Colts 1 club rugby latest: Souths comeback, Easts match-winner headline round 14 action
For the second week in a row three Colts 1 club rugby matches were decided in the final 10 minutes. Read how round 14 unfolded here as Easts win after the hooter and Wests raise the bat.
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The race for a spot in the Colts 1 club rugby finals is hotting up after a thrilling round 14 saw Wests, Easts and Sunnybank find the winner’s post.
As it stands, Bond, Uni, Wests, Souths and Easts make up the top five but Sunnybank’s win over Norths on Saturday also have them trailing in hot pursuit for a finals berth.
For the second week in a row, three of the four games were decided by margins of less than 10 points.
At Sylvan Road, The Bulldogs barked loud and often to defeat a brave Brothers side 50-26 and extend its winning streak out to four.
In an ominous sign for the other eight teams, Wests are hitting its stride at just the right time. They scored eight tries in a fast and expansive showing against Brothers that elevated them into third on the ladder.
Lightning-fast winger DJ Colaivalu, busy outside centre Charlie Bird and stifling backrower Tom Doe were excellent as the Bulldogs’ powerful scrum and well-oiled lineout turned a 26-19 half time lead into a resounding 24-point success.
Brothers, led gallantly by high-class flyhalf Charlie Johnstone, dynamic No.13 Josh Takai and loosehead Conrad Scott, were slow out of the blocks and never led in a match much closer than the scoreline suggests.
SECOND HALF MADNESS
Wests finished with a flurry. The brilliant Bird booted the ball downfield. Doe, running as hard in the 68th minute as he was in the first, hit the breakdown and stole the ball.
Then, former Queensland cricket gun Jamie Alexander brought up the half century for Wests with an accurate crossfield kick that found Ryan Shaw and finished in the hands of tryscoring flanker Alex Watkins.
It was an emphatic way to finish the match by Wests, who have now beaten Brothers, Souths, Uni and Easts over the past month.
Earlier, Wests led 26-19 after a thrill-a-minute first half saw both teams trade blows all the way up to half time. Wests scored first after the break to lead 31-19 when Colaivalu broke a tackle and offloaded back inside to tryscorer Bird.
It was 31-26 when Brothers flanker Oliver Clark wrestled out of a tackle to score.
Wests then hit back to make it 38-26 when a beautiful cut out pass by flyhalf Alexander gave Colaivalu early ball to zip down the far touchline.
Colaivalu, for the second time, found Bird on his inside for a superb try.
COLAIVALU WITH SOME MAGIC
The fast-finishing Wests had got off to a scintillating start when right wing Colaivalu pulled off an impossible right corner finish planting down the ball while his two feet were above horizontal.
Quick service from Stan Keats and a superb tap-on pass by Bird gave Coalivalu a chance at giving his best Xavier Coates impression.
Wests had gone 70m upfield with some expansive play that quickly showed Brothers why they are a finals team.
Less than two minutes later, centre Bird kicked a smart 50-22 towards that same right corner which capped off an impressive first six minutes by the home side.
Fullback Nick Dunstan, who was well positioned all game, scored immediately off the field position Bird’s right boot produced. Wests led 12-nil.
SET-PIECE PRECISION
Brothers, with their first real crack in attack, scored a 40m set-piece stunner to make it 12-7.
A mesmerising backline move off the lineout saw No.13 Takai play it out the back to Sam Condon who dashed clear and scored.
Brothers backed their set-piece again about five minutes later when a lineout win by Harrison Angel culminated in a Conrad Scott rolling maul try. The scores were level at 12-all.
Wests took a different route to score its next try.
After front-rowers Hamish Ward, Harry Solofa and Archie Smith earned a scrum penalty, fullback Dunstan flew in, tapped quickly and sprinted downfield.
He found Keats in support on his inside and before The Brethren could blink, they were down again, 19-12.
In an instant, flyhalf Charlie Johnstone scored for Brothers, with a deft Takai pass putting him through a gap for a 19-all scoreline nine minutes from half time.
Points were being scored at a rapid clip.
Second-row tank Will Pascoe put No.8 Doe over next with a gorgeous inside ball while he looked straight ahead. Wests led 26-19 at the break.
