Junior reps Harvey Norman U17, U19 and Connell grand final Players of the Day revealed
Meninga Cup latest, plus junior rep grand final day Players of the Day revealed from the Connell Cup and Harvey Norman U17 and U19 premiership showdowns.
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The Tigers and Burleigh Bears were premiers after the Harvey Norman U17, U19 and Connell Cup U17 grand finals unfolded today.
The Tigers’ girls deservedly won the U17 title 32-4 over a gutsy Sunshine Coast Falcons, then claimed the U19s 30-6 before the Bears edged out the Mackay Cutters 18-12 in the Connell Cup.
HARVEY NORMAN U17s, Tigers v Falcons
THE START
The Tigers power game was evident from the opening set of six when Ta’Akimoeaka-Pulu, Lutu and Henry-Purcell rolled down the field.
A succession of six against compounding the Falcons’ problems, and it was no surprise when a wide sweep involving forwards Pulu and Taofinuu, ended with centre Ebony Tziros scoring.
Pulu’s barge over try and hooker Desic glorious execution of a blindside scrum play which allowed Keki to cross saw the Tigers blow out to an 16-nil advantage.
That power running among the forwards and sledgehammer defence built a castle was never going to be overrun by the Falcons.
Middle forwards Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell, Carayanidis Ta’Akimoeaka-Pulu, Te Ahurei Latu and Charity Faalogo dwarfed their opponents, and from out of their shadow came hooker Enah Desic and halves Charlotte Keki and Tiahna Kanawi who were like puppeteers.
On the other side of the ball, the Tigers’ defence was brutal, with five-eight Keki and edge forwards Peyton Fakaosilea and Leilani Taofinuu leading the way with strongarm tackling.
Smash, bang and crash went the Tigers defenders, monstering their rivals who were struggling to escape the clutches of their bigger rivals.
THE FALCONS’ RESOLVE
At times the grand final was like a frigate taking on a battleship, but despite the Tigers authority through the middle, the Falcons’ skill and spirit was always evident.
Four times the Falcons prevented seemingly certain tries with extraordinary defence, as winger Bowker, centre McDermid, five-eight Bain and prop Grace Brain somehow held tough to prevent tries.
When the Falcons were able to wriggle free of the wrestle, they played their up-tempo game which saw halves Lily Bain and Marley Chan threaten with their run.
Sunshine Coast’s plucky play was rewarded right on halftime with a try. Asha Holmstrom, Chan, Ayslinn Pollock and Bain chain passed to the right, culminating in winger Sailor Bowker sliding over to reduce the margin to 16-4 at halftime
THE SECOND HALF
Disaster struck the Falcons in the opening minute when Tigers pair Keki and Lily Sumner forced a mistake which gifted the Tigers’ attacking ball.
Lutu’s charge and pass in contact to Taylor saw Henry-Purcell and Taofinuu sweep into action, putting centre Tziros over for her second try.
PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Enah Desic (Tigers)
Whatever she has for breakfast on match day morning, she should share with her teammates because it works. Powerful and dynamic, Desic was as effective in the last minute as she was in the first. She hit hard and often in defence, while having vision you can’t teach - and the skills to take advantage of that vision. How appropriate it was that she gave the last pass for the final try, and then kicked a goal after full-time.
Carayanidis Ta’Akimoeaka-Pulu (Tigers)
Ta’Akimoeaka-Pulu was unmatched in front row play on the day, with her strength and leg drive carting her side forward. She was also able to unload to help create one try, and tap on passes to spark other movements.
Riley-Jay Henry-Purcell (Tigers)
The Tigers No.13 was on another playing field in the opening 15 minutes, with her dynamic runs burrowing holes in the Falcons’ defence, while her subtle ball play helped bring edge forward Leilani Taofinuu and the backs into the game.
Charlotte Keki (Tigers)
Keki was a terror, up and in the faces of her rivals in defence, while also taking the ball to the line before unloading which added to the momentum generated by her power forwards. You could see her strength on both sides of the ball.
Sahra McDermid and Zoe Metcalf (Falcons)
Both girls displayed courage under fire, digging their shoulders into their rivals and hitting hard in defence. They both played above their weight.
Pearl Lloyd (Falcons)
Lloyd was brave to the core against hulking rivals, hanging tough and helping the Falcons gain some parity after the Tigers starting middles were spelled. She was effective when angling her runs back behind the ruck.
