Colts 1 club rugby’s team of the week features GPS marathon man Riley Canavan - again
The Colts 1 club rugby Rd 11 team of the week features a whiz kid from Souths, a fierce flanker from GPS, a national touch football representative from Brothers and a kicking king from Tigerland. MORE HERE.
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GPS flanker Riley Canavan produced the best performance of the season in a losing side during round 11 of the Colts 1 club rugby competition.
Canavan’s exhaustive 70-minute performance against Souths earnt him top billing in the latest team of the week after the blindside flanker provided GPS half a dozen extra possessions with his breakdown brilliance.
Canavan could have had a handful turnovers as well when he latched onto the ball and was not granted a penalty.
His extremely impressive performance came in a 52-27 loss against Souths who returned from 20-nil down and put the afterburners on in the second half to run away from the Gallopers.
Elusive outside backs Gideon Lasaqa and Viliame Lacudru were glorious performers, taking Souths (34 points) to second on the ladder with time ticking for other teams to get its act together as we approach finals.
Importantly Wests got back on track with a 32-23 win over Easts after they had trailed by double digits in the first half.
Sunnybank staved off Brothers 25-21 in a frantic match to stay in the finals hunt while University showed its class in a 45-15 win over Norths.
The current standings are: Uni (40), Souths (34), Bond Uni (34, 9 games), Easts (32), Wests (28), Sunnybank (23), GPS (18), Norths (16) and Brothers (9, 9 games).
COLTS 1 ROUND 11 TEAM OF THE WEEK
15. Gideon Lasaqa (Souths)
Lasaqa could have been a part of Souths’ premiership team in 2024 but the little ripper was playing second grade football with distinction.
Now back where he belongs, age wise, the diminutive Lasaqa is causing headaches left, right and centre with his jinking feet and blinding acceleration.
He scored twice at the weekend, both second half beauties when Souths swooped while GPS tighthead Harry Gould was in the bin for a tackle above the sternum.
14. DJ Volaivalu (Wests)
Is Colaivalu one of the competition’s best players kept on ice?
A difference maker on Saturday despite playing plenty of Colts 2s this year, the rapid Colaivalu flew in off his wing to apply so much pressure on Easts’ back three players.
He was the fastest on the field and his cover defence was just tremendous in quelling anything Easts sent down his corridor.
Electric with limited touches, Colaivalu threatened to open the game up early however Easts scrambled very well to contain him on the far touchline.
It’s only a matter of time before he takes off.
13. Campbell Rolfe (Brothers)
The makeshift outside centre was brilliant despite his limited experience in the position.
A tremendous fullback at school who invoked memories of Jock Campbell, Rolfe ran his heart out in the first half and was in everything.
The side-stepping whiz from the Australian Touch Football Under 20s Mixed team made the right passes and decisions under pressure after he had broken the line and was quality on the outside of fearless No.12 Sam Condon who ran with no remorse.
12. Sam McGahan (Easts)
The Easts flyhalf had a task on his hands confronting Wests halves Jamie Alexander (halfback) and Will Nason (flyhalf), two of the best in the business.
He passed the exam with flying colours.
McGahan’s big boot was like a saving grace for Easts. His ability to exit under pressure and chew off extra metres whenever he could was a big reason why Easts looked capable of winning about halfway through the second stanza.
McGahan’s improved running game was best seen when he faked to pass, attacked the line and came out the other end and created a Tom Stoddart try.
11. Viliame Lacudru (Souths)
One half of a dynamite one-two punch from Souths that decimated GPS — the other half is Lasaqa — Lacudru looked untouchable when in full flight.
He was sealthy out wide and when the ball found him off he went, weaving in and around confined spaces to spring free from any Gallopers’ grasp.
He scored twice and has Finn Mackay to thank for some of the playmaking wizardy which set him on a path to success.
10. Finn Mackay (Souths)
James Prole and Spencer Alcock were kicking wonderfully to challenge Souths’ back three defenders and Mackay returned serve with a booming left-foot kick that gave Souths a platform to mount its comeback.
After conceding the first three tries, Mackay moved in with some subtle passing across both sides of his body to set multiple teammates on a beeline to the stripe.
He also kicked six-from-eight off the tee with several sideline conversions.
9. James Prole (GPS)
Prole was simply superb before leaving the field after he came off second best pilfering.
But the fact the scrumhalf was attacking the breakdown in the first place showed just how willing he was to get his hands dirty for the cause.
He has been a revelation for GPS and his outstanding territory kicking was a big reason why GPS raced to 20 points within the first half an hour.
His service was accurate as per usual, but it was his deep kicking that served his side best.
8. Angus Kelly (University)
Kelly continued to show he is a force to be reckoned with as a No.8.
His truck work got Uni over the gain line but with his tricky offload game the Red Heavies were able to draw in more defenders and get Norths back peddling even further.
Kelly, who is coming into his own playing a new role, also made a handful of telling tackles when Norths were mounting pressure.
