QLD Junior Reps round 6: Latest results, scorers across Meninga, Connell, Harvey girls action
Who shone brightest in Meninga, Connell Cup and Harvey Norman under-19 women’s competition this weekend? Revealed here.
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There was a Fijian sensation in Blackhawks’ country, a female masterclass in Toowoomba while the golden hands and sparkling feet of Tweed Seagulls’ Savannah Roberts-Hickling fired her side to a late Harvey Norman under-19s win over Souths Logan on Saturday.
On a day when the forwards packs in northern Queensland - Capras v Blackhawks and Pride v Cutters - hit hard and often in the Meninga and Connell Cup clashes respectively, the twinkle toes and explosive attack of Roberts-Hickling shone through.
HARVEY NORMAN UNDER 17s SUPER 30 OF THE SEASON
MENINGA, CONNELL AND HARVEY GIRLS STRONGEST PLAYERS
MENINGA, CONNELL AND HARVEY GIRLS DAMAGING BALLRUNNERS
Jump to: Pride v Cutters, Falcons v Bulls, Bears v Tigers, Magpies v Tweed, Blackhawks v Capras, Dolphins v Devils, Clydesdales v Ipswich.
Aside from Roberts-Hickling’s performance, other round 6 highlights included:
+ Iowani Cavuilati scored four tries as his Blackhawks’ overcame an improved Capras 28-12;
+ Clydesdales Harvey No.1 Chloe Pallisier was sensational in her team’s win over Jets (see further down this story);
+ Cutters fullback Adam McSherry was outstanding for his Connell Cup side;
+ Mackay props Ella Cronin-Flanagan and Gracie Watt paved the way for a Harvey 19s win against an improved Pride;
+ Rookie Falcons prop Prop Oli Kleijn showed his side the way to the winner’s post;
+ The post contact metres made by towering Tigers prop Kobi Floro (Tigers);
+ Tweed’s Mason Barber gave his side attacking punch in its win over Souths Logan;
+ Redcliffe edge forward Brian Pouniu (Connell) showed his class;
+ Unsung interchange forwards Zane Elletson and Jack Thorburn were heroes for the Mackay Meninga Cup side;
+ Redcliffe lock Lewis Symonds hit his straps in the Dolphins triumph over Norths.
CLYDESDALES v IPSWICH
Harvey Norman 19s
Western Clydesdales captain and five-eight Chloe Pallisier was like the pied piper leading her troops to a sensational second half surge against Ipswich.
The home side won 40-nil, with the Clydesdales turning a close match near halftime into a one-way affair.
Playing behind a pack which went forward, Pallisier passed short or long, grubber kicked with success, ran strongly herself on her way to a Player of the Match performance.
It was top notch stuff, a performance which earned high praise from Jets coach Michael Wardrop.
For Pallisier to fire, she needed a platform and forwards Nothdurft, Chelsea Middleton, Eliza Morcom, Libby Dunn all fired alongside Pypah Ferguson.
But it was Pallisier’s day.
For so long the match was evenly balanced, with Ipswich’s vigorous running and tackling standing up to Clydesdales.
If anything, Ipswich had more ball across the opening 20 minutes, although the Clydesdales defence in this time was very good.
The turning point came shortly before halftime when five-eight Chloe Pallisier - who had put on a try for her winger Lucy Anlezark in the first minute - grubber kicked ahead to secure a line drop out.
From that play the Clydesdales’ backs let the ball sing, with Tayla Horrobin unloading to Mikeely Scott who offered a pass to Aaliyah Murray. It was then crisp, through the hands play as Prezlee Nothdurft passed to Davis and onto Jessie Friedrichs who crossed.
Four minutes later it was Lucy Davis who scored after the ball bounced around like a pin ball in a parlour, and at 14-nil, the gates were ajar.
What followed was the Clydesdales advancing at galloping pace.
With Nothdurft and co driving forward, Ipswich back peddled and as a result Clydesdales’ captain and pivot, Pallisier, had a part with her ball play.
A lovely pass put Jessica Fitzgibbons away, who found support in Reagan McMillan.
Replacement hooker Scott, who shared the dummy half duties with young gun Mia Byrnes, played well behind an advancing pack and she was next to score.