CONNELL CUP, Burleigh v Cutters
Burleigh Bears captain Tupou Francis was a two try hero as his side headed back down the M1 with another premiership trophy for the famous Gold Coast club.
The Bears beat Mackay Cutters 18-12 after placing a down payment on the premiership with a whirlwind start that wedged open a 12 point margin between the two sides.
From there Burleigh narrowly won a long, sustained arm wrestle which was blown apart when Francis scored a try after surging onto the ball like he had been fired out of a cannon.
Although the Cutters scored late, the Bears had done enough to win.
THE START
Tupou Francis’ dynamic running netted one try, while Cornelius Kelsall delivered a blindside special with a sensational individual effort from a scrum win.
In between the Burleigh’s defence harassed their rivals, with halfback Harvey Smith the leader on the band with advancing, attacking defence.
At 12-nil, and with the heavens opening, the Cutters tried to gain parity - but Burleigh’s dashing start had given the Coast boys dream start in a grand final.
With Eli Cookson and Caleb O’Brien leading the way, the Cutters worked their way back into the game, and it was Cookson who plunged over beneath the posts to reduce the margin to 12-6 at the break.
THE SECOND HALF
Francis scored the decisive try when he came down the middle of the field like he’s been fired out of a cannon. His second half four pointer, which was scored next to the posts, enabled his side to re-establish a 12 point margin for Burleigh. His burst broke a long, engaging arm wrestling.
Mackay hit back late, very late, when one of their best, centre Norman Campbell, plucked down a chip kick by halfback Grange Womal.
MAGIC MOMENT
It had to be Cornelius Kelsall’s try, with the Burleigh No.6 leaving the opposition for dead when he put the foot down to score a 25m solo try off the back of a scrum win.
SCHWENKE’S FINISH
With the Cutters clinging to the coats of their rivals, Burleigh needed an extra burst of energy to break free of their rivals and huge prop Tyrell Schwenke delivered the goods in spades.
PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Tupou Francis (Bears)
Francis was Captain Courage. He knew no fear, running harder the closer he got to the defensive line. His reward was two tries and a premiership. It was not a bad afternoon’s work for the best No.13 in the competition.
Harvey Smith (Bears)
Smith’s attacking defence early set a high benchmark for his team. He went at the Cutters’ attackers like a man possessed, then settled into his game to play a beautifully controlled game in wet conditions.
Fynn Laffranchi (Bears)
He could have made the team for his full length dive catch of a high ball just after halftime - a dramatic snare in the wet. But long before that moment the fullback was in contention with his hard work on both sides of the ball. Another unsung hero for Burleigh was hooker
Axel Friend.
Eli Cookson (Cutters)
Cookson was outstanding, a nuggety, gutsy No.13 or hooker who launched a one man mission to get their side back into the game after Burleigh had stolen a march on their rivals.
It was Cookson who got his side back into the match with a barge over try on the cusp of halftime, while his dynamic leg speed contributed to slight momentum shifts. As fit as a fiddle, he could himself back quickly to ensure he ran the ruck when the Cutters’ back five were trying to work clearances away from their line.
Caleb O’Brien (Burleigh)
O’Brien worked his way into the match the more the game progressed, getting down and dirty. O’Brien was a great wet tracker, hitting and spinning and making the Burleigh defenders struggle to contain his play the balls.
Israel Lotaki and Xhai Waerea (Bears)
Israel Lotaki would take advantage of Kingston Seve’s long striding ruck runs by getting himself into dummy half and leading his team up the field with dynamic darts from Seve’s play the balls.
Xhai Waerea started and finished strongly, with his carries and strength giving the Bears hard earned momentum.
Norman Campbell (Cutters)
The right centre worked hard for his side, vigorously taking early set runs from dummy half while also defending stoutly. He was rewarded with a late try.
HARVEY NORMAN U19s, Tigers v Falcons
The Tigers survived a fright to turn a 6-4 deficit into a marauding 30-6 grand final victory over the Clydesdales.
The Darling Downs’ girls were primed and ready for an ambush, but after the initial shock the Tigers’ pack surged through torrential rain to lay foundations for a comfortable win.
The match was a triumph for Tigers centre Sienna Ibrahim who this season returned from a 12 months lay off (ACL, knee) to score the first and last tries for her side.
Prop Lishainah Ulugia was the most influential forward on the field, and her contribution with the ball went a long way to shifting the momentum of the game.
In the end the Tigers’ forwards were able to play off the back of momentum generated by their back five, and with halfback India Seeto lapping up the heavy conditions, the Tigers were able to position themselves in attack.
