Colts 1 club rugby: Brothers in derby thriller, Wests, Souths prevail
Colts 1 club rugby: Brothers won a thrilling northside derby at Crosby Park while Bond University surprised themselves and their opponents with a bumper performance. Read how Rd 8 unfolded.
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Barnstorming No.8 Liam McGregor scored two timely tries to spearhead his side to a hard fought 28-19 victory over the Easts Tigers in a Colts 1 blockbuster.
The physical backrower out of Brisbane Grammar landed his first blow shortly after the halftime break when the game was in the balance, and struck again for his second five point effort 15 minutes from full time to pull Wests away, 28-5.
His performance came on the back of some tremendous grunt work by Charlie Cooke, Will Pascoe, Finlay King and most importantly, Rory Bliss, who was a menace in the lineout.
In other Colts 1 matches, the Magpies took care of Bond University 31-22 at home, Brothers edged out Norths 17-16 at Crosby Park, and Sunnybank and University shared spoils following an entertaining 24-all draw.
In the game played between Easts and Wests, Tigers lock Tane Hetaraka was unlucky to be in a losing side.
The powerful second rower played arguably his best game of the season. Maybe his best game ever for Easts?
The towering bayside brute hit hard and low and ran in two tries late in the piece which was a nice reward for his efforts earlier in the match when Wests got the better of the two sides.
Hetaraka, an Iona old boy in his third and final season of Colts, has always been good.
But he had something about him on Saturday with an inspired showing on David Wilson Field.
The towering lineout disrupter and strong ball runner tackled around the ribs and once dislodged the ball from an opponent’s grasp as the Bulldogs threatened to move ahead further.
Easts however, met their match in the lineout.
Lock Rory Bliss won that battle fair and square, with two lineout steals in the second half robbing Easts of possession in the Bulldogs 22.
This was after rookie sensation James Martens set the first 35 minutes alight with his quick thinking from scrum half.
The quick between the ears Martens made Easts pay off two quick taps, the first a 30m dash which allowed winger Fynn O’Rielley to stroll over.
On the second occasion Martens had too much pace, running in a try of his own to give Wests a crucial 14-0 buffer before the twenty minute mark.
From there, the Phil Mooney coached Bulldogs were too good to give up the lead, despite a gallant late game rally by the Tigers in the final 15 minutes.
The scores: Wests 28 (McGregor 2, Martens, O’Reilley tries; Mooney 4 cons) def Easts 19 (Hetaraka 2, Josefski tries, Letalu 2 cons).
At Crosby Park, the local derby delivered with Norths and Brothers trading blows down to the last minute before the home side escaped by the skin of their teeth.
Eagles winger Cameron Philip gave Norths a chance, scoring in the 70th minute to draw within one point, down 17-16.
Callum Reidy, the elite Eagles scrum half who again played well on Saturday, was tasked with a sideline conversion to take the lead.
It wasn’t to be, his kick only just missing the upright.
The Brethren had held on to take the chocolates in a physical, hard fought northside nail biter where neither side deserved to lose.
Such were the stakes of the game and the willing defence of the Bart Ritchie coached Eagles, every chance at getting on the scoreboard was taken.
Both Oliver Lamb (Brothers) and Reidy (Norths) kicked penalty goals in the back-and-forth encounter, won by a Brothers side which had a wealth of possession throughout the match.
Time and time again Norths shut Brothers down with their defence, but big No.8 Vaiuta Latu and fullback Lamb both muscled over for tries.
The defence of Ryan Heaton and Ryan FitzGerald highlighted how bad Norths wanted it, especially from FitzGerald.
For Norths, back row toiler Ben Kluck scored a try for his troubles after another workhorse performance.
“He is a no nonsense player who gets through his work,’’ Ritchie said.
There aren’t many that get through as much work as blindside flanker Kluck.
Around him, promising Nudgee trio Macarius Pereira (loosehead prop), Will Rogers (hooker) and Ryan Heaton (inside centre) played well to ensure Norths, with limited chances, remained in the fight until the end.
Across the match, tighthead prop Benjamin Pula-Fatu engineered a powerful Brothers scrum, while Patrick Dallimore continued to show why he was one of the best open side flankers in the competition.