7. Trent Picot (Souths)
Picot spearheaded Souths’ forwards charge that went hammer and tongs with GPS before outgunning them in the final quarter.
With prop Lucas Oxley, No.8 Ben Davis and flanker Huw Griffiths also excellent, Picot gave GPS a reality check at the breakdown with his pilfers and also showed his strength when making inroads in pick-and-drive assaults.
He burrowed his way over with brute strength late in the game and was full of energy in an effective 70-minute performance.
6. Riley Canavan (GPS)
Canavan cut an inspiring figure on Chipsy Wood Oval.
He is not the biggest or fastest, but jersey No.6 was the most evident of all because Canavan worked harder than anyone to be in the right spots when it mattered.
The tireless breakaway was spirited in defeat, getting his hands on the ball more than the industrious Picot and also driving GPS forward with his unrelenting leg drive.
You just had to be there to witness Canavan’s colossal knock.
5. Flynn Martinez-Briggs (Brothers)
Martinez-Briggs was magnificent across 70 minutes against Sunnybank.
He was a spitting image of hard work. Even on the final play as Sunnybank were kicking the ball out to call time, the bounding lock hurtled towards his opponent trying to charge the ball down.
It typified what was a tireless, workmanlike performance based on determination, effort and execution.
4. Xavier Grambower (University)
Third-year Colts 1 stalwart Grambower played openside flanker but to squeeze the top round 11 players into the team he has been named in the second row.
The fine forward utility carried with a point to prove and cleaned out and distributed the ball with the same unrelenting attitude.
With effort and sheer will, Grambower paved the way for University’s 30-point topping of the Eagles.
3. Archie Smith (Wests)
Smith was like a sledgehammer at times with his jalting defence stunning the Easts players when he flew out of the line.
The powerful Smith was strong as an ox in a Wests scrum that went forward all day and in defence, he thwarted anything the Easts tight five had when they got in close.
2. Dre Loughlin (Sunnybank)
The Sunnybank hooker was simply superb.
Not for the first time this season.
While those outside the Dragons’ lair would be unaware of just how good the hooker can be, teammates would not be.
The Kelston Boys High product from Auckland is so good at making plays when it matters and his lineout-throwing accuracy and rolling-maul metres was through the roof in a game of inches.
1. Reagan Knowles (Brothers)
The skillful loosehead was at large against Sunnybank on Saturday.
Somewhat of a revelation for The Brethren this year, Knowles has contined to repay the faith of coach Josh Neilsen who picked him from the outset and has been a big fan of his progression.
The offload-loving prop made all the right decisions on when to release a pass and was hard to handle when he took the ball forward.
He also stood his ground in the scrums on a day where himself and tighthead Conrad Scott held up their end of the bargain.
UNLUCKY OMISSIONS
Zack Sinclair (Norths)
The Norths breakaway was here, there and everywhere at University on Saturday.
The big man made 26 tackles and 14 carries in a whole-hearted performance that demanded praise.
Ben Kluck (Norths)
Kluck, the other Norths flanker, also got down and dirty to give Norths its best chance against a white-hot Uni outfit.
Kluck’s output is as reliable as any in this competition and the flame-haired flanker was indeed busy as per usual disrupting a lot of the Red Heavies lineout ball.
Will Kartelo (Easts)
Kartelo was responsible for delivering the best finish to a try seen all year when he pulled of a Xavier Coates type finish in the right corner.
The Speedy Gonzales from St Laurence’s College also scored another try on a day where he made no mistakes and had the extra gear needed to finish off tries and get on the outside of his opponents.
Nate Wines (Brothers)
Wines made an immediate impact returning to the Brothers starting lineup.
The blindside flanker was strong over the ball and it yielded a few penalties, while his pressurising speed in the defensive line was matched wonderfully by his physicality and effective tackling.
He was excellent for 70 minutes, alongside tireless locks Martinez-Briggs and Harrison Angel.
Mattias Agent (Sunnybank)
Agent made a telling impact again for the Dragons.
Against a hungry Brothers outfit that tried hard all game, Agent’s work in the lineouts was a godsend because Sunnybank were able to dictate terms and prevented Brothers from getting clean ball away.
He also scored a cracking try in a low-scoring affair, while his safe hands and mobility across the park saw him regularly give the Dragons a strong run or quick pass to teammates.
Flanker Tane Gregory, flyhalf Joseph Cummins and No.13 DJ Manase were also very good against a deserving Brothers outfit.
Special mentions: Joseph Cummins (Sunnybank), Will Nason (Wests), Tom Doe (Wests), Will Pascoe (Wests), Joe Stoddart (Easts), Royden Fakaosilea (Sunnybank), Sam Condon (Brothers), Charlie Johnstone (Brothers), Charlie Bird (Wests), Noah Rauluni (Easts), Oli Aleman (Norths), Mitch Waldon (Uni), Hugh Chapman (Uni), Ben Davis (Souths).
Originally published as Colts 1 club rugby’s team of the week features GPS marathon man Riley Canavan - again
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