Colts 1 club rugby round 13 latest: Sunnybank, Wests, Brothers in matchwinners
A chaotic round 13 of Colts 1 club rugby saw three of the four games decided in the final five minutes. Read how the matches unfolded here.
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A chaotic round 13 of Colts 1 club rugby saw three of the four games decided in the final five minutes.
At Sunnybank, Dragons scrumhalf Francis Pepe scored two minutes from full time to turn a 34-32 deficit into a 38-34 win and keep them embedded in the top four hunt alongside fellow six-win teams Easts and Wests.
At Crosby Park, the Brothers boys kickstarted the club’s Ladies Day celebrations with a come-from-behind win over Norths.
Captain Zach Lewis nailed a difficult penalty goal after full time to win 24-23 after his team trailed 23-14 with less than 10 minutes to go.
At Souths, Wests won 27-26 after hooker Harry Solofa scored in the 67th minute to lead by one.
Halfback Jamie Alexander had importantly sent over a penalty goal earlier in the second half that shrunk Souths’ lead from seven points to four.
On the Gold Coast, Bond University scored its 13th in just two weeks in a comprehensive 49-24 win over University.
Last week Bond beat Easts 42-36 and captain Sam Howarth converted every try again as Bond leapfrogged The Students into first place.
But at Crosby Park, it was Brothers skipper Lewis who had a moment to remember in Colts 1 footy.
The impressive halfback knocked over a penalty goal, 15m in from touch, after the hooter to sink Norths 24-23.
Lewis displayed nerves of steel slotting the penalty goal after interchange energiser Adam Khan had given the Brothers backline a different dimension and scored a crucial try five minutes from time.
Brothers looked down and out when trailing 23-14 but all it took was a bit of room and Khan capitalised.
Midway through the second half Brothers led 14-13 but two quick tries from Norths, one to Ta’ialalolei’aasasaumani Faalogo and the other to winger Dylan Roost, made it 23-14.
Norths were in the drivers seat and looked as though they’d finish on top. That was until right wing Khan cut back infield from the touchline, sliced through the defence and zipped away downfield.
Khan’s 50m try made it 23-21 and then, as the clock dwindled down with Brothers banging on the door, they were awarded a penalty at the breakdown.
Lewis then stepped in to undo all the great work of a Norths side that had defended in belting style to dictate much of the match.
‘KHANAGE’ AT THE BUTCHERY
Fijian Under-20s dyanmo Khan was the difference in the final 10 minutes and his electric feet and eyes-up vision got Brothers home for its second win of the season.
Norths had virtually led the entire game. It was 10-7 for much of the first half and then 13-7 until 15 minutes left in the second half when Angus Herlihy scored and made it 14-13 in favour of Brothers.
Khan threatened to score a try before his 65th-minute stunner that got Brothers within just two points but Norths scrambled well to bring him down.
Alongside Khan, Brothers got plenty of bench impact from outside centre Campbell Rolfe, 17-year-old lock Will Ross and prop Isaac Ratuere.
On one occasion Ross won a timely penalty pilfering the ball and Ratuere was the one ensuring his teammates still had faith after Faalogo’s 60th minute try saw Norths retake its lead at 18-14.
NORTHS AIM UP EARLY
Some would argue Norths were the better team on the day.
They rushed up fast in defence, hit hard and took their chances when they came.
In the first 15 minutes, the Eagles defended bravely to repel Brothers and concede just one try within the first 55 minutes of the game.
Flanker Ben Kluck was up for the battle and his breakaway partner Sean Noone was too.
The likes of Manaaki Bateman (hooker), Jack Corby and Zack Sinclair had their moments as well, while in the backs the uncomplicated game of inside centre Will Balke was important.
Brothers midfielder Sam Condon was also fearless with his carries.
Norths fullback Henry Armstrong, a Scottish weapon, was hard to handle in space and kicked well to complement his running game which created chances.
Brothers fullback Jackson Hill was equally impressive with his kick-chase pressure, speed and passing.
Brothers skipper Lewis was the most important of all.
He kicked four-from-four off the tee and kicked extremely well for touch.
He would be the first to thank gutsy scrumhalf Joe Post for his snappy service.
Meanwhile Norths scrumhalf Robbie Hopkins had a blinder in his first Colts 1 start.
He created a try when he opted to tap it quick and across the game he put Brothers players under pressure with his jinking runs.
On Chipsy Wood Oval, Wests hooker Harry Solofa scored his second of two tries just four minutes from full time to down Souths 27-26.
Solofa’s matchwinner would not have been had goalkicker Jamie Alexander not slotted an important penalty goal about 15 minutes prior which made it 26-22 in favour of Souths.
A rolling maul try by Solofa to go ahead by one was a great reward for the effort of a forward pack that scrummed the house down to make it three wins over the last four games for Wests.
Over the last month the Bulldogs have beaten three of the top four teams: Souths, University and Easts, with their only loss coming against Bond when they were edged out 19-7 down the coast.
On Saturday, front-row of Hamish Ward, Solofa and tighthead Jacob Job got plenty of pay and it paved the way for a mini comeback after Souths had started superbly.
MAGPIES MOVE IN
Souths swooped in an instant on their home turf.
Prolific Kiwi fullback Gideon Lasaqa was the first to score, before inside centre Darcy Rowan made it 14-nil within the first 20 minutes.
Wests flanker Ezalle Matautia then made it 14-5, before Souths tighthead Viliami Motuapuaka extended his team’s lead at 19-5.
Wests, with electric winger DJ Colaivalu, impressive No. 13 Charlie Bird and calm captain Rory Bliss (lock) all key, then owned the 10 minutes leading into half time to level the scores 19-all.
Halfback Stan Keats and Solofa both scored tries in a strong close to the first half by the visitors. The Wests pack was brilliant in that time.
