How round four of the club rugby season unfolded in Colts 1, Premier Women action
Club rugby round 4: The Bullsharks powered on to begin the Colts 1 season while University’s Premier Women secured a huge win.
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Bond University survived a raucous recovery from Norths to win 40-38 in a high scoring thriller on Hugh Courtney Oval.
The Bullsharks at one stage got out to a 33-16 lead as Fergus Gillan led a punching forward pack and and fullback Trey Alatini a fleet footed back division.
But stoic defence which contributed to Bond turning over four possessions in attack, was the foundation for the Eagles to soar across the last quarter of the game.
HOW AIC FIRST XV RUGBY ROUND 1 UNFOLDED
Prop Macarius Pereira was a focal point for the home side which got as close as 33-31 and 40-38 but time ran out.
Bond were doing all the right things, with its splendid counter attacking, ball in hand play.
But Norths found plenty of resilience which says a lot about the progress of the group under coach Bart Ritchie.
Pereira scored two tries and almost a third while the recovery gathered momentum when flyhalf Will Balkie and Joe Woods helped put Cameron Philip over to score.
Bond did extend its lead again when replacement Kobie Mackey crossed but typically Norths were not done and scored the final try of the game.
Earlier, fullback Bond No.15 Alatini was the firing pin for his side across the first half with enterprising pace and ballwork sending his Bullsharks swimming to a halftime advantage.
In Colts 1 action at University, the Red Heavies overcame a two man disadvantage early in the second half to maintian their halftime lead and go on with it to defeat Brothers 25-14.
UQ came out like a house on fire to lead 20-0 at half time and lost Jimmy Jackson (halfback) and Rodney Blake (lock) in the second half when they were yellow carded for high tackles.
While down two players, Brothers were unable to score with the home side’s defence strong and attack still potent with Tafito Ah-Ki the replacement scrumhalf.
Despite the relentless breakdown pressure of Paddy Dallimore (flanker) and a strong performance by fullback all rounder Ellis Davies, University, who lost Siliva Leofa early (headknock), managed to repel Brothers and concede just two tries to secure victory the hard way.
Representative backrowers Patrick Sowerby and Tom Robinson scored the tries in the first half, while Isaac McAuliffe continued his strong start to the season with two early penalty goals and a nice array of clearance kicks.
Twice Brothers were on their way to score, but forward passes were their worst enemy. And on the stroke of halftime, a misfired lineout denied them one last chance at putting points on the board before the break.
It was all UQ in the first 30 minutes of play, with explosive winger Samuela Tuisau spreading his wings on the left touchline with two wonderful runs.
Tough halfback Jimmy Jackson also played well in the first stanza. But there was one man who raised eyebrows like no other and that was towering lock Rodney Blake, a huge forward who steamrolled through the Brothers defenders before unloading to his teammates.
He is tall, powerful and mobile, and could only be slowed down not brought to ground. Lucky for Brothers, he was yellow carded early in the second half due to high tackle repeat infringements.
His lock partner Jack Henry won lineouts for fun in the opening passages as well, as Brothers hardmen Rory Beech and Ben Pula-Fatu pounded the UQ line.
The Brethren started the second half brilliantly following Blake’s yellow card. From sideline to sideline, forwards Griffin Schostakowski linked well with Ellis Davies, Ollie Lamb and others to put headgeared assasin Seth To’o in for their first try.
No mercy was shown to UQ, as Jimmy Jackson fell victim to the new tackle rule.
He was the second Red Heavies player to see yellow in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
But University’s defence held firm, letting just one more try in to fast thinking scrumhalf Will Knight.
AIC FIRST XV RUGBY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Before this in the Premier Women game, the Red Heavies gained a boost from Super W girls Lori Cramer and Nat Wright to help conquer a brave Brothers outfit 66-0.
Reds fullback Cramer returned to clubland for the first time this season, and acted as a secondary playmaker behind flyhallf livewire Nat Wright.
Midway through the first half Wright moved from flyhalf to halfback, where she played for the Reds, and Cramer shifted from No.15 to flyhallf after bullseye Digi Asaako left the field with an injury.
The fact quicksilver winger Greta Gowen is also a terrific halfback shows the depth of UQ in that position.
But Gowen was on the left edge, where twice in the first half she made solid contact and tackled her opponent into touch to force turnovers.
In the second half she was threatening with limited touches.
With Wright and Cramer the No.9 and No.10 combination, and Lillian Kolb and pacy Tess Littleton in the centres, UQ had more than enough firepower in their backline to score points.
