How round three of Colts 1 club rugby played out on Saturday
Colts 1 club rugby: The Magpies swooped to win a grand final rematch while a Nudgee Premiership winner fired Norths to victory with a three try effort. Read how round three unfolded here.
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Souths played the near perfect first 20 minutes which underpinned a cherished Crosby Park victory in the grand final replay against Brothers.
With Magpies’ prop Slater Galloway a towering figure, Souths went with the clock to lead 19-nil, before defending Brothers’ forays when the Butcher Striped boys tried to get their game going.
In other matches, Wests defeated Bond Uni 28-24, University beat GPS 19-15 while Norths beat Sunnybank 26-10.
At Crosby Park, prop Galloway was enormous at scrum time and like a Mac Truck rolling down hill with his carries, helping drive his team to victory.
“We challenged him this week to be more physical and I thought he stepped up today,’’ O’Connor said.
Both coaches, Cian O’Connor (Souths) and Greg Beaver (Brothers) acknowledged Souths splendid start which set up the game.
O’Connor said it was a focus of his side to start well, and his team’s execution in the opening stanza met his expectations.
Beaver said his side had just one phase a ball in the first 15 minutes and the manner in which Souths played was a reflection of their coach O’Connor. “They just out enthused us in the first 20 minutes,’’ Beaver said.
“But we just couldn’t get into our groove (after Souths’ opening surge) when we had the footy. We lost out shape and defensively they put a lot of pressure.’’
Despite that, with six minutes remaining Brothers were still in the match as they attacked, 12 points behind, which was a positive. “We were patient today, but we just couldn’t get clicking,’’ Beaver noted.
Souths scrum was enormous and other teams will be concerned heading into games against Souths’ front eight this season.
Souths, waved two penalties earlier, dominated the opening 10 minutes.
A strong charge by prop Nick Sturdy helped lay a platform which created a backs’ ball situation, allowing Xavier Rubens to bounce over in the corner.
More pressure followed and from dropped Brothers’ ball and another two penalties, the precision of the Souths rolling maul was there for all to see after Matthew Robertson had hauled in lineout ball.
The power of the Magpies’ pack then helped propel hooker Cooper Hoare over.
More pressure followed when centre Rubens chased a clearing kick resulting in a turnover. Halfback Harry Raff then kicked his team into attack and from the resulting field position, Souths five-eight Will Nason moved the ball wide to impressive winger Riley Bierton who scored. It was 19-nil.
The Brothers finally gained unexpected ball from the kick off to Bierton’s try, and after sustained pick and drive pressure, promising No. 8 Vaiuta Latu used his big body to find the line. Brothers were back to 19-7.
But Brothers’ continued to leak turnovers, and Souths made them pay when flanker Dian Minnie finished off a withering counter attack sparked by Bierton’s midfield chip and chase. It was enterprising rugby which stretched Souths lead to 24-7.
Brothers had to be the next to score as the clock ticked toward halftime, and they were when prop Rory Beech found himself one-on-one after Brothers had launched a pick and drive assault off lineout ball.
There were two big moments in the defence in the second half, one six minutes from full-time when Souths collectively repelled Brothers, and another occasion when Magpies winger Ohorei Totirewa denied Brothers halfback Will Knight a try.
The movement had been sparked by athletic lock Charlie Stack, Brothers’ best player today.
Souths coach O’Connor praised his team’s defence. “Brothers can come at you any time, and we closed them out,’’ he said.
Aside from prop Galloway, No. 7 Minnie was strong for Souths, including some crucial steals at the breakdown, while No. 8 Cadell Rees did what coach O’Connor wanted.
As mentioned Stack was strong for Brothers, flanker Pat Dallimore was outstanding and No. 8 Latu promising, while Harvey showed glimpses at outside centre.
On the Gold Coast, the Bulldogs produced a rollicking second half playing with the wind to edge past Bond Uni in a clash which could have gone either way.
Wests won 28-24, turning a 17-7 halftime deficit into victory. However, the game finished with Bond Uni hard on attack and in the end the Bulldogs were relieved to get the points.
