Round 3 best players from the Meninga Cup, Connell Challenge and Harvey 19s
UPDATE: Round 3 results and best players from the Meninga Cup, Connell Challenge and Harvey Norman 19s junior QRL competitions.
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The Souths Logan Magpies took flight in both the Meninga Cup and Connell Challenge on Sunday at Davies Park, beating cross town rivals Wynnum Manly Seagulls in both fixtures.
The Magpies won 22-20 after the siren in the Connell Challenge when Bailey Trew kicked a goal after his hooker Cory Pearse had won a penalty.
Then in the Meninga Cup, Souths Logan were awesome against a Wynnum side lacking match hardness. Souths were spectacular in its 58-6 win.
Saturday’s highlights included the Capras being big improvers in the Connell while the Sunshine Coast Falcons came from behind to clinch victory.
The Norths Devils and Burleigh Bears also played out a beauty of a first half in the Meninga Cup - before Norths hit their stride in the second half to win a try feast 42-34.
And in the Harvey 19s, brilliant Burleigh Bears talent Ebony Raftstrand-Smith and Brisbane Tigers’ Lena Faavae both glided over for three tries in their team’s win.
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MENINGA CUP
Today at Davies Park, Souths Logan played an uptempo brand of football that left Wynnum gasping.
With prop Ahmani Leilua asserting authority early, hooker Blake Mozer and half Jye Gray had a picnic behind a go-forward pack, while fullback Tim Sielaff-Burns was high class and centre Devonte Vaivela the scorer of three tries.
“Every week I just love their effort. They keep turning up whether it is defence on their own goal line. They will defend one, two, three or four sets and not give away easy tries or metres. That is the biggest thing which is impressing me.
“And obviously on an attacking side of things they are executing and taking the game on when the opportunities present themselves.
“What they are learning about themselves is that it is taking middles, edges, fullbacks and wingers doing their job in unison for it to pan out the way it panned out today.
“I could not fault any of the unit out their today.’’
Wynnum Manly coach Jesse Maclean, whose team was playing its first match of the season after being a round 1 wash out and a round 2 bye, said all was not lost.
“Souths were a good football team. It is their third game in three weeks and our first in four or five.
“And while I do not feel there is a 58 point difference between the two sides, they were still quality.’’
Sunshine Coast’s Cayse Munro scored a late winner to carry his team to a 24-18 win over Ipswich Jets.
Munro’s 67th minute try, and Mason Kira’s conversion, put the result to bed in a seesawing encounter that featured eight tries - four apiece.
Ipswich led 14-6 at halftime, but coach Danny Gray said “defensive resolve” got his Falcons over the line despite modest ball control.
“Their defensive resolve and effort and ability to work for each other was so pleasing and they are very proud of that,’’ Gray said.
But he wants to see ball control improve next week.
Gray said “all the boys worked hard’’ and he was loath to single anyone out, but back rowers Kira and Jayden Smith, and right centre Chris Jennings led the team performance.
Ipswich coach Shane Harris was happy with his team’s first contact in defence which was “much better than last week’’.
“It is a real foundation for our game,’’ Harris said.
But despite “competing really well,’’ he said it was important at this level to manage the game better and not take pressure off the opposition.
Best for Ipswich were interchange prop Lachlan Togia who put his hand up with great carries, while fullback Tyler Peckham-Harris was comfortable at the back.
At Denison Park, Bowen, the Blackhawks had a 38-6 victory over the Mackay Cutters.
Townsville jumped out of the blocks with three tries to wing star Tekelu Mene, Henry Teutau and Elijah Joe, before Mackay stemmed the tide when Joshua Wyatte scored.
The kicking game of Blackhawks halve Zack Lamont was outstanding and around him hooker Tajshon Santo-Messa was outstanding out of dummy half as was prop Henry Teutau.
Cutters coach David Stevens said the effort and commitment in defence was much better this week, but it was important the players reward themselves by capitalising on mistakes they are forcing on the opposition.
“We have to learn to be patient,’’ Stevens said.
Mackay hooker Xavier Kerrisk was the Player’ Player award winner, while centre Tenzin Contor and edge forward Jacob Cruckshank shone.
In Maryborough, The Clydesdales came from behind with three second half tries to get past Wide Bay 28-22.
Declan Ryan and a double to Bailey Nash elevated the Western side from a deficit to victory.
Nash received his team’s Players Player award.
But coach Brendan Wilson also heaped praise on Will Brady and his role in contributing to the win. “Full credit to Wide Bay and they forced us into errors. But we dug in to get the win when it could have gone either way.’’