And in the first half of play, Kolb and Littleton broke free to score a try each, Littleton scorching away down the left side of the field after Wright had put her through, while Kolb benefitted off a Littleton decoy to bust through defenders and crash over for the fourth in the first half.
UQ led 26-0 at the main break, but Brothers deserved to be on the scoreboard because of their defence. On multiple occasions UQ’s powerful forwards Seilala Outafi, Matau Iafeta, Memory Manapori, Nena Williamson and co threatened near the try line. But Brothers repelled them, first with their defence and then with a pilfer to win a penalty.
It denied UQ early points, but into the second half there was no stopping Wright and Littleton, who were on a mission.
Wright’s fearless and damaging ball carrying saw her score try No.2, while Litteton’s beautiful line running and turn of speed saw her bring up her second try as UQ burst further ahead 40-0.
Jazlyn Leota’s linespeed, lock Doreen Narokete’s heart on defence, Wynonah Conway’s decision making from halfback and Emma Tanwan’s kick returns were all positives for the visitors, who were well led by vocal leaders Mabel Johnston (prop) and Hannah Rowan (inside centre).
But what excitement UQ had in the backs, they had strength to match it in the forwards. Their scrum, dominant and unforgiving.
Props Outafi, Iafeta and Manapori were to the fore, Iafeta bagging three tries in a masterful set-piece showing equalled only by the accurate goakicking of the right-footed Cramer.
University 66 (Tries: Wright 2, Otuafi 3, Littleton 2, Kolb, Malele Iafeta, Vito Sula, Cons: Cramer 8) def Brothers nil.
At Sunnybank, Kris Kuridrani’s GPS Colts 1 side claimed their first scalp of the season with a 27-10 success over the Dragons.
Chris Jansen, the powerful Western Australian, was to the fore with his brick-like shoulders out-muscling his rivals.
Jansen was everywhere, creating opportunities, converting opportunities and bruising the shoulders of the ‘Bank boys with his relentless defence.
Taito Tuqiri also found some form, scoring two tries to give GPS the edge, while Jackson Munn relished his Colts 1 start on the wing.
Explosive outside back Daniel Malum scored for the home side, but it was GPS’ day after a tough couple of games to begin the season.
At Souths, the Magpies forwards were like men possessed in the first half, creating a 29 point half time buffer.
The Magpies went on to win 36-5, after the Tigers returned serve well in the second half.
But the match was over at the break, with Souths having another rollicking first half showing which laid a deposit on victory.
Last week their first 35 minutes set up a win over Brothers, and it was the same story this weekend with hooker Cooper Hoare the head of the snake this time.
Hoare must have liked what he saw from BBC frontrow buddy Slater Galloway last weekend because like Galloway, he produced a superb performance in the front row.
Around him, Cadell Rees and Tommy O’Callaghan showed their class as the Magpies soared to another win, while representative playmaker Will Nason continued to influence games out of flyhalf.
He was classy, in every meaning of the word.
Outside him, Denzil Perkins and Te Ohorei Totorewa dazzled on the edges, with Maddox Maclean playing out a strong game at inside centre while his buddy Xavier Rubens was away with the Australian Under-20s.
The Tigers were led well by No.8 big man PJ Su’a who off the lineouts, was a menace to tackle.
Mr Natural Archie Xavier scored the Tigers lone try of the match.
In women’s club rugby, powerful Bond University had a 66-nil win over an experienced Norths which is slowly but surely building player depth.
“We started scrappy which was a challenge I put on the girls this week,’’ said Bond coach Shannon Symonds. “So I was disappointed with that, but they worked their way back into the game.
“Norths did well at the start and held the ball which is a credit to them.
“We did try and work on some things in attack and we did that in stages.’’
Cobie Jane Morgan shone brightly while young halfback Evie Sampson did well, while Mel Wilks played a different role well.
Norths coach Brian Allen said he started the pre-season with half a dozen regular people at training and now had around 23 regularly training which was progress.
“It is a journey to build a great culture and some experience and fun playing the game,’’ he said.
“We are proud we are seeing an improved game and we are chauffed with their culture.’’
He said the scrum was excellent today and he saw patches of the squad producing consistent repeat team performances.
Against Bond hooker Merina Latu was great while Theresa Nasilai did well at flanker, playing at both breakaway and centre.
Emily Eglen on the wing also continued to show progress. “She is the smallest thing you will see on a rugby field but she has a big heart and she contributes every week.’’
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