National Schoolgirls Cup Best and Fairest and grand final replay classic
Schoolgirls rugby league: A Schoolgirls Cup mini classic unfolded between Ipswich and Marsden while an unheralded Mabel SHS centre sunk a brave Keebra Park. Everything you need to know here.
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There were two mini classics on Wednesday night when Ipswich SHS overcame Marsden SHS, while Mabel Park SHS centre Nyeema Tuua was a hero in her team’s final second win over Keebra Park SHS.
Ipswich SHS, featuring Emilee George and Mieke Moata’ane as debut players and a superb hooker Dominika Baleinagasau, won 28-16, but the match hung in the balance until the final seconds when Queensland schoolgirls selection Tiresa Leasuasu crossed to ensure victory.
At Southport, Mabel Park claimed a 10-6 victory despite the outstanding performance by Keebra Park, who got plenty from their Queensland Schoolgirls fullback Torah Luadaka.
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The Ipswich-Marsden clash was much closer than the scoreline indicated.
Moments before Leasuasu’s game sealing try for Ipswich, Marsden SHS were rolling, trying to play an upbeat, quick play the ball game.
But the Ipswich defence, as it did so often, held up and the match was safe.
The physical Ipswich SHS girls were so effective close to the line, with their power game hard to handle in close quarter battle.
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Marsden SHS, on the other hand, fired back with excellent ball movement which dragged their side from a 16-4 deficit to a 16-all scoreline midway through the second half.
Pacy pocket rocket Nikeisha Ngaru, as she so often does, scored two tries, while Wynnum Manly junior representative Charotte Wells and Rosa-Millan Lefono also crossed in a thriller at the Shark Tank.
But Ipswich SHS ace Shalom Sauaso proved too big and too strong with her drive at the line lifting the visitors to a crucial six point advantage.
Ipswich SHS coach Alex Nicholson said his team’s defence was outstanding.
“They consistently turned up for each other. It took Marsden multiple sets to score tries on us.
“I just want to work on completing our sets in own half and making the most of our chances when we earn them.’’
In a team performance, Ipswich were well led by Orianna Clark, Tiresa Leasuasu and Shalom Sauaso as you would expect, but hooker Baleinagasau played the entire match and was best afield.
Ipswich SHS newcomer Bailey Sorbello also proved the difference slotting four-from-five conversions.
But it was very much a team performance by Ipswich SHS.
Marsden SHS coach Shane Hammond said he was proud of his team’s resilience to comeback after a slow start.
“From two tries down in the first five minutes, a team can crumble, but they worked their way back into it.
“We probably went a away a little bit from our game plan in the second half and tried to play through their forwards which didn’t work for us.
“We wanted to utilise our edges that worked well in the first half and we didn’t quite get to it in the second.”
Marsden sure had some strike on their edges, with Deleni Paitai and Namoe Gesa the second rowers and Lefono and Wells the centres.
Ipswich SHS started strongly, leaping to 12-nil after tries to Clark and Baleinagasau before Marsden worked its way into the game.
Charlotte Wells put her side on the board, but another Ipswich try scored by Oriana Clark elevated Ipswich ahead by 16-4.
Then the match livened up as Marsden countered Ipswich’s power game, and a lovely use of the ball saw Lefono cross.
Marsden almost scored again when desperate Ipswich cover defence prevented a likely try, but Ipswich’s desperation was to no avail as Marsden produced a sweeping backline movement from the next ruck - which was the last play before halftime.
With no time left on the clock, a backs’ ball movement gave Sunnybank Dragons Premier Women young gun Ngaru a chance to finish in the corner for Marsden, cutting Ipswich’s lead to 16-12.
Marsden then opened the scoring in the second half with another fluent, sweeping movement toward left winger Ngaru.
Marsden SHS fullback Janique Mili took a hit in the line with a catch and pass, but it was worth it when she watched from the ground as centre Wells put Ngaru over - again out wide.
Then came an exciting period as both teams tried to snap a 16-all deadlock.
On the Gold Coast, Mabel Park SHS winger Nyeema Tuuua scored with 90 seconds to play from a fifth and last kick to steal victory for her side.
Tuuua produced a one-on-one strip, driving over the line to score.
Tuuua, coming from a strong athletics background, was out of sight, out of mind in 2023 after struggling with injury, but she has made up for lost time this season.
Earlier this year Tuua was an elite edge forward in the Harvey Norman Under-17s competition for the Norths Devils.
Around her match winning deed, the Aspley Devils ace impressed with her speed and power.
“Keebra were fierce competition. They have a skilled side with talented outside backs, but our Mabel girls were resilient...they stayed in the grind and it resembled the side which came back from 26-nil to win the grand final,” said coach Chace Carey.
Mabel Park SHS’s two halves, Danielle Tutakangahau and Amanii Misa also performed strongly, as did Mele Misa and Mariah Brown who, after starting at centre, had a stint in the halves and looked strong.
Brown’s defence was first class in this affair, as it was in the Queensland Schoolgirls grand final triumph over the New South Wales Combined High Schools at the ASSRL championships earlier this month.
Keebra Park fullback Torah Luadaka was fabulous.
In slippery conditions under lights she was composed at all times, ran well and even slotted a difficult conversion.
“It was one of the best games of schoolgirls footy. It was end to end, physical and there was a high competition rate,’’ said Keebra Park SHS Girls Sport Academy program coordinator Dan Schwass.
“Our effort was the best it had ever been,’’ said Schwass, who is also the head coach.
“We defended our line well and they had a lot of sets on us, but we kept turning up and getting a body in front.’’
Keebra Park’s Skyla Samson, playing centre this week, defended well and carried hard.
Keebra had to make changes due to injury, but did so well and have improved greatly.
“We have finally put what we are working on into practice for a full 50 minutes,’’ Schwass said.
A special mention to regular Keebra forward Ata Te Hokowhitu-Wynne who went from No.13 to wing.
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