This led to barge over tries for Ulugia and Kayleen Takai.
Then prop Kayleen Takai came in for the kill, with a driving tackle dislodging the ball which led to Kameryn Bray scoring.
The Tigers had started so well when
The Clydesdales then settled into their work, with captain Eliza
Morcom and her pack played at speed through the middle to unsettle the Tigers.
With momentum swinging her way, there is no better hooker in the game than Mia Byrnes and she was able to sniff out a try with a typical scamper after Morcom had risen to her feet quickly to play the ball.
PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Lishainah Ulugia (Tigers)
When the match hung in the balance, it was Lishainah Ulugia’s charge at the line which lifted her side from a narrow 8-6 advantage to a 12-6 lead.
Around that try, her power game and ability to unload was a big reason the Tigers were able to swing clear of their rivals.
Sienna Ibrahim (Tigers)
The classy left centre topped and tailed her performance with the first and last tries of the game.
To score first Ibrahim refused to die with the ball, staying alive to plunge over for a tremendous solo try.
She lifted herself in the second half, getting into dummy half and giving her side momentum which enabled her big forwards to alter the flow of the game.
Despite having her knee strapped, she never once hesitated in wet conditions which confirmed her recovery from injury was now complete.
Eliza Morcom (Clydesdales)
She faced towing opponents, but reputations meant nothing to the Clydesdales’ captain whose mobility and footwork around the ruck gave her side some front foot ball to work off.
Morcom was brave to the core. She attacked with her defence and ran with courage against much, much bigger rivals.
Her teammates would have appreciated her guts and grit on grand final day.
Libby Dunn (Clydesdales)
Speaking of courage, Dunn ran headlong into the teeth of the Tigers’ huge pack. Without any thoughts of self preservation she launched herself at her rivals.
One she was cleaned up so comprehensively by her opposite, Porche John, Dunn must have felt like she had just been in a car accident.
But the courageous prop kept coming.
Mia Byrnes (Clydesdales)
Byrnes was a little beauty. Despite the wet conditions not suiting her speed or footwork, she still impacted the match in a performance which included a wonderful solo try.
Fleur Ginn (Tigers)
Ginn was a try saver, and a try scorer. In the scene setting first half she somehow dragged the thundering Sophia Wright to ground with a tackle that saved a certain try, and later won possession for her side with another driving tackle - this time into the ribs.
Then, as the halftime hooter was about to sound, Ginn displayed remarkable footwork in the wet to score.
India Seeto and Liliele Vaitolo (Tigers)
The Tigers’ halfback turned into a mudlark, controlling play beautifully in pouring rain during the second half. Hooker Liliele Vaitolo was also an unsung hero for her handling in the conditions which enabled Seeto to run the side.
MENINGA CUP
Burleigh v Capras
Saxon Innes scored a 95m try as the Bears were whipped up into a 10 try frenzy against an out of sorts Capras in Rockhampton.
Signed by the Broncos, Innes’ try line to try line performance came only after an early blitz which had seen Burleigh sprint in four tries in the opening 15 minutes.
FOUR TRY BLITZ
The Bears won the game in the opening 13 minutes when the back division put together four stunning long distance tries.
Initially both Burleigh wingers looked like they would have been better suited at the national track and field championships, so quickly did they run.
Jesse Rafferty was presented with the ball on the fourth tackle of the game after a left hand shift from Kilarney Lavender to Antonio Verhoeven sent Rafferty sprinting 85m to score.
Not long after right winger Bailey Trew blew out the cobwebs when Jett Bryce sent him on a 80m run to the line.
The rampage continued soon after, with a Bryce thrust followed by a Phillip Coates’ surge that saw the heavyweight centre stride 35m to score.
And then the quickest player on the field, Burleigh fullback Saxon Innes, entered the fray to launch onto a Marley McLaren pass after prop Marley Igasan had passed away from the Capras’ strength - its forwards.
THE DYNAMIC DUO
With the Anton Whaiapu-led forwards enjoying middle field momentum, hooker Hayden Watson and halfback Marley McLaren had a ball.
They triggered attack on both sides of the ruck, while McLaren’s kicking game also yielded a 70m touch finder.
McLaren and Watson are good players at the worst of times, so you can only imagine how dominant the boys were today.
Redcliffe v Blackhawks
Noah Fien put pay to any notions of the Blackhawks swooping late with a defining try in seven minutes from fulltime.