Midfielder Tom Harvey shone bright in the backline, his direct carries and hard hitting defence ensuring pressure remained on the opposition.
The scores: Brothers 17 (Latu, Lamb tries, Lamb 2 cons, Lamb pen) def Norths 16 (Philip, Kluck tries, Reidy 2 pens).
At Chipsy Wood Oval, Bond University exceeded their own expectations to challenge last year’s grand finalist Souths Magpies in an enthralling encounter, won 31-22 by Souths.
Emerging Magpies playmaker Will Nason scored the decisive try 15 minutes from full-time to pull his side clear.
Nason, after busy involvements by Dre-dyn Laban, spotted space behind the breakdown and from the ruck base went himself, dashing away 50m to land a crucial try, the dagger.
This was the turning point and it came after the Bullsharks knocked on the door not once, not twice but three times.
But for no return.
Wrecking ball loose-head Nikotimo Mateiwai was denied what looked to be an almost certain try, after a promising rolling maul from Bond almost saw them take the lead.
Thomas O’Callaghan, Dian Minnie and Xavier Rubens, take a bow for your defensive efforts.
The Magpies had met their match.
Bond University, without important captain Charles McCauley, Harry Bell, Ieuan Cornelius and Zebediah Misios, produced an imposing, physical performance spearheaded by No.8 hit man Nick Hilton.
Hilton was at his brilliant best, thumping tackles and strong carries emphasising the problem he poses for opposing defences.
Hilton, livewire winger Hunter Robinson, courageous stand-in captain Sam Howarth and try scoring lock Joe Murray, were all big time players around powerhouse prop Mateiwai who had to have impressed onlookers.
But Souths, as they so often do, found a way to win.
Hooker Cooper Hoare, second row spark plug Cadell Rees who came on and impacted the game and powerful No.8 Dom Thygesen all played out strong games.
That was what was needed for Souths to topple a Bullsharks outfit which showed they were right there with the best teams in the competition.
Gun scrum half Harry Raff, classy conductor Nason and midfielders Maddox Maclean and Rubens were also top notch, along with fullback Dre-dyn Laban - who had his best 70 minutes of the season so far.
Laban was in everything. He was safe under the high ball, dangerous in broken play and even won a handful of turnovers at the breakdown.
The scores: Souths 31 (Perkins, Totorewa, O’Callaghan, Minnie, Nason tries, Maclean 3 cons) def Bond University 22 (Barrett, Robinson, Murray tries, Howarth 2 cons, Howarth pen).
At Sunnybank Rugby Club, The Red Heavies started well before a fast finishing Dragons side clawed back in a second half ambush to draw 24-all.
Impressive Colts 2 hooker DJ Sivivatu Kanth was a second half wonder for the home side, coming on and immediately making an impact for Sunnybank, who trailed by 17 when he came on.
The front row bulldozer was the difference, capitalising on a flow of penalties in his team’s favour.
Opposition coach Josh Bray was impressed with Kanth’s late game impact, which rescued a point for the ‘Bank.
“He is the best hooker I have seen all year,” said Bray.
“He was the difference. I am very impressed.”
University started hot, with tries to Tafito Ah-Ki and Barney Radel in the first 15 minutes, before Tom Robinson opened the scoring in the second stanza to see University lead 19-7.
But, as both sides approached the home straight, it was home side Sunnybank who clicked into gear and finished the better team as captain Mattias Agent and Colts 2 hero Kanth crashed over.
Wing revelation Daniel Malum had got Sunnybank on the scoresheet with a try in the first half, before late tries to Kanth and Agent erased University’s buffer which got as big as 17 when they lead 24-7 in the 45th minute.
But with a pair of late tries and pin point goal kicking from sniping saviour Netani Lesimaikimatuku, the Bank’ snatched a draw.
Lesimaikimatuku did not miss off the tee, adding a crucial nine points to Sunnybank’s total.
For University, loose-head Daniel Christodoulou, explosive midfielder Samuela Tuisau and defensive weapon Henry Hill performed admirably.
Originally published as Colts 1 club rugby: Brothers in derby thriller, Wests, Souths prevail
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