Impressive prop Libby Dunn also crossed, while Jessica Fitzgibbons score twice late to blow out the scoreline.
Best for the Jets was No.13 Lyla Duffy who tried hard.
CONNELL CUP
A contender for game of the season unfolded at Clive Berghoger Stadium on Sunday, with home side the Clydesdales pipping Ipswich 28-26 on the cusp of full time.
Swooping centre Joseph Litidamu scored the go-ahead try, the match winner three minutes from time to break the hearts of the visitors who would have though they were home when a dazzling Ceaser Yeatmen try snatched the lead at 26-22 with ten minutes to go.
But throwing his cape on was Litidamu, whose proactiveness in defence and rushing line speed saw him pick up lost Jets ball and storm away downfield for a sensational try.
Litidamu was engulfed by his teammates who followed him downfield in support, the young centre breaking Ipswich’s finals hopes in the process.
It was a must win for the Jets who had to get past Clydesdales to ensure they make it through to finals, but Litidamu was the man of the hour, diving in under the sticks for good measure.
Braithen Scott, whose 80 per cent goal kicking was the difference in a game where the Clydesdales scored five tries compared to Ipswich’s six, added the extras to bring up a rousing two-point-victory.
Again boom edge forward Shaun Elara was one and a half players, influencing the match on both sides of the ball.
With ball in hand Elara was destructive and effective bending the Jets line, while in defence he was simply phenomenal.
But it was a brave team effort from the Clydesdales that helped defend home turf. Brodie Hilt, Kolby Seymour, Riley Zanette, Harry Robinson, Hunter Price, Dustin Goulding, the lot of them. They all made their presence felt, especially in the first half.
As has been the case for much of the season, the Jets were left to rue a bit of a slow start. Although they were much improved in the second half, scoring five tries to turn the game on its head.
Tannar Baker, Ioane Tiatia, Christian Mikaele, Tiger Campbell, and Vena Aukusitino Fetalaiga scored for the visitors, with halfback Campbell showing his class with accurate attacking kicks.
James Pau and Dennis Papua provided punch off the interchange bench, as did starting prop Xzavier Timteo and centre Finn Kendal who played full games.
MENINGA CUP
The Ipswich Jets trumped their pool rival the Clydesdales 34-6, in Towooomba, on the back of a tireless effort from start to finish.
The Clydesdales defended like men possessed, but there was no stopping big prop Nicholas Tuliatu who ran rampant through the middle of the field, allowing Saifiti Junior Saifiiti and Tayshon Foley to score two tries each.
Seeing confident centre Foley score two tries, celebrate the success of his teammates, and get involved would have put a smile on all Ipswich Jets supporters who made the trek up the range.
Foley has had a horrid run of injuries, with his shoulder keeping him out of school footy for the best part of two years. But Foley was back, playing in his second straight game and making an impact on the right edge where the Jets found the most success.
Foley scored a try last week in a 30-10 win against the Falcons, and he was clinical again today dotting down two of Ipswich’s six tries.
On his right was his Ipswich SHS buddy Saifiti who continued to fill the void left by Alton Naiyep (Jets’ champion winger) with a double, taking his tally to seven tries this season (five games).
Funnily enough the last time the two teams met Saifiti scored two tries in a 34-6 win by Ipswich, in Ipswich.
Saifiti scored a wonderful try, plucking the ball out of the air and diving over for four points. Keaton Stutt assisted with a superb crossfield kick which lobbed over the head of Clydesdales centre Luke Cesari.
While it was Foley, Saifiti, Amaziah Murgha and Lyncoln Cliffe who ended up on the scoresheet, Tuliatu and teammate Kanaan Magele (prop) were the unsung heroes of the game who swung things in the visitors favour.
The powerful middle forwards caused mayhem in the middle third of the field and gave Nathan Fraser and Lachlan Coburn quick, front foot ball to feed to Lachlan Stuart and Stutt.
It was some effort from the prop pairing, whose post contact metres meant countless Clydesdales defenders had to swarm them, leaving gaps around the ruck for Fraser to get clean ball away.
They were men possessed.
Shannon Elara was one of many daring Clydesdales defenders who put their body on the line, numerous times in the same set, to prevent Ipswich from scoring.
