir (Norths)
Centre: Tim Ryan (Brothers)
Centre: Lastus Auakai (Brothers)
Wing: Joe Dol Jannin (GPS)
Flyhalf: Harry Grant (Brothers)
Halfback: George Stokes (Norths)
No.8: Lachlan Howse (GPS)
Flanker: Ben Bannister (GPS)
Flanker: John Bryant (Souths)
Lock: Dom Thygesen (Souths)
Lock: Jack Small (Norths)
Prop: Ollie Harris (Norths)
Hooker: Rohan Mann (Norths)
Prop: Jaidyn Walker (Norths) and Sione Fotuaika (Sunnybank)
Reserves: Willem Johnstone (Souths), Declan Ries (Norths)
In women’s action GPS have scraped home 17-14 over Sunnybank in what was 70 minutes of top notch rugby union played between two equally hungry and physical sides.
It was a game of big plays, and GPS happened come up with just enough to hold off a rampaging Sunnybank side led by superb centres Gemma Schnaubelt, Sera Koroi and Cecilia Smith at the back.
GPS head coach Mutch Kite said having ex-Wallaroo prop Halisha Samoa in her first game back from injury added heaps “leading from the front off the bench.”
“Sunnybank are always tough. Their expansive game plan was very impressive and they executed. It put us under pressure but I’m glad we fought back,” Kite said.
It seemed as if the individual brilliance of GPS hooker Eve Lemanu to spear off the scrum, bump off her defender and score would be the nail in the coffin nudging her team ahead 17-7 with 10 minutes to go.
But if the first 60 taught us anything, it’s that Sunnybank would keep fighting.
So they did, with forward Leilani Fuimano crossing moments later to move them within three.
However, it was the competition leaders that withstood the remaining efforts to hold-out a rampaging Sunnybank outfit.
Centre Gemma Schnaubelt put on a dazzling sidestep to score her teams first try, following an uncatchable bomb advancing the ball from fullback Cecilia Smith.
It was one of the competitions best flankers who equalised the scores at 7-7, Adi Unaisi Biau finally getting her team on the board moments before halftime.
After being denied on multiple attempts at Sunnybank’s try line, the ball was finally shifted to Tahlia Lewis lurking on the left edge. Lewis madeno mistake, giving her team their first lead at 12-7.
Rhiannon Behn, North’s speedster turned Galloper, was sensational off the bench, showcasing her pace and aggressive ball-running.
Lemanu would make it 17-7 when bumping off Sunnybank halfback Terri-Anne Egan and diving over for a try late.
Although GPS left the door ajar and Fuimaono, the home side was able to come away by three thanks to the inspired try-line defence of their forward pack.
GPS No.8 Tina Campbell was exceptional on defence as well as centre Marlulu Dixon before coming off with an injury.
Sunnybank head coach Brando Vaaulu said the team’s discipline was where they lost it.
“We can’t win with 20 penalties against us. We’re improving, we just need to execute our basics.”
Vaaulu’s standouts were Terri-Anne Egan at scrum half, “always a pest around the breakdown with spot on passing” and Wallaroo fullback Cecilia Smith who was also very impressive.
GPS faces Sunnybank in two weeks, where Kite says “they will bounce backeven harder at home.”
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