The Wide Bay coach Antonio Kaufusi said his captain Kyle Knight led from the front, while Connor Yeats ran the ball back hard from the wing to get his team on the front foot.
Bryden Blair also did well for the Bulls, along with relentless defender Tyrell Hopkins and centre Liam Doolan “who came up with a couple of crucial tackles’’.
Kaufusi said Ezekiel Moncton and Lachlan Zelinski also did a fine job.
Late today at Pizzey Park, the Norths Devils flexed their muscles with a second half effort after the Bears and Devils had tag teamed through the opening 35 minutes.
Norths scored three tries in five minutes Jalen Afamasaga, edge forward Angus Hinchey and fleet-a-foot fullback Tory Bath crossed to turn 18-16 into a match winning advantage.
Kallum Weatherall-Stacey’s goal kicking complemented Norths surge toward victory.
But in a dramatic finish, the Burleigh Bears scored the last three tries - two by big Joseph Shannon and another by Karauria Stokes-Mahara before time ran out.
“I thought we did some good things with the footy but we need to be more resilient and maintain pressure once we are in a good position,’’ said Norths coach Shayne Boyd.
Express winger Kallum Weatherall-Stacey got some nice wraps from coach Boyd, as did centre Poutoa Hotere-Papalii, while in the middle Darcy Turner got through a mountain of work.
And at Brown Park, Rockhampton, the Northern Pride defeated Capras 22-18 in a thriller.
Pride lead 10-nil but tries to Mack Nixon (twice) and Carter Wight took Capras to the cusp of drawing late in the match.
Northern Pride coach Steven Lesina said it was a huge improvement by his squad.
“The boys dug deep and got us a win. It was a credit to our core players who lifted,’’ he said.
A hero of the night was middle forward Cameron Nelson who played 70 minutes, while Brock Salecich gave his team a tremendous second half injection. “He gave it everything he had. And that was a massive turning point in game.’’ Lesina said.
On the other side of the fence, Capras coach R J Stewart said “there was too much drop ball in the first half’’.
Best for Capras were Bailey Cavanough, William Lewis and Jaiden Green.
In the late game, Redcliffe ran out 30-12 winners of the Brisbane Tigers.
Dolphins coach Jamie Floss said the first half performance was outstanding. “We completed our sets and did a good job of getting repeat sets and building pressure on the tryline.’’
Best for the Dolphins was hard working Drew Timms, two try hero Jayden Alefaio and prop Jacob Laban.
The Tigers best was front rower and captain Trent Veukiso.
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Souths Logan Magpies fullback Bailey Trew kicked a penalty goal after the fulltime siren to deliver his team a 22-20 victory.
Magpies hooker Cory Pearse had won a penalty with a scurrying ruck run, giving Trew the chance to win the match from 22m out, directly in front.
Souths Logan had comeback from trailing 20-10 - after leading 10-nil.
Magpies coach Ben Trim said he was proud his team did not drop their heads after Wynnum Manly scored 20 points in succession.
“We rolled our sleeves up and went back to what we were doing well,’’ Trim said.
“And that is very impressive, to compete on every play. And kicking a goal to win was the cherry on top.’’
Wynnum Manly coach Mick Reimer said the Seagulls did well given it was their first competition match in three weeks.
“We were probably a little bit under done in those first 15 minutes,’’ he said.
“We battled well to get back into it. We did eally well to get back infront and then we could not find our feet in the second half. But the effort was there.’’
On a hot day, he said middle forwards Dominic Punivalu and Cooper Day were his Reimer’s best.
Trim said his back rower Duquan Talaepa made some tremendous defensive reads and was his best for Souths Logan.
Magpies’ front rowers Fa’apale Feaunati and Dirhys Sefo also impressed, while Pearse played both tough and smart.
Big, mobile front rower David Leota scored two tries, but it was fullback Harlyn Westlake who was best afield as Ipswich Jets edged out Sunshine Coast Falcons 16-10.
Jets coach Jye Tuaimau-Gadsdon said while his forwards were excellent, the big improvement came from the back division.
“We were very strong in the middle but our outside backs took the lessons from last week and delivered really well today,’’ Tuaimau-Gadsdon said.
He said fullback Harlyn Westlake was outstanding while Cody Gillespie (centre) “was massive in defence’’.
But he also had high praise for the son of a gun, No.13 Lachlan Coburn, whose father is club legend Danny.
Coburn tackled himself to a standstill while Leota was again pure power in the middle for the Jets.