Strong defensive efforts came from all corners of the field, Jiale Litidamu, Matthew Moore and Joey Sankey in the backs to Bodhi Sharpley, Fletch Prendergast, Harrison Boal, Trace Beattie, Harry Eyers and Lyucian King-Togia in the forward throwing their hands up in a gutsy performance from the home side.
But the damage inflicted by ferocious Jets forwards Isaac Togia, Magele, Tuliatu, Jabiri Mack, Ethan Quinn and Cliffe was everything for the boys in green.
PRIDE v CUTTERS
Connell Cup
Pride five-eight D’Artanyan Connolly scored one of the individual tries of the season but it was the Mackay Cutters who stormed away 46-10 on a sun drenched Barlow Park surface.
Cutters halfback Kooper Shears and fullback Adam McSherry were in everything, surrounded by a strong forward pack in what was a physical match upfront.
But it was Connolly’s 10th minute try which had tongues wagging, a thrilling chip-and-chase individual effort from 60m out.
Connolly would have scored countless of these tries down the local park with his mates, or playing on the beach, but there is nothing like the joy of seeing it unfold when it counts most. It was a brilliant performance by him.
But Cutters were the better side by a fair distance against a weakened Pride side missing too many first choice players.
“It was a great win for us,’’ said Cutters coach David Roberts.
“We were a bit off our game in the first 10 minutes, but recovered and played well for the remainder of the game. I was really happy with our defence.’’
Cutters fullback McSherry and half Shears were outstanding around their forwards.
Then with prop Camden Hopes finishing the match like a freight train moving down hill, and long striding edge forward Declan Grady doing his best to imitate Cowboys ace Heilum Luki, the Cutters finished with 46 points.
No. 1 McSherry initially produced a classical covering tackle on runaway Pride hooker Ben Walters, then moments later wrapped his arms around huge Pride prop Jason Hastie as he burrowed to the line.
McSherry also showed tremendous strength in several runs and capped his elite performance with a fine individual try.
Later in the half McSherry scored again after a super pass in a tackle from John Ryan.
Halfback Shears’ short kicking game was also a weapon, with two beautifully weighted attacking kicks and another which gained a restart.
One of his short kicks created a terrific try for Cutters winger Toby Woodall.
While Pride’s Connolly scored the try of the game, Cutters interchange forward
Stephen Sandow produced one of the tackles of the match with a strong front on tackle defending his line.
Pride tried hard, but just did not have the cattle against a class outfit.
Pride coach Kris O’Farrell praised the Cutters’ coaching staff for having such a well drilled side.
For the Cutters prop Camden Hopes, second rowers Jack Townsend and Declan Grady were outstanding.
Harvey Norman 19s
The Mackay Cutters claimed a 34-10 over an improving Pride today.
The Cutters’ forwards started strongly, with props Ella Cronin-Flanagan and Gracie Watt driving their side forward, giving dummy half Paityne Johns ball on the front foot.
It was off the back of a driving run from Watts that ball was released to the right wing where Paige Mooney, Jennifer Kimber and La Naliah Hine combined, a move finished by La Naliah Hine.
However, Pride’s campaign was lifted when prop Mary-sha Mairu refused to die with the ball. She struggled and wriggled, rolled and kept moving forward to shake off three defenders and scored. It was a great second effort try by Mairu.
But what Mairu could do at one end of the field, Cronin-Flanagan could do at the other, with a determined charge by the Cutters prop finding the tryline.
Cutters’ right side attack then expressed themselves with considerable success, leading to Odette Richter charging forward, passing to Mooney who gave Hine her second try. It was 18-4 with halftime looming.
Pride’s spirits were raised not long into the second half when Jordana Woods cross, dragging the match back to an eight-point deficit.
Pride had to be the next to score, but it was the Cutters who crossed courtesy of Keely Pitt.
Pride coach Floria King noted the continued improvement by her side. “It was a great effort. The defence was good and we did well in patches, although again we need to complete our sets,’’ she said.
Layla Geck (hooker) and Syianna Banu (Prop) again shone for Pride, while Teesha Potts and Lisa Waireg impressed, as did fullback Jordiana Woods.
Cutters coach Matt Sanders said his forwards again laid a platform for success on the edges.