With a variety of tactical kickers playing field position in the second half, Wests forwards were able to win the contest when their side needed it most.
Bond’s pack was confronting throughout, shading Wests in the scrum and winning plenty of battles around the field.
But no one could deny Wests its away victory, a performance highlighted by centre Dom Kallquist’s performance both with the ball - he scored two tries - and his hard running.
Open side flanker Charlie Cook also did well for Wests.
Coach Phil Mooney was pleased to get the road victory, but acknowledged his team still had plenty of room in which to evolve.
Bond coach Rico Gear said his group displayed great character at the end when they fought so hard to try and win the match.
“We were unlucky not to get a penalty at the end with Wests on the ropes,’’ he said.
While the scrum did well, the Bond line out requires more work, however.
Winger Hunter Robinson had a terrific game for Bond, while flanker Jo Murray was a handful.
At Yoku road, a grudge match unfolded between GPS and University with the latter prevailing 19-15 after a tense final 10 minutes.
GPS had their chance late, but dropped ball and a not straight line out throw prevented them from landing the go-ahead punch as the rain began to pour down.
It was a gruelling battle upfront, with countless forwards pouring out 80 minute efforts.
Nick Harper, Pat Gavin, George Griffiths, Ewald Kruger of GPS, fought hard to combat rival 800 minute mountain movers Sowerby, Barney Radel, Robinson and others.
It’s worth noting breakdown brute Tom Williams, the GPS No.8, was tremendous when on the field.
Twice he got GPS out of danger with pilfers.
University flyhallf Isaac McAuliffe had a great day with the boot, relieving pressure from his side after ill-discipline starved them of possession and field territory in the first half, which GPS won 15-12.
On multiple occasions McAuliffe’s kicks marched University over 40 metres upfield, and with powerful centre Samuel Tuisau running crash balls, the visitors made in roads.
Tuisau versus Chris Jansen (GPS, inside centre) was a great match up in the midfield with each player trading blows throughout the contest.
Nearby on the field, the crisp passing game of Chace Oates countered the relentless defence and fleet footwork of GPS outside centre Joe Doljanin.
His kick-chase pressure was hard to miss.
But the battle was won in the forwards, especially at scrum time.
Red Heavies front rowers Daniel Christodoulou, Moe Koroi and Phillip Vaoiva had a good day out, as did tightwad Harry Gould, the GPS wrecking ball who was more than a handful near the tryline.
While they were contained, representative UQ backrowers Tom Robinson and Patrick Sowerby were strong with limited chances, complimenting line out disrupter Jack Henry (lock).
You could not fault the service of Jimmy Jackson (UQ) out of scrumhalf, or the mistake-free outing from GPS fullback Jude Knapp, who did very well in his first Colts 1 start.
He was calm under pressure, mopped up tackles at the back, and had a strong game with the boot.
At Norths, the Eagles made it two-from-three to begin their season, the best start the club has had since 2021.
Norths won 26-10 over Sunnybank, with Nudgee College premiership winner Macarius Pereira inspiring his side to victory with not one, not two, but three tries.
The prop powerhouse was clinical near the tryline, but also damaging through the middle of the field where he marched his side towards Sunnybank’s line.
The powerful tight-head produced a “follow me” performance, leading his side in a scrappy affair won in the forwards.
Red-haired flanker Ben Kluck was masterful for the home side as well, plucking lineouts left, right and centre.
He was excellent, alongside lock pairing S
am Higgins and Mac Hermann who could not have worked any harder.
Matching their energy and work rate was Dragons lock Isaac Nomani, who did well for his side.
Open side flanker Oscar Lane also impressed in the forward pack, while explosive winger daniel Malum showed glimpses of the magic he can produce out wide.
Malum, powerful midfielder DJ Manase, and threatening fullback Nico Buckley were Sunnybank’s most dangerous.
Steering the Norths forwards was classy scrumhalf Callum Reidy, who has quietly gotten off to a stellar start this year.
In the backline, Ryan Heaton again performed strongly alongside tough 20-year-old outside centre Joe Woods who has improved with every game this season.
Originally published as How round three of Colts 1 club rugby played out on Saturday
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