Queensland Premier Rugby: Five things we learned, Round 14

After upsets galore in the previous round, last weekend’s Hospital Challenge Cup was more predictable. Here are five things we learned from Queensland Premier Rugby Round 14.

AFTER Round 13 delivered numerous upsets, Round 14 of the Hospital Challenge Cup was more predictable, with the arguable favourites claiming the win in all four matches. Here are five things we learned from this past weekend of Queensland Premier Rugby action.

1. Easts return to the winners’ circle

After falling to Bond University in Round 13, the Tigers bounced back with a bonus-point 38-10 win over Sunnybank at Oldmac Oval.

Easts opened the scoring through Richie Asiata, before Matt Gordon busted through the Dragons line to put Landon Hayes over for his first of the afternoon.

A sole penalty from Tim Sippel was all the Dragons could muster in the first half, seeing Easts lead 14-3 at the break.

Despite an entertaining try for Sunnybank winger Josh Coward down the right flank, the second half was all Easts with towering Fijian Jale Vakaloloma bagging a double and Braden Shiller crossing from close range, before Landon Hayes ran away for his second of the afternoon.

The Tigers have a bye this weekend, which gives fifth-placed Bond the chance to jump them on the ladder, but they will need a bonus-point win over second-placed Souths.

2. Sargaent at arms delivers for Bond

Bond needed to find somebody to don the 10 jersey with Dion Taumata ruled out and Mitch Third yet to return from injury.

Regular outside back Hayden Sargeant stepped up, helping steer the Bull Sharks to a 19-12 win.

Hayden Sargeant delivered for the Bull Sharks.

The Bond coaching staff said post-match they were missing the tactical game-play kicking of their regular flyhalves, which saw them launch long range attacking raids.

The first try of the match saw Joey Fittock break the Brothers’ defensive line within his own half, before combining with Adam Gauder to eventually put Dan Boardman over the line.

The next try saw Tai Ford make half a break from a pick and drive, offloading to Harry Nucifora, who darted across the chalk.

Nucifora converted his own try to give the home side a 14-nil lead.

Harry Wilson managed to scramble over the line from close range to put Brothers on the board before halftime, 14-7.

A long-range break from Pierce Fitzgerald eventually led to a try for Gauder, extending Bond’s lead to 19-7.

Faa Lafaitele crossed for Brothers late, but Bond held the visitors at bay to claim the win, keeping pressure on the top four.

3. Cooper returns on Souths Old Boys Day

Magpies young and old flocked to The Nest at Chipsy Wood Oval for Old Boys Day on Saturday, and the Premier Grade side were happy to welcome back Quade Cooper for the clash.

Cooper made his presence known early, with a flick pass to Emori Waqavulagi for the first try of the match before scoring himself from close range.

Richard Kingi dived over for the home side’s third try before another Cooper flick-pass put Simana Halaifonua under the posts.

But, rather than scoring himself, Halaifonua gifted the try to Tautalatasi Tasi, seeing Souths head into halftime ahead 26-nil.

The Bulldogs looked as though they had been collared, but lock Rob Puli’uvea took it upon himself to pull his side back into the match, crossing for two tries to narrow the score to 26-12.

Joey Lalagavesi scored a try of his own in the corner before making a break to set up Cooper’s second try of the match, extending the Magpies’ lead to 38-12.

Leighton Ireland burrowed over for a pick-and-drive try for Wests, before Puli’uvea put Joseph Vauanivono over underneath the posts with a well-timed offload, narrowing the margin to 38-24.

Junior Wallabies hooker EFI Ma’afu crossed for Wests’ fifth try to put them within striking range of Souths, 38-31, but the home side held them at bay to claim the win.

After the match, Cooper enjoyed a catch-up with Fijian international Nemani Nadolo, a former schoolboy and under-age backline partner in Queensland teams.

Good to see the bro @nemani_nadolo again.. we first played together for @southsrugby as 13year olds and went on to be team mates for many years through various high school & under age teams.. great to see you killing it on the world stage & @top14rugby .. all love mana 🖤 pic.twitter.com/HfRcXq1fmw

— Quade Cooper (@QuadeCooper) July 1, 2018

4. A tale of two halves at Yoku Road

The clash between GPS and Norths at Yoku Road on Saturday saw two very different halves of Rugby unfold.

In the first half, North competed with the Gallopers and only had their line breached twice to trail 10-nil at the break.

The Eagles started off the second half well, crossing for their first try through Reece Hewat, before the match turned on its head and GPS began their onslaught.

The home side scored a total of 42 second-half points, with Matt Gicquel and Isaac Cavu both crossing for doubles, while James Tuttle slotted six conversions and scored a try of his own to amass 17 individual points.

Matt Gicquel in Premier Rugby action.

Norths crossed once more through Jordan Luke, but the Eagles struggled to keep up to GPS’ frantic pace, suffering a 52-14 loss.

The win saw the Bunter Bowl stay at Yoku Road for another week, but with a hard run home for the Gallopers with matches against Wests, University, Souths and Easts to come, who knows where the Bowl will reside at seasons’ end?

5. Next crop of Country talent deliver in Goondiwindi

The 2018 Queensland Premier Rugby season has seen plenty of graduates from the Queensland Country Heelers program excel.

Former Maroochydore Swan and towering lock Sam Von Blanckensee has been in fine form for Souths, Townsville’s Shane Kennedy has found a home in the 15 jersey at Tigerland, Charters Towers junior John Vinson has worked his way into the Wests forward pack, Maleny’s Matt Gicquel is on fire for GPS and former Noosa Dolphin Wilson Enoka is packing down in the frontrow for Norths.

The 2018 Queensland Country Heelers seniors and colts claimed 20-12 and 21-19 wins over NSW Country respectively on Saturday afternoon in Goondiwindi, with the two games showcasing the best regional talent in Queensland.

Queensland Country Heelers defeated NSW Country.

With over 1000 local Rugby supporters converging on Riddles Oval, home of the Goondiwindi Emus, it was a great celebration of grassroots Rugby and we can expect to see some of the best players from the Heelers try their hand at Premier Rugby in the near future.