The second half Wests went up a gear, scoring 24 points to Brothers’ seven to pull away at The Kennel.
At UQ, Easts tighthead prop Byron Murphy added to his long collection of pick-and-drive tries with one that will take the cake at the top of the list.
Murphy scored the match-winner after the siren to sink University 36-35 and keep Easts entrenched in the top-four hunt.
His dagger capped off a pulsating clash where the lead to-and-froed between both teams after Easts, at one stage midway through the second half, looked like they were done.
That was until interchange lock Caleb Godfrey produced a stunning passage of play that started a chain reaction which ended in Caden Griffiths scoring and keeping Easts eye-level with the home side.
GODFREY’S GOT THE GOODS
Godfrey’s Tigers missed the mark coming out of the half time break and were on the back foot. University led by eight points and were moving in to score a try that would’ve been telling.
Coming on with his Tigers under the pump, Godrey defended a UQ maul well, scurried wide to make a belting tackle before finding his feet and pilfering the ball.
The penalty he was awarded was complemented by a good Sam McGahan exit kick and in an instant halfback Caden Griffiths was over for an important try.
It was the epitome of hard work from Godfrey and it caused a ripple effect that influenced his teammates to lift late in the game.
“It was critical,” concluded Easts coach Jack Richards.
“He (Godfrey) had a massive influence on the outcome.”
FRANTIC FINISH
Godfrey’s moment of brilliance followed a pitched first-half battle where Easts initially led 14-7 before University took a 21-19 lead.
McGahan, dangerous winger Will Kartelo and Murphy scored for Easts while impressive second rower Raife McKenzie (two tries) and loosehead Kingbenjamin Swerling scored for the hosts.
In the final 10 minutes, University scrumhalf Tom Simpson and makeshift fullback Tafito Ah-Ki scored tries to hand University a slender 35-31 lead. But Murphy, in typical pick-and-drive fashion, moved in to score after the hooter and escape University with an all-important win.
It was the dream result for an Easts side who were well contained well by Uni all game. Telling incursions and offloads from flanker Noah Rauluni and tremendous lineout work from Tom Nadenic played a big part in Easts breaking free of the shackles Uni had them in.
Lock Nadenic, without second-row mainstay Max Campbell and also Tom Stoddart who was injured early, was thrown into the deep end and deliverd. He called the lineouts with little preperation and did a great job.
Nadenic’s tough, mistake-free showing paved the way for his best outing of the year.
The skillful Rauluni was also “very important” in sparking the attack and getting Easts on the front foot when Uni were bashing them with stern defence.
The maturity of flyhalf McGahan was also pleasing for coach Richards.
In a team often going backwards in attack, McGahan kept his head well and made smart decisions.
FINAL SAY
University utlity Ah-Ki was top notch in his first outing at fullback after previously playing halfback. He scored the 66th minute try that had University in the box seat, ahead 35-31.
Flyhalf Isaac McAauliffe, who kicked all five of his conversions, was also sound when controlling where and how Uni attacked.
However University’s decision making at the lineout and sometimes needless kicks were costly.
“We played some really good rugby in between those moments. But just some control issues cost us,” said Uni coach Nick Turnbull.
Lock McKenzie was masterful. He scored twice in a first half that saw Nudgee College old boy John Grenfell make a promising return after a long layoff.
Grenfell had been rehabilitating back-to-back hamstring injuries and his forty-minute reintroduction was “very pleasing”.
“He was good in the set piece and offered plenty around the park,” Turnbull said.
“We are very happy to have him back up and running.”
Uni No.8 Angus Kelly was up to his usual destructive tricks, while lock Mitch Waldon was wonderful alongside lineout-stealer McKenzie.
“He (Waldon) was industrious,” said Turnbull.
Turnbull was also impressed by the output of Marist Ashgrove schoolboy Elliot Aldridge whose fantastic stint off the bench earmarked him as a player of the future at Uni.
“He is showing already he is a Colts 1 player,” Turnbull said of the AIC First XV team of the season No.8.