He said hooker Johns, again, and prop Watt, again, were outstanding.
Meninga Cup
Two unsung heroes had their moment in the sun as the Mackay Cutters finished in style to clinch a sensational 18-14 win over Pride.
Interchange forwards Zane Elletson and Jack Thorburn engineered the late try after Mackay coach Andy Battaia had challenged his side to back themselves and move the ball in the final 10 minutes after Mackay had slipped 14-6 behind.
Elleston scored the winner under the posts after Thorburn had made a break which put his side into a position to score.
“I knew he (Elleston) was capable of that, but to do it in his first game was pleasing,’’ praised coach Battaia.
He said both Thorburn and another unsung player, Travis Larner, also shone in a great team effort.
“I am most pleased with our resilience, that we kept grinding away and struck together defending set after set,’’ Battaia said.
A few minutes earlier, Mackay’s forward leader, hooker Xavier Kerrisk, scored to give his side a chance of stealing the match, and then Zane Elletson crossed late to pinch the win.
What a finish.
Pride had done the hard yards and looked to be slightly ahead, until Cutters found its mojo.
Representative five-eight Jaxson Purdue’s try fired his side up midway through the second half, and then came Cutters’ rollicking finish to the game.
It was a real battle of wills across the opening half at Barlow Park, with the forwards from both teams and the respective dummy half players trying to wrestle momentum toward their side.
The two evenly matched teams slogged it out until a breakthrough 44 seconds before the break when interchange forward Jack Rix crashed over amid a sea of defenders. Pride would have taken that 6-nil advantage with glee into the dressing room at the break.
So close was it, that Pride opted for a rare penalty goal to make it 8-nil - it was that type of contest.
Pride coach Bevan Walker was disappointed for his side. “The effort was great,’’ he said, saying playing flat and direct was the best means of attack today.
“But our execution in attack needs to be better,’’ Walker said.
He said his side also needed to capitlise on its chances and manage the game better.
FALCONS v BULLS
Connell Cup
The Sunshine Coast Falcons recovered from a slow start to win big 40-12 over a gallant Bulls side.
Falcons coach Tim Baldwin said his group were flat at the start, although he praised Wide Bay for putting up solid resistance and refusing to go away.
Prop Oli Kleijn, young for his age group, was excellent for the Falcons who continue to develop good local talent.
“He has been our more consistent each week, while Nate Thompson (fullback) brought some spark. Jackson Koina was also solid for us as he is each week, playing through the middle.’’
The Sunshine Coast turned at the break leading just 14-8 after a grand effort by the young Bulls.
The Wide Bay Bulls scored first courtesy of classy five-eight Harrison Braithwaite.
Noted by the Dolphins as a player of potential, Braithwaite had worked the Falcons defenders over on the inside and outside before opting to run himself. It was a fine individual try by the Kingaroy Ants junior which would have raised the enthusiasm of his side.
However, the Falcons did not lick their wounds for long, with five-eight Tyson Fallon-May hustling a pass to his unmarked winger Kalan Beattie who scooped up a low ball to score.
The power Sunshine Coast props Charlie Coates and Oliver Kleijn then started causing Wide Bay concern, as did the speed of hooker Miller Thompson.
It was that trio who gave their side field position. From attacking ball, interchange forward Kaio Moses unloaded close to the line, with flighty five-eight Tyson Fallon-May carrying play on before unloading to fullback Nate Thompson who passed to try scoring centre Memphys Pirere.
But just when the Sunshine Coast Falcons were threatening to move out of sight, the Bulls struck against the run of play.
It started when fullback Rowan Gordon retrieved an attacking kick at his defensive end and ran 40m down the ground.
With momentum behind them, and then a penalty, centre Tito Bligh bumped his way over after a powerhouse individual effort.
The Falcons then went to oranges leading 14-8 after impressive No. 13 Jackson Koina deservedly crossed.
Harvey Norman 19s
The Sunshine Coast Falcons triumphed 66-nil, with the home side’s win comfortably set up by the platform laid by props and halves.
The front row of Jasmine Murray, Emily Maher and Violet Black were to the fore, while behind them halfback Kahurangi Hetaraka let it sing.