Fien, one of the premier playmakers this season, produced one of his show and go specials down a wide blindside to lift his side to 30-16 and douse embers coming from the Townsville side of the fence.
The Blackhawks had cut the margin to just 10 points after Ethan Rains had scampered over with 12 minutes remaining.
But Fien came up with the big play soon after, and the result was settled. Redcliffe went on to win 46-16.
MATHIAS’ MOMENT
There was a nice moment in the shadows of fulltime when Redcliffe interchange hooker
Mathias Santo-Hero dashed over to score a fine individual try.
A Charters Towers SHS product, how Santo-Hero would have enjoyed that moment against many of the players he grew up either playing with or against.
Clydesdales vs Cutters
The Clydesdales won the first half, but it was the Cutters who surged home with three successive tries to snare a 24-16 victory.
A blistering 85m runaway try on just the second tackle of the match from captain Jack Thorburn was definitely not how the Cutters imagined the match beginning, but it all finished in a blaze of glory for the Mackay boys.
COPIED THE SCRIPT
Three Clydesdales tries from Lachlan Lyons, Lyucian King-Togia and Ethan Brose secured a 16-6 halftime lead, but an array of handling errors saw the Clydesdales slide away at a time when the Cutters gathered momentum.
Leading the recovery for Cutters was metre eating centre Zane Elletson, with his low, hard running vital for the Cutters to kick start their sets.
The short, punchy running lines, led by forwards Harry Considine, Travis Larner and Camden Hopes were impressive - and they were well supported by Toby Woodall before he left the match with an ankle injury.
For the Clydesdales, right edge second rower Lachie Lyons was arguably their best thanks to his constant attacking threat and defensive display.
Halfback Jake Durie was strong as he has been all season as well as fullback Tait Cameron who was a dominant force with the ball in hand with solid kick returns and link up play on both edges.
Falcons vs Seagulls
The Seagulls ran amok, 52-10, completely dominating the Falcons despite wet conditions.
Tweed scored five straight tries by Bodhi Sharpley, Sam Stephenson, Hawaiki Morrison, Zane Harrison and Taj Lateo to quickly put the Falcons in their place.
A spirited charge down and runaway try from gamebreaker Ellyjah Birve helped the Falcons find the scoresheet but a sin bin to Zayde Carfantan was a further invitation to the lethal Tweed attack.
Tweed prop and Titans rising star Cooper Bai punched his way through the middle for a quick double before the Seagulls left edge came alive once again.
ON TOP FOR A REASON
The sweeping effect from the Tweed spine is just great to watch.
Whether halves Zane Harrison and Javon Andrews decide to stick to their side of the field or link up beside each other, the Seagulls outside backs are the big beneficiaries more times than not.
The crisp and accurate service from hooker Hudson Towell allows the attack to play at pace and the numerous short or long options are a gift to the edge forwards, centres and wingers.
Like it has been all season, their creative spark was too much for the Falcons to handle.
Centre Sam Stephenson was able to finish with a hat trick while his outside winger Hawaiki Morrison grabbed two tries of his own.
Despite the one sided scoreline the Falcons never packed up shop, throwing the ball around and creating some exciting attacking displays before the final whistle.
Fullback Nate Thompson was positive in his second game back while rising forward Jackson Koina nabbed a try in his third match of the season.
Souths Logan v Tigers
It wouldn’t be a Saturday afternoon of club rugby league without a David Bryenton special, would it?
This remarkable Brisbane Broncos-junior talent laid on what could arguably be labelled the try of the season for his teammate Jayden Solien in a 32-10 win over the Tigers.
From 50m out Bryenton attacked a wide blindside, first using his pace to blast a hole in the defence, and then using his stepping skills which bewildered willing cover defenders.
In all he beat six tacklers before gifting Solien his try.
It was a special performance which helped the Magpies slip away from the Tigers on a greasy Langlands Park surface.
Later in the match Bryenton produced a wonderful pass in the conditions, cutting out two to find winger Jackson Streader who scored.
MOUNTAIN MAN MOTOOTUA
While Bryenton produced one of the tries of the season, Motootua Kia rampaged his way to one of the best tries by a forward this season.
His team was looking down the barrel, trailing 16-nil, when Kai’s giant frame bashed the door down from 10 minutes out.
He displayed brute strength, but also a wicked step to get his side back into the match.
TACKLE OF THE GAME
Tigers centre Quinn Timperon displayed tremendous toughness to stay on the field and later prevent what seemed a certain try with desperate last gasp defence.