Sunshine Coast Connell coach Jack Dreger said his team was again not good enough with the ball.
“We were really poor with footie and didn’t control the game and had to defend all of the time. They were a big side and wore us down,’’ Dreger said.
He said his halfback Ellyjah Birve was again excellent for the Falcons.
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In Bowen, the young Blackhawks skipped away to an 18-nil lead after tries by Keelin Hookey (two) and Elijah-Shane Tapau before Townsville ultimately won 28-10 over the Mackay Cutters.
Blackhawks coach Nathan Norford said his side was dominant in the first half, only for the team’s game management to slip when the heavens opened.
As a result he wants his team to play for the whole match because Mackay did comeback during a 15 minute period when “they won the calls and the rucks’’
Norford was delighted with his core middle players who were “very good’’, while edge backrower Elijah-Shane Tapau combined well with his halfback Kynan Purdy.
Mackay were rocked by the loss of three middle forwards, including spiritual leader Darcy Clark who prior to his departure was making metres and getting his team forward.
As a result coach Andy Battaia was as proud as punch of the effort. “We were very gutsy playing with one sub in the second half and there was a period where we could have come over the top of them,’’ he said.
“I am really proud of boys who came in and stepped up.’’
Edge backrower Kale Oliver was mighty after being forced into the middle, while both dummy halves, John Bowman and Harrison Deguara found metres and defended strongly.
But away from his pack, Battaia said fullback Hayden Cummins and winger Logan Atkinson were outstanding.
In Rockhampton, the young Capras had a 30-6 win over Northern Pride.
The Pride scored first through Ezekiel Ivey, but the Capras responded with three tries in six minutes - by Cody Sanewski, Carter Ford and Banjo Walker - to repcature the lead.
What a difference a week makes for Capras coach Duane Carpenter who was almost speechless after watching his team’s round 2 loss effort.
“Compared to last week, we improved 10 fold right across the park,’’ Carpenter said.
“Our dual contact and inside pressure defence was outstanding but we got the points on board by holding onto the football and completing our sets,’’ he said.
Carpenter said the performance was an important “stepping stone’’ toward playing Townsville Blackhawks next weekend.
Capras fullback Seth Carpenter was outstanding, as was prop Baylee Meilland and edge backrower Jett Day, while Simon Green made a stunning return from an ankle injury.
But Carpenter also had high praise for the kicking game of halfback Isaac Walker.
Northern Pride coach Chris Shepperd said his team dropped too much ball.
Best for the pride was middle forward Saxon Vizard who did his best upfront, while halfback Chase Sheppard shone despite his team lacking ball control.
At Pizzey Park, Burleigh Bears had a 20-10 win over Norths Devils with prop Joshua Siulepa leading the charge.
After an even opening half an hour, the Bears gained the upper hand through tries by Sam Stephenson (twice) and Billy Wellard to lead 16-nil.
But two quick tries by Norths pair Flynn Madders and Arthur Folau put Norths right back in the match to set up a thrilling finish.
Norths had to be the team to score next but it was Bears Amarni Ngaropo who crossed the line and Burleigh had survived the scare.
“The boys stayed in the grind and came out on top,’’ said Bears Connell coach Paul Kuhnemann.
“Their energy in defence was outstanding and the way they stayed calm in attack to capitalise on the field position and possession was exceptional.’’
Norths coach Rob Tanielu said second rower Presley Folau and lock Maddox Goodwin were his best players.
In Maryborough, the Clydesdales made their journey north worthwhile with a hard fought 20-12 victory over Wide Bay Bulls.
The Clydesdales worked their way to a 14-nil lead after three tries to Matthew Drews, Hudson Heath and Noah Rogers.
Coach Scott Schultz said his team’s defence to keep the opposition to 12 points was outstanding in what was a good match between the two sides.
“Our effort in defence to keep them to 12 points.
But he was still seeking better ball control.
He said prop Paddy Muir was outstanding while in the backs winger/fullback Ben Waters shone.
Wide Bay coach Craig Brough said his boys “dug deep and played extremely well’’.
“But there were just a few simple errors which the Clydesdales capitalised on,’’ Brough said.
Best for Wide Bay were halfback Dawson Hess who played a “blinder’’, while lock Noah Law, centre Tom Morcom and prop Jack Schmidt were great.
HARVEY NORMAN 19s
The Townsville Blackhawks scored six tries to two in defeating Mackay Cutters 28-10 in Harvey Norman Women’s under 19s.