“He added value in the recycle. He is going to be a wonderful player for us moving in 2026.”
At Chipsy Wood Oval, Souths returned from a 33-19 deficit with 10 minutes to go to draw 33-all with Bond.
It is a crucial result that aids the Magpies finals aspirations.
The race for the finals is as close as it gets and Souths’ gutsy finish at home, to take bonus points, might just play a part when it is all said and done.
Bond got off to a flying start again after recent wins against Easts and Uni. They lead 14-nil and then 14-12 at half time after a resurgent Souths closed the gap approaching the break.
Flanker Fergus Gillan, loosehead Jake Leck and tactical-kicking flyhalf Callum Simpson were all classy for Bond University.
Both Leck and Simpson scored on the day, with Will Carter scoring first to establish a 14-point buffer.
Gillan and Max Angove also scored for Bond in the second half but in the final 10 minutes Souths swooped, first through Harry Newnham and then halfback Jimmy Jackson.
Bond led 33-19 but Souths, displaying the fight and force of a premiership contender, turned possession into points to cap off a second half built on hard work and good ball handling.
Bond could have gone ahead 35-19 when Angove scored the team’s final try but that was the only one of five conversions Simpson missed.
Simpson almost had the chance to win it 36-33 on full time when his penalty goal from far out just fell short.
It was edge of your seat stuff at Souths.
Jimmy Jackson, a Sunshine Coast lad who has been a great find from Souths after he moved from Uni, scored the second of his two tries with three minutes left to make it 33-31.
Flyhalf Pat Brackenrig slotted it from in front to finish what was an impressive performance. He nailed four-from-five off the tee and did a great job in the absence of Finn Mackay (first grade).
Lock Ben Davis, a sporting wonder from St Laurence’s College, continued to make his mark with devastating carries and smart decisions on when to involve himself.
Outside centre Harry Newnham also dented the line at will and was a threat all game.
Lock Jake Stephens, a Toowoomba boy like Newnham, was excellent in his own right.
He finished the game at No.8 and his hard work running the ball was rewarded with a try early in the second half.
Souths outside back Viliame Lacudru and fullback Sam Jones, in his return from injury (fractured thumb), were both illusive in attack and returning Simpson’s kicks.
At Norths, Sunnybank held on to after the home side had returned from 14-3 and 21-8 down to be within striking distance late in the game.
The Dragons won 33-27, escaping Hugh Courtney Oval by the skin of their teeth after Norths rallied well just shy of the break and coming out of it to give themselves a chance to win in the final 10 minutes.
However, with five minutes left the game was called off due to a knee injury to a Sunnybank player. Norths trailed by six and had momentum on their side.
Earlier, Sunnybank wingers Jeriah Vagana and Kiyan Gunewardene scored for an early 14-nil lead that was always stayed in tact.
A try by prop Ephesian Tusa (26th) then made it 21-8 in favour of Sunnybank, with a Will Balke try keeping Norths in it.
Fancy-footed fullback Henry Armstrong scored for Norths approaching half time which then made it 21-15.
Norths were licking their lips entering the second half but Sunnybank pounced first through the athletic Gunewardene (50th), a difference-maker in such a tight tussle.
The match finished with both teams trading blows.
Norths’ Jack Corby scored to make it 28-20 before Dragons fullback Bailey Danielson scored (57th) for a telling 33-20 lead.
When Norths prop Oli Aleman scored with nine minutes to go, the game was up for the taking.
Sunnybank, ahead 33-27, held on for dear life until early stumps in the 65th minute brought up their seventh win.
Norths were always within touching distance but when Danielson scored in the 57th minute for a 13-point advantage, Norths had a mountain to climb.
“Ben Kluck was unbelievable,” Norths coach Bart Ritchie said of his trusty openside who is oustanding more often than not.
Eagles lock Jack Corby was exceptional again, while Brock Powell stole about six lineouts.
For Sunnybank, DJ Manase was top notch at inside centre, Oscar Lane was handy at No.8, and speedy winger Gunewardene was simply elite in his two-try barrage.
Originally published as Colts 1 club rugby latest: Souths comeback, Easts match-winner headline round 14 action
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