Having earlier been hurt by a dangerous crusher tackle, Timperson stayed in the game to somehow bravely bring Finn Kendell down in wet and slippery conditions with a ball and all tackle.
POESE’S PROMISE
Siosaia Poese remains one of the wildcard youth talents of age group football, and his teasing performance against the Tigers just heightened interest around him.
In the first half, with a movement going nowhere, Poese stopped head, stepped to his right and exploded toward top speed, leaving two defenders grasping at thin air.
The try, Souths Logan’s second, elevated the Magpies to a 10-nil advantage in the week.
Pride v Wynnum Manly, Barlow Park
Wynnum Manly avoided a Northern Pride ambush, wriggling free of a 10 point deficit to win well, 30-22, in a Hot as Hades Cairns on Sunday.
Pride stormed to a 10-nil advantage early after prop Mafiou Cherif and his back five brigade had given their side early momentum.
But the Seagulls’ players then lifted their intensity on and off the ball, slowly but surely turning the tide against the local boys.
UNSUNG HERO JAYCOB
Tries by Maddox Goodwin and Davidson Benioni gave the Pride a roaring start, but that advantage was halved when Wynnum Manly centre Jaycob Kingston-Francis deservedly crossed, sprinting after a Braithen scott grubber kick which had been bobbled in the ingoal area.
Earlier in the match Kingston-Francis had come up with two grand tackles, one of which had saved a try, and another which snuffed out a promising movement.
PEREIRA’S EFFORT PLAY
When Pride forward Jack Rix came thundering through the ruck, you’d have odds of 1000-1 that Wynnum fullback Tyler Pereira would prevent a try - but Pereira did.
Somehow the Iona College old boy managed to hold up the try bound Rix, and from that brave play Wynnum were able to sweep down the field and score their second try courtesy of Wynnum’s best player this season - hooker Preston Cassidy
It was a 12 point turn around because Cassidy’s splendid individual try was converted.
Ironically Pereira was denied a try late in the first half after magnificent cover defence from Rix, who helped prevent a try with help from Lucas Russell.
DASHING DAY
The match was still in the balance when Wynnum Manly prop Cooper Day entered the fray for his second stint, and his performance not only matched Pride’s go forward ace Cherif, it actually went one better.
Day was outstanding, driving his side up and field and off the back of that hooker Preston Cassidy, halfback Braithen Scott and fullback Pereira were able to get their games going.
The game finished with Day scoring a powerhouse try minutes from the end.
Norths v Ipswich
A Carter Welfare solo try was the slender difference in a gripping finale to round nine when Norths outlasted Ipswich 28-22.
Welfare’s show and go five minutes from fulltime raised his side above the high tide mark - but only just.
Norths led 28-16 but in a dramatic conclusion, Ipswich’s left centre beast Tavita Pomale engineered space for his winger Melchizedek Nonu who scorched the turf during a dramatic 70m sprint to the line.
That converted try narrowed the margin to just six points - but Norths had done enough to win.
NORTHS’ FORWARD ONSLAUGHT
The Devils’ won the battle on the back of a relentless forward onslaught that started early, and never relented.
Time and again the Norths’ forwards and outside backs pounded their rivals, either with leg speed from dummy half, or by halves Welfare and Jahrel Iselin-Jansen bringing their forwards cutting back on the inside.
The Devils were extremely disciplined in carrying out the game plan, as one ruck run was followed by an inside ball, which was followed by a ruck run, which was followed by an inside ball.
And so it went on, play after play, minute after minute, with the result crucial tries scored by dynamic fullback Adaquix-Jeramiah Watts-Luke, and also by Charlie Dickson in the first half and Lachlan McCall in the second half.
TACKLE OF THE GAME
Ipswich had recovered from a 12-nil deficit to reduce the margin to 12-10 when Jets’ centre Eli Ortiz went storming down the field.
He looked likely to score until Ruben Webb loomed up from behind, running down his runaway rival and saving a try. It was a great chase by Webb.
COBURN TRIBUTE
Seriously, this kid Lachlan Coburn is unbelievable.
Every week he rolls through a match, taking hard runs, covering in defence around the ruck, roaming to hooker, and retreating back to take more runs and do more tackles.
Take a bow Lachlan Coburn. The Ipswich Jets club is lucky to have you.
Originally published as Junior reps Harvey Norman U17, U19 and Connell grand final Players of the Day revealed
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