Falcons’ success came early, with Alexa Burgess, impressive forward Sarah McGuire and Sky Antoniolli crossing within the space of six minutes of each other.
The Falcons were always going to win, but the Bulls kept turning up.
It is a credit to the Bulls’ girls who were keeping the dream alive for young women who want to play league for their local side, rather than move south to the Coast or north to Capras.
Meninga Cup
The Falcons got on a roll early and the Wide Bay Bulls were powerless to halt the home team’s momentum during a first half blitz.
To the endearing credit of Wide Bay, they typically dug deep at the break and fought back to score 12 points themselves.
“Wide Bay have improved so much, have a lot of heart and kept coming to bag a couple of tries. Their second half effort was pretty strong,’’ said Falcons coach Cam Boaza.
But the match was won early. With Coast halves Kye Porter and James Marriott loving life behind their forward pack, Falcons dominated the opening half.
Jaelym Hohaia and Jackson Kite scored in the first eight minutes, while Jesse Bender, Hohaia again and Jackson Kite followed later in the half.
Hooker Tait Coghlan was again marvellous behind his middle forwards, and on either edge Jackson Kite and Tyrell Hopkins were powerful.
Kite scored three tries while coach Boaza loved the work of Blaine Watson in the middle.
Outside backs Jesse Bender, Zeke Monckton and Ben Waters were excellent as well.
You could see the effort coming from the Wide Bay boys, but with their tails up, the Falcons could not be curtailed.
“We wanted to start really well and focused on our discipline,’’ Boaza said.
“They managed to stick to the plan in the first half and took advantage of their opportunities.
BEARS v TIGERS
Connell Cup
The Tigers’ road trip down the coast was a roaring success with a 28-18 victory over Burleigh at Pizzey Park returning them to the winners circle.
The visitors ran in five first half tries to startle the Bears and despite a gallant second half comeback attempt by the home side, the mountain was too steep a climb.
Elijah Breen (halfback), Trent Picot (second rower), Harrison Vera (winger) Dominic Ierome (second rower) and Jacol Barney (winger) crossed in that dominant first 30 minutes where the Tigers got what they wanted, at ease.
Burleigh were slow out of the gates, but were well and truly up for the contest after oranges, with fullback Dallas Ingram sparking the side with a silky try.
Isaac Cullen (centre) and Marley Igasan (prop) followed suit as Burleigh rallied to get back into the game, but the Tigers defence held firm to come away 10-point-winners.
A few things that caught the eye were:
The deft grubber kicking of halfback Marley McLaren (Burleigh);
The goalkicking and playmaking of pivot Elijah Breen (Tigers);
The post contact metres made by towering prop Kobi Floro (Tigers)
The vertical leap of Cullen who caught a cross field kick and scored a beauty for Burleigh;
The running game of slippery dummy half Hayden Watson who was sharp for Burleigh.
TRY OF THE GAME
Tigers edge forward Trent Picot scored a stunner for his team’s second try, which thrust Burleigh onto the back foot.
The classy Breen dabbed a well weighted grubber kick into the in-goal area and in pursuit was Picot who beat every defender to the ball to plant it just short of the dead ball line.
It was a matter of centimetres and the determined Picot did superbly to dot it down.
Harvey Norman 19s
An unanswered 32 point scoring spurt by the Tigers was highlighted in the 58th minute when a feel-good try scored by under-17s prop Sky-yvette Faimalie put the finishing touches on a titanic 32-10 victory.
The elite under-17s prop was swarmed by teammates following her four-pointer, the visitors seventh in a row after Burleigh had stunned them with a 10-0 start.
Damaging edge forward Sarina Masaga and slick moving fullback Bella Thompson scored the opening tries for Burleigh, before the Tigers responded in excellent fashion to storm past the winners post at Pizzey Park.
Faimalie’s under-17s teammate Orianna Clark also got in on the action with two key tries as the club’s elite young forwards continued to make an impact as impact players.
Halfback India Seeto and forwards Athena Vili and Seromelina Tanielu scored along with this promising forward duo to power the visitors to their fourth straight win.
YOUNG GUNS
Fresh off an unbeaten under-17s campaign, middle forwards Orianna Clark and Sky-yvette Faimalie added the finishing touches to the Tigers’ second half rampage.
