Colts rugby round 2: Thrills and spills of club rugby
Colts rugby round 2: GPS pip Norths, Brothers edge out Wests Bulldogs
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The GPS colts wriggled out of an ambush to edge out Norths 12-9 in a dour contest at Hugh Courtney Oval.
The Eagles came primed and committed, putting themselves into the faces of the opposition for the entire match, only to fall marginally short.
In the end it was a flash of skill from fly-half Bas Ward and Floyd Aubrey which resulted in two second half tries, but around that it was largely a pitched battle.
“Credit to Norths,’’ said GPS coach Visesio Kite. “They gave us a test and I think the boys passed it.
“Twelve months ago we probably wouldn’t have come out of that one. I am glad we got the result.’’
Kite said his team displayed some consistency and managed the momentum without “holding it for long enough’’.
He said his halfback Cullin Cooper-Johns, Ward and Aubrey complemented the team’s hard working effort.
Norths coach Dan Ritchie was proud of the effort. “The defensive energy was really good,’’ he said, reflecting on keeping GPS to nil at halftime.
“We carried that on into the second half, only for one or two lapses. But we kept fronting up, kept getting in front.’’
Ritchie said his team needed to get out of their own half better in matches ahead.
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Norths were ready to rumble. Inside centre Oscar Donoghue was rugged and confrontational, prop Brad Kuhn absorbed the physical stuff with ease while fullback Connor Schurr lead impressively from the back.
Schurr’s contribution was multi-pronged. His goal kicking was excellent, he saved a first half try with a last line defensive effort on a dancing Aubrey, and late in the fixture when moved to fly-half he threatened.
Indeed with the match in the balance late, half a gap opened up for Schurr who was dragged down by his opposite Ward.
With a more solid forward pack in front of him, Ward’s deft touches to his backs were a highlight, and it was his pass in contact which helped create the opening try for GPS courtesy of centre Gus Roszanowski after Aubrey had also handled.
Then, midway through the second half, Ward took his team from a 9-5 deficit to a 10-9 lead with a brilliant individual try from 22m out.
Even then Ward had to work to get the ball over the line as Norths flanker Okaw Obonno came late in desperate defence.
But those two breaks, along with another two in the first half, were the only times GPS looked like scoring.
The GPS defence also deserves some praise because for all the will in the world, Norths did struggle to score a try.
GPS prop Darcy Hammond and lock Ethan Lucey worked and worked for Galloping Greens, but their six forward teammates also deserved a pat on the head for their effort as well.
One tackle by GPS prop Peter Halipo on his opposite shock the land around it.
At Chipsy Wood Oval, University blew the cobwebs out in the first half to lead 34-nil before Souths Magpies reeled last season’s grand finalist back in the second half, scoring four tries.
“We made some changes and won the second half with the replacements we made,’’ said Souths coach Greg Coward.
“It was a good result in the second half and has set a line in the sand for us. It is a blue print for the season to going forward and.’’
Best players for the Magpies were Keegan Cobb and his backrow colleague John Bryant, while the highly regarded prop Andrew Romano led by example at set pieces and in maul situations.
Souths fullback Mone Maafu showed some flair for his side, while Souths’ spirit was highlighted by Lawson Ryan who played two full games in earlier colts’ fixtures before finishing the match in colts 1.
University coach Derby Malaulau said an initial aim was to improve simple things like kicks-offs and defence and then let his team’s performance progress from there.
While happier with defence, it was still a work in progress.
Malaulau said his halfback Finn Hearn was “exceptional’’ while flanker Josiah Norton won some hard ball at the breakdown.
At Crosby Park, home team Brothers inched Wests out 24-17 in a high class affair.
The Bulldogs actually led Brothers, only to concede a couple of tries, before Wests hit back strongly at the end.
Indeed Wests, having had the edge over Brothers in the scrum, were scrumming for a draw on attack late in the clash when they conceded a penalty, relieving pressure for Brothers just ahead of the full-time whistle.
Brothers coach Tony Wall said both teams were very skilful in a tough, hard fought bout.
“We bounced back early in the second half and had to hang on for the rest of the match,’’ Wall said.
Wests coach Rob Roiri said it was a great effort by his side but they were disappointed because “we had some moments to win the game’’.
“All in all there were some really good signs,’’ Roiri said.
“We have a really big, strong, powerful forward pack and it shows with the size of our boys.
“And we just want to play direct.
“That is one thing we may differ from other colts (teams) in that we want to play more direct through the players rather than on the edges. We also want to show our flair.’’
Roiri said his fly-half Jake Sargood was outstanding and would be one of the players to watch this season.
Around him Taine Roiri and Noa Zuna spearheaded an almighty scrimmaging effort, while in the backs David Vaihu displayed typical flair.
Brothers coach Wall said No.8 Jonte Connelly and flanker Mitch Lowrie were his best players.
On the Gold Coast, Bond University won a physical game 15-13 over Easts,
It was tough, it was at times grim and a real battle of the set piece where every metre was fought over.
In the end Bond battled away to finish marginally ahead of their rivals.
Easts coach Tyrell Barker praised the manner in which Bond defended and had no excuses for the Tigers.
“They turned up and defended well,’’ he said.
“We had large period of possession of the footie and could not capitalise on the times we had the footie.
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