Stunning upset highlights colts 1; women’s wrap
Club rugby: The upset win of the season highlighted another exciting round of colts 1 and women’s club rugby.
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A devastating first half surge created an unsurpassable advantage as Norths generated the upset of the colts 1 season so far to down the Wests Bulldogs at the Kennel yesterday.
The Eagles soared to win 43-28, producing a 35-7 first half advantage which could not be reeled in by the Bulldogs.
With inspiring lock Jack Small leading the way, and in form fullback Hamish Muir starring, Norths twice scored tries from deep inside their territory to produce some of the best rugby one could wish to see.
Importantly Norths also scored the first try of the second half when Small swung off a maul and propelled himself over the line.
At 43-14 could Wests comeback? No.
But that did not stop them from trying as they attacked through the scrum and challenged Norths defence from sideline to sideline.
But Norths held firm. “I am not sure if we would have done that this time last year,’’ said Norths coach Dan Ritchie, praising his team’s defence.
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Wests did out score Norths in the second half, with halfback Mikaire O’Neill sparking his side and impressive lock Emerson Treasure scoring, but it was a bridge too far.
“I am really proud of the way we started and to be honest we really blew them off the park in the first half,’’ Ritchie said.
“Our support play was great, our set piece was the best it had been all season and it really gave us a very good platform.’’
He heaped praise of Small and Muir, along with flanker Leo Langbridge but said his captain George Stokes was tremendous the way “he led us around the park.’’
Wests coach Rob Roiri said his team came down to earth which was probably not a bad thing.
Along with Brothers, second placed Wests had been the form team over the last six weeks, but not yesterday.
“Norths came up with a really good plan and caught us off guard,’’ praised Wests coach Roiri.
“The biggest thing from our point of view from this is understanding we need to prepare well.
He said it was important his players realise they were not “bullet proof’’ and that “this competition is strong’’.
“So if we are not prepared or focused on where we want to go, we will have our pants pulled down.’’
Bulldogs forward trio Emerson Treasure, Alec Robinson and Ethan Willis were their best.
On the Gold Coast, Bond Uni took it to Brothers before the Butcher Striped boys pulled clear in the second half, eventually winning 41-14.
Brothers coach Greg Beaver said Bond was physical and “were up for the fight’’ and as a result he was delighted with Brothers’ resilience.
He said Brothers were able to absorb their pressure and then play some excellent rugby in the attacking zone.
“And in the second half we came over the top of them,’’ he said.
“I thought we controlled the ruck speed on our side of the ball and defensively we were really combative,’’ he added.
Best for Brothers was No.8 Tevita Mapa, fly half Harry Grant and flanker Oliver Harvey in his first full game for the side this season.
Winger Rob Mapa also shone while fullback Athen Waia-McGuiggan was outstanding.
Best for Bond Uni was again prop Harrison Usher, along with Caid Jenkins and Zane Misios.
In other colts 1 games GPS defeated Souths 29-21 while University of Queensland beat Sunnybank 57-12.
University coach Matt Ingram said his team’s win was highlighted by his team taking advantage of a weight of possession.
“We rode our weight of possession and territory in the first half to cash in during the second with some free spirited play,’’ he said.
“Our set piece dominance gave us a platform to be able to launch in attack and relieve pressure.’’
Sunnybank coach Brendan Underwood said his side did very well in the first half.
“It was an exceptional first half by us but a few rock stars came on the field for Uni in the second half and their pack stepped up,’’ Underwood observed.
“Uni were a lot more agile than us and got around the corner hard and our boys dropped off.
“A few quick tries, then we lost our way,’’ he said, adding discipline fell away.
He said Dragons fullback Moses Jones did very well, but as a team Sunnybank “lost their way.’’
At Ashgrove, the son of a gun scored one of five tries as the Galloping Greens continued to find some confidence with a eight point win over the improving Souths.
Outside back Ronan Jensen, whose father Mark played more than 100 first grade games for the club during the late 1980s and early 1990s, scored while in form tight forward Michael Toohey scored two tries late.
GPS’ better performance has coincided with the return of talented No.10 Seb Sialau, while their Player of the Year to date, No.8/lock Stuart Tualima continued his fine form as did inspiring flanker Lachlan Howse.
“I liked our fight yesterday, coming back from 14-nil down’’ said coach Sio Kite.
“We just stuck at it and eventually got on top of them.’’
Souths coach Cian O’Connor watched his side slip away after weeks of progression.
“We played very poorly by our standards,’’ he said, adding halfback Willem Johnstone and winger Ryley Beriton played well.
COLTS 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK
Fullback: Oliver Muir (Norths)
Wing: Athen Waia-McGuiggan Brothers)
Outside centre: Connor McFarland (Uni)
Inside centre: Tom Lynagh (Uni)
Wing: Rob Mapa (Brothers)
Fly-half: Harry Grant (Brothers)
Halfback: George Stokes (Norths)
No.8: Tevita Mapa (Brothers)
Flanker: Stuart Tualima (GPS)
Flanker: Leo Langbridge (Norths)
Lock: Jack Small (Norths)
Lock: Lachlan Shaw (Uni)
Prop: Harrison Usher (Bond)
Hooker: Michael Toohey (PGPS)
Prop: Kerisiano Sami (Wests)
Reserves: Oliver Harvey (Brothers), Lachlan Howse (GPS), Willem Johnstone (Souths), Alec Robinson (Wests), Moses Jones (Sunnybank), Fergus Nasser (Uni), Zane Misios (Bond), Caid Jerkins (Bond), Lachlan Rous (Uni), Lachlan Howse GPS).
In women’s action, University claimed a 14-12 win over Sunnybank in the match of the round, GPS fought hard to down Souths 17-nil while Wests enjoyed a 53-nil victory over Norths.
Wests scored nine tries, with Briana Dascombe crossing for three of them.
Other try scorers were Maddi Mellish, Joana Ta’ale, Maraea Tupai, Jodis Usher and Kimberley Crawford.
Bulldogs coach Ernest Skelton said Dascombe and Ash Lee were tremendous, with Dascombe’s attack and Lee’s defence shining.
“And also our players off the bench were outstanding, especially Jodie Usher,’’ he said.
University scored their points against the Dragons courtesy Machiko Silila and Caitlin Urwin, while Vetekina Teresa Aho-Fangaloka crossed for Sunnybank.
Uni coach Derby Malaulau said Caitlin Urwin was outstanding, with her defence “dominant everytime’’.
Easts, Bond and Brothers did not play, with Brothers deciding to forfeit its match due to the number of injuries and unavailability.
GPS coach Mutch Kite said Diuna Adi, celebrating her 70th cap for GPS, led the way in attack and defence for the Gallopers.
“Heliena Young was also great in attack on her return play at centre,’’ added GPS coach Mutch Kite.
Young was new to the position but threatened all day, and scored two tries.
New GPS prop Teresabel Lamanu was strong in the set piece and dominated with her carries as well.
“I was happy with our defensive effort but we have to improve our attack,’’ Kite said.
Souths coach Baldwin said Morgan SMith set a high standard for his side and “really took the fight to GPS’’.
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