The pair of them were destructive in the three-game-season, and they did not look a touch out of place against an older, and impressive, Burleigh outfit.
They took their opportunity following a strong under-17s campaign and impressed.
LEFT EDGE TERROR
Keebra Park left edge terror Sarina Masaga continued her assault on the competition with another strong showing in the second row.
Burleigh’s left edge battleship, Masaga opened the scoring with a superb carry where she wove through the defence with the ball in one hand before slamming it down.
A hard, uncompromising forward, Masaga also influenced the game with her tackling.
Her efforts on both sides of the ball have been impressive all season long and it was evident again in the opening passages of Saturday’s game.
Meninga Cup
The Tigers’ never-say-die attitude was on full display at Pizzey Park as the visitors returned from an 18-6 deficit to draw even at 18-all and take a 22-18 lead.
But Burleigh’s Sunny Kama and Talas Abell were late game kings, thwarting the Tigers comeback with a try each in the final 10 minutes to bring up a 30-22 victory.
Burleigh shot out of the blocks with clinical fullback Ray Puru, speedy hooker Klay Tancred and headgeared prop Abell scoring tries on the back off brilliant teamwork from the Burleigh backs and forwards.
Halves Bailey McConnell, Coby Black and hooker Tancred were key in the first stanza, capitalising on Cooper Bai, Amare Milford and Brady Turner’s work through the middle third of the field.
But when Burleigh threatened to run away with it, Ben Weston’s Tigers clawed their way back into the contest and scored three four tries in just over twenty minutes to snatch their first lead of the game.
Joshua Lee, Tommy Green and Elijah Keung crossed before none other than Jack McCosker moved into to land the go-ahead blow.
When it mattered most, slippery centre Puru pierced an exhausted Tigers defensive line to retake the lead. Then, a simple but effective crash-ball from Abell nailed the coffin shut for the home side.
Tigers coach Ben Weston said he was proud of his side, particularly against a “great side’’ like Burleigh.
“But we need to improve on our starts, the first 20 minute period of both halves,’’ Weston said.
Amare Milford’s effort across the match, along with Brady Turner’s big minutes in the middle, were strong points for the Bears, as was Saxon Innes’ consistency. Bailey McConnell also produced a captain’s knock for Burleigh.
SOUTHS LOGAN v TWEED
Connell Cup
Eleven tries flowed, including one in the first minute to Magpies’ Siosaia Poese, as Souths Logan finished the better of the shoot out, winning 36-24.
In a frantic opening to the match, Tweed also scored in the fifth (Beau Hartmann) and eighth (Boston Hubbard) minutes, and then Adaquix-Jeramiah Watts-Luke in the 12th for Souths as it rained tries.
Both teams eventually remembered what they had learned on the tackling pads, but it was a free flowing, entertaining affair - a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon in Logan.
Souths Logan finished the better of the two sides in the second, with a quick burst of points courtesy of tries from Te ara Tamepo-Habib and Alize Clarke raising the Magpies to relative safety.
“Tweed came at us hard in the first half and deservedly went to halftime ahead,’’ said Magpies coach Lincoln McLeod.
“Our application and discipline towards our processes and principles, on both sides of the ball in the second half is what produced the result.
“Like most teams in this competition, improvement needs to be around focus and concentration to truly produce a 60 minute performance,’’ McLeod said.
Harvey Norman 19s
Tweed five-eight Savannah Roberts-Hickling was the difference in a wonderful women’s clash at Logan Metro today.
Savannah Roberts-Hickling cracked the match wide opened after both teams had stood in the ring, refusing to budge.
It was her footwork and hands which created an overlap that led to the crucial try for Seagulls winger Skylah Samson 46.
“She was great in attack,’’ praised Tweed coach Anthony Swain.
Then she scored herself and a game which had hung in the balance was dead and buried.
But don’t let the scoreline foul you. This was a close match.
There was not a struck match between the two sides at the start, which was reflected in the 4-all scoreline after a dozen minutes.
Te Rina Pearse opened the scoring, but not long after Tweed centre Phoenix-Raine Hippi crossed and the team’s were level pegging.
Souths Logan actually led when Prayer Playle crossed, although two tries in three minutes early in the second half by Phoenix-Raine Hippi and Shanarlii Peckham put Tweed ahead.