Four tries in 13 minutes - by Theophelia Mosby-Nona, Jacinta Maurangi, Niquita Peters and Jairel-Ellen Martin-Savage - did plenty of damage, although to the Cutters credit they scored last through Kayla Shepherd.
Blackhawks coach Rob Hall said the plan was to take on the opposition through the middle and they did just that despite slipping behind four-nil after a storm had swept the ground.
“They got stuck in and stuck to the task,’’ Hall said.
Prop Mosby-Nona led the way while halves Jairel-Ellen Martin-Savage and Meg
O’Brien shone, but Player’s Player was back rower Prue Peters.
Mackay coach Matt Sanders gave full credit to the Blackhawks, but he said his team’s ball control was poor. “We gave the ball up too easily,’’ he said.
Best for the Cutters was middle forward Lily Peacock who never gave up.
Mackenzie Zeller scored twice in the first half as the Clydesdales got over the top of Wide Bay 16-4 in Maryborough in a match which was shortened when Clydesdales’ Rachael Evans (neck) was injured.
Clydesdales coach Russell Jones said Evans was smiling and had feeling but was taken for medical check-up as a precaution.
He said during the match his team scrambled well and were strong on the edges.
“They have the tools and ability. I just guide them,’’ he said. “They are a young side - 11 of the 17 are under 17 - but are responsive and keen to learn.
On the Sunshine Coast, The Falcons’ girls had eight different try scorers in beating Ipswich Jets 44-6.
Ipswich tried to cling on after trailing 16-nil, but three tries in eight minutes to Tarnee Evans, Nancy Sullivan and Mikayla Sweeney blasted Sunshine Coast away from their rivals.
To the credit of Ipswich they scored last through Relna Hosea.
Falcons coach Michael Jeffs captain Malia Ting had a blinder while the entire forward pack “kept our opponents on the back foot all of the game’’.
Jeffs said centre Shannyn Harm was solid with and without the ball, while Nancy Sullivan defended at times like Trevor Gillmeister, the former State of Origin great, while also hitting the ball up consistently.’’
Ebony Raftstrand-Smith scored three tries as Bears had a nice win over Norths Devils, 48-14, at Pizzey Park.
The exciting Keebra Park SHS product then celebrated into the second half when her sister, Skye, raced over for Burleigh’s fourth try.
“We made too many mistakes in the first half which kept the Devils in the game,’’ said Bears coach Sunny Gerrard.
“At halftime we spoke about our standards.
He said middle forwards Danni Perese, Makia Lehrer. Simon and Sunny Gerrard were “excellent’’.
“Hooker Lily Kolc was great and able to capitalise on our momentum,’’ he said, also praising Tavarna Papalii, Rilee Jorgenson and Layne Northey and of course Raftstrand-Smith.
The Brisbane Tigers 19s also warmed their engines for the season with a nine try, 44-4 win over Redcliffe Dolphins at Brighton.
Edge forward Lena Faavae crossed for three tries after Tigers captain Shaylee Joseph had set the wheels in motion by scoring two minutes into the game.
Norths coach Shane Morris said his team had their best half of football this season.
“It is about development and they are getting better every week,’’ Morris said.
He said they probably ran out of gas in the second half but were headed in the right direction.
Morris said his edge forwards Natasha Thomas and Fiona Jahnke did well, while winger Ava Walters and fullback Hunter Davis also lead the way.
And in Bowen, Northern Pride had a rousing win, 28-20 in a five tries to four thriller against Capras.
After leading at halftime, Pride lost the lead but when then home with tries to Aerielle Hobbler and Kimberley Bryant.
Capras had hit the front when Luca Howarth crossed in the 47th minute.
Northern Pride coach Flori King said her team;s best was Montana Kusu who lead the hit ups, whilie Chantelle Trnka’s defence was outstanding. Hobbler was also a gun on the day.
“I am proud of the girls. This will give them confidence,’’ King said.
“The ladies were nervous and there was dropped ball and they were not completing sets.’’
But she said their effort was outstanding and it was a credit to the off-field staff as well.
In today’s late game, the Wynnum Manly Seagulls triumphed 36-10 over Souths Logan.
The Seagulls lead 20-nil after 20 minutes when Jaydah Tofae, Destiny Mino-Sinapati, Emma Barnes and Ellie Williamson raced over.
Williamson’s astute goal kicking added to Wynnum’s dramatic start to the match.
Souths Logan must have been shell shocked, but to their credit they only lost the second half 8-4, displaying plenty of grit in the heat.
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