2025 QLD NRL Schoolgirls Cup: St James College v Stretton State College, Round 7

Stretton Storm have opened the door to semi-finals after snatching a win at the death over rivals St James College. Watch the REPLAY.

Inspirational captain Layla Satui almost powered St James College to a maiden win in the Schoolgirls Cup, but it wasn’t to be with a Stretton Storm try in the final stages dashing their hopes.

The diminutive dummy-half was involved in everything for St James, and even crossed the line in the second-half, but it wasn’t enough in the 28-26 loss.

The two-point win has opened the door for Stretton to make a late play at a finals berth in the Pool A semi-finals.

WATCH THE FULL MATCH REPLAY IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

A try in the opening set of the match from St James captain and hooker Layla Satui got her side up and about before Bulldogs-signed NRLW prospect Leevi Williams got her hands on the footy, scoring two stunning first half tries herself.

St James needed a spark and they found just that through Satui once again, marching her side 70m up the field from three straight dummy half runs.

It was then a steaming Kina Vainga who sliced through the Stretton defence to score under the posts and take a 2-point halftime lead thanks to two successful Lenore Georgetown conversions.

The second half started with both side’s standouts battling it out on their own as Satui stripped the ball from Williams before darting away and scoring her second try of the match untouched.

Minutes later it was a lovely left foot step from St James fullback Atheena Almencion that gave her side a handy 12-point lead.

Stretton hooker Cornelia Motuliki-Tu’aefe was the next player to produce a stunning solo try of her own, scooting out of dummy half and parting the St James defensive line before beating the fullback and scoring under the posts.

Queensland Schoolgirls rugby 7s star Te Rina Pearse was able to find her groove in the second half, shifting from lock into five-eight for this match and exploding with a brilliant try against a backpedalling St James defence.

That try and conversion levelled the scores with 15 minutes to play before Williams took the ball to the line with purpose, drawing in the St James defence and hitting a hard running Pearse who fended off two players to score next to the right upright.

As the clock ticked down, Satui did all she could for her side, spotting yet another gap out of dummy half to score her third try of the match but a failed conversion left the side trailing by two points.

PREVIEW

A trio of powerhouse Stretton State College stars will be hoping they can help lift their side to a much needed victory when they travel to Emerson Park for round seven of the Queensland Schoolgirls Cup.

Waiting for them will be their Brisbane-based rivals St James College who are yet to secure a victory this season.

Stretton sit one spot ahead of St James thanks to a 26-4 victory over Mabel Park in round three.

The 1.30pm clash will be part of a mega Wednesday extravaganza with five matches Live and exclusive on KommunityTV.

Stretton halfback Bella Alo, lock forward Te Rina Pearse and threatening fullback Leevi Williams will be leading the charge once again, according to head coach Brandon Khuu.

“Bella has been strong in every game this season, she’s signed to the Broncos and Leevi is signed to the Bulldogs,” Khuu said.

“Leevi stepped in after TK Enkera-Reveora injured her ACL in the pre-season and Te Rina is coming off another really strong rugby 7s campaign with the Queensland schoolgirls side.”

After back-to-back titles in the Karyn Murphy Cup 9s competition in 2023 and 2024, Khuu said the step up to Schoolgirls Cup had been a great experience for his side.

Te Rina Pearse in action for the Queensland Schoolgirls rugby 7s team. Picture: Rachel Wright/ASRU.

“It’s been a mixed bag of results, we’ve put together some decent performances but also experienced some tough losses,” he said.

“It’s just been inconsistent and that’s through our depth and numbers in comparison to the top teams.”

St James come into the contest after a grand final defeat in their first ever Confraternity Carnival over the school holidays.

“We played St James in a trial match earlier in the season so we know they’ve got some bigger forwards through the middle,” Khuu said.

“It will be a physical battle to start with but hopefully we can move the ball around and beat them on the edge.”

Originally published as 2025 QLD NRL Schoolgirls Cup: St James College v Stretton State College, Round 7