Hippi was outstanding in attack and defence, while Tweed midle forward Mia Dendle had a big match, supported by Sara Matheson Johnson off the bench.
Meninga Cup
Tweed Seagulls halves Zane Harrison and Jake Lateo assumed the steering wheel while fullback Mason Barber added the punch in attack as the Seagulls defeated Souths Logan 38-18.
An utter professional, Harrison and his young PBC SHS school mate Lateo played nice calm, controlling games as Tweed recovered from an early hiccup to win well.
Barber at the back also shone, with his long striding, powerful efforts with the ball aiding the Gulls’ effort.
Tweed coach Sam Meskell said his side entered the match wanting to improve two areas - improving its completion rate and also its goal line defence.
“I felt we did that for the most part,’’ Meskell said, acknowledging Souths scored two tries from kicks.
Souths were off to a good start early, holding the ball and scoring first.
But as the match wore on, Tweed gained the upper hand.
Souths Logan coach Ben Trim said No. 13 Jayden Solien and edge forward Brayden Tuilia, two real troopers in the forwards, were consistently his best today.
BLACKHAWKS v CAPRAS
Connell Cup
The Blackhawks held off a fast finishing Capras in a gruelling clash, 10-4, today.
The game finished with the Capras pounding the line, only for Blackhawks to stand strong and turn them away. It was real match of the day stuff, a clash worthy of a final.
“The boys are shattered,’’ said Capras’ coach Duane Carpenter who said his team did enough to win.
“It was a really tough, grinding game of footy, defensively an outstanding for an under 17 match,’’ he praised.
Blackhawks’ coach Nathan Norford added: “Our defensive effort was amazing to keep out a quality side such as Capras.’’
Capras’ best football came in the second half and it was a match for the purists as two big, strong packs went for each other in defence.
The Blackhawks looked to be defending its way to victory with tremendous tryline defence as Capras rallied midway through the second half.
Capras’ threw wave after wave of attack at the Blackhawks’ line which was water tight until the big body of centre Elijah McKay pounded his way over.
That made it 10-4 and we had a match.
Just prior to this Capras prop Henry Kallquist tried to tackle his side back into the match with strongarm defence, and it was one such collision which forced a turnover, leading to possession which led to McKay’s try.
Earlier Blackhawks were the better side. Their big men threatened - Eneliko Savelio was a brute on the right edge and Sitiveni Afu an enormous presence in the ruck - and as a result they shaded Capras who needed to improve its ball control.
Blackhawks opened the scoring courtesy of Taakoi Benioni and extended that lead later thanks to Heath Bethel crossing.
Carpenter said unforced errors and not being able to make the Blackhawks pay for errors cost his side, “but full credit to the Blackhawks tryline defence’’. “It was outstanding,’’ he said.
For Blackhawks, Norford admired the performance of centre Taakoi Benioni “on both sides of the ball’’. His defence and carriers out of trouble were exceptional and always a threat.’’
Harvey Norman 19s
The cream rose to the top as a top flight Townsville Blackhawks side pounced to beat Capras 24-nil.
The win avenged Capras’ round 2 win when they prevailed 14-10.
Blackhawks captain Jairel-Ellen Martin-Savage and her halves partner Teyanna Mataa pulled the trigger behind an outstanding forward performance to rush her side to a match winning 18-nil lead during the first half.
In support of their halves, edge forwards Lhylla Williamson and try scorer Hannah De Daunton drove their side forward after the middle forwards had gone forward.
Martin-Savage scampered over for try No. 1, with Eadie Baxter, fleet-a-foot winger Zaleah Mosby-Nona and interchange player Jahntae Mara all crossed.
Capras had a go, there is no doubt about it.
But Blackhawks’ will look to keeping building as the season progresses.
“We controlled the middle third really well in the first half and created some momentum that lead led to points,’’ said Blackhawks coach Rob Hall.
“We were really scrappy in the second half but defender well.
Zeleah Mosby-Nona was so strong for the Hawks’ as an extra forward working from the back, while fullback Brandy Yallop supported down the middle and was dangerous.
One unsung hero was Chloe Maxwell who has come up from the under 17s. “She was really strong with her carries of the ball, and Teyanna Mataa, who also played 17s, did not miss a beat,’’ coach Hall added.
Meninga Cup
Iowani Cavuilati scored four tries as his Blackhawks’ overcame an improved Capras 28-12.
The Ignatius Park College past student was unstoppable, thrilling onlookers with his Fijian flair to polish off the good work of his teammates inside of him.
Also a Ross River Redskins rugby junior, Cavuilati has been a high achiever across junior league and union ranks, once making the Queensland under 16 country side.
Today he scored two tries apiece in either half - not a bad day’s effort given he was playing against a Capras side which had turned up for the fight.
The Capras had a go, don’t worry. Even as late as the final minute they were hustling to bundle their opponents over the sideline, and even ran to pack a scrum with next to no time left on the clock.
Blackhawks coach Luke Harlen said although his side got the result he was not happy with the energy while the commitment was “slighty off”.
Turning up was Wil Hope, Colby Thomson and Davidson Benioni to will the Blackhawks to victory on a day where the Townsville side left points out there.
Capras were best served by Banjo Walker and Cooper Mackenzie.
DOLPHINS v DEVILS
Connell Cup
Redcliffe may have six scored tries, but its defence glistened in a good win over a quality Norths outfit at Dolphin Oval.
The Dolphin won 34-6, but the team’s tackling restricted the dangerous Norths’ outside and edge players.
The Devils were slick and moved the ball about, but Redcliffe stayed in formation to prevent their opponents from mounting a comeback.
One tackle on the line by Brian Pouniu on Norths prop Romarion Kupenga-Tuitama said everything about the desperation of the side.
And when Norths tried to use the speed of centres James Grey and Ethan Grimshaw on the fringe of the field, the Dolphins handled them with cover defence.
A few minutes prop to edge forward Pounia had flashed onto a grubber kick by his halfback Noah Fien to score, raising his side to 16-nil after earlier tries to Logan Hudson in the second set of the match, and impressive centre Jake Carsburg.
Finally, as the halftime hooter was sounding, the dangerous Timahna Tandy crossed for Norths and it was 16-6 and anyone’s game.
Norths started the second half like they were playing for sheep stations, but the Charlie Dickson-led Redcliffe defence rebounded them away.
The Devils also defended well, but Redcliffe does have potency in the halves - Fien - and on the edge - Pouniu - and it was no surprise to see Norths’ finally worn down leading to five-eight Carter Welfare dummying his way over.
Norths best were Oli Patterson and Lincoln Dalton.
Meninga Cup
The Redcliffe Dolphins continued to go from strength to strength on Saturday as the reigning Meninga Cup champions chalked off another rival on their way to the finals.
The Dolphins ran in seven tries in what was a bold 38-18 victory over a trying Norths outfit which could not be knocked for their effort.
Brandon Norris’ 64th minute try highlighted just how persistent the Norths side was, despite the fact things just didn’t swing in their favour at times.
Headgear wearing Redcliffe lock Lewis Symonds hit his straps on the Kayo Stadium turf, the mighty No.13 bending the defence and breaking through tackles in an AI performance which inspired the Dolphins to victory.
Symonds scored two tries, while his halves Zac Herdegen and Lachlan Buchbach each crashed over for four pointers as the Dolphins continued to build continuity across the paddock.
They are gathering momentum and are the form team of the competition at the moment.
Lauloto Salei and fearless hooker and captain Jordan Kake scored for the visitors who were beaten in the final lap by the Dolphins.
The home side reached a sixth gear in the final 20 minutes of the game, turning a close battle into what the scoreboard showed was a blow out.
It was no blow out, by any means.
Redcliffe however, finding something within themselves in the final quarter, were sensational to finish the game.
Redcliffe Scott Tronc praised an all-embracing team effort, saying “everyone chipped in”.
Norths coach Shannon Tupara said his side needed to improve its defence while also staying in matches for longer.
Harvey 19s
In good news, after an injury scare forced the match to be abandoned after eight minutes, the Norths player in question was cleared of serious injury. Redcliffe were ahead 10-nil at the time.
Originally published as QLD Junior Reps round 6: Latest results, scorers across Meninga, Connell, Harvey girls action
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