Earlier, snappy service from Souths scrumhalf Jimmy Jackson and great lineout work from jumpers Huw Griffiths, Ben Davis and Charlie Yeomans had helped create Souths’ early lead.
“Souths were really good, they got fast ball and their attack was good,” praised Wests coach Phil Mooney.
EXCITING END
Souths struck first in the second stanza to lead 26-19 but Wests finished the better of the two with Alexander’s crucial penalty goal getting his team to within four points.
In the slug fest of a second half, Fijian flyer Viliame Lacudru, flyhalf Pat Brackenrig, winger Sam Bevan and excellent hooker Malachi Tuakura were all on their game for Souths.
Tuakura’s decisions on when to run or release a pass was grand, as was his arrow-straight lineout throws.
Flyhalf Brackenrig also aimed up big time in the absence of flyhalf Finn Mackay who is up in first grade. “He kicked well to relieve pressure and steered things well,” said Souths coach Matt Bennetts.
The leadership of Wests captain Bliss was also quality, especially when his side was down by 14 on two occasions.
“When we were down 14-nil, there was no panic,” said Mooney.
“He (Rory) controlled that well. He had a very calm presence.”
At Bond University, the Bull Sharks beat ladder-leaders University for the second time this season to confirm their status as premiership frontrunners.
Bond won 49-24 after a 35-5 first-half rampage made winning almost impossible for the visiting Red Heavies.
For the second successive week, towering blindside flanker Fergus Gillan scored two tries within the first 20 minutes to give his side early cushion.
Gillan was a gamechanger in last week’s 42-36 win over Easts and again made things look easy in a game where not one of Bond’s seven tries were scored via a rolling maul.
STARTING FAST
Bond began like a house on fire to lead by thirty points at the break and already have a down payment on victory after 20 minutes.
“We emphasised starting really well,” said Bond coach Rico Gear.
“It was the perfect 20 minutes. It was spot on. ”
Gear’s team was disciplined, gathered momentum in attack and when University made mistakes, the Bull Sharks moved in and made them pay.
Gillan (two tries), physical No. 8 Keanu Rasch, Hunter Robinson and Kenneth Harris each scored tries in the first half, with scrumhalf Sam Howarth converting all five.
UNI’S COURAGEOUS COMEBACK
University just had to come out firing and so they did.
Off the back of some tackle-busting charges by No. 8 Angus Kelly, University scored tries through Mitch Moss, Tom Howard and Finlay Harris before a late try by schoolboy substitution Elliot Aldridge — who just two weeks ago was a part of a tremendous AIC First XV grand final won by Padua over Ashgrove.
However the 30-point half-time buffer was simply unassailable and it meant University forced its hand in an attempt to come back.
When they failed, Bond capitalised.
“I still think we were on the highway, mentally, for the first 30 minutes,” said Uni coach Nick Turnbull.
Turnbull’s men switched on in the second half, with prop Paul Aiolupotea carrying hard and lock Mitch Waldon trying hard.
Flyhalf Isaac McAuliffe and inside centre Kye Porter also stepped up two gears in the second half, conducting the game well to build phase pressure and create scoring opportunities.
ROBINSON RIPS IN
Bond’s ability to make Uni pay for errors was best seen when speedy winger Hunter Robinson picked up a loose ball and struck away 50m downfield to score one of three tries.
He was a difference-maker out wide with his pace and footwork.
Robinsion also scored an epic chip and chase try and was the first in and best dressed after a Seamus Boakes kick downfield saw Bond go move from inside their 22m all the way to Uni’s try line.
The three-try winger was just dangerous.
The one-two punch of big men Gillan and Charles McCauley was also important, with Gillan particularly effective over the past fortnight.
“He is as good as you get in this age group,” coach Gear said.
“He has been immense for us.”
Bond as a unit has been immense. Scoring almost 50 points against the No. 1 ranked team in the competition is no mean feat and all seven, which were converted by Howarth, came elsewhere than the maul.
“We have good alignment with trusting what we are doing, and a strong set piece,” said Gear.
At Sunnybank, Mabel Park SHS schoolboy Francis Pepe landed the matchwinner in the 67th minute to win 38-34 over GPS and importantly, keep the Dragons entrenched in the finals race.
The hosts led 19-15 at half time after both teams scored three tries in the first half.
Both GPS and Sunnybank scored three more tries after the break, with Pepe’s try breaking the Gallopers’ hearts.
Sunnybank flyhalf Joseph Cummins kicked four conversions to Spencer Alcock’s two which was the difference.
FRANTIC BACK-AND-FORTH FINISH
After trailing by four at the break, GPS halfback Charlie Condon scored a great try to hand GPS a one-point lead when ahead 20-19.
Sunnybank retook its lead at 26-20 when prolific hooker Dre Loughlin scored off a rolling maul. GPS flanker Riley Canavan had just been yellow carded for a tipping tackle.
Indeed Sunnybank made GPS pay while down a man. Shortly after Loughlin’s try, Fijian front-rower JD Kanth crashed over for a 31-20 lead.
GPS, via a great rolling maul, scored next through Bailey Caplick to trail 31-27 and then again when Nathan Page burrowed over to lead 34-31 with four minutes left.
But Sunnybank had the last laugh when Pepe pounced to make it 38-34.
Dragons flanker Declan O’Sullivan released the ball out the back of a rolling maul and Pepe went himself, stepping right-to-left and scoring to ignite wild celebrations from the home side.
Flyhalf Cummins then added the extras 10m in from touch before GPS mounted one last attacking assault.
Sunnybank inside centre DJ Manase made the match-sealing play when he pilfered the ball and won a penalty after full time to stave off GPS just two metres from his try line.
Originally published as Colts 1 club rugby round 13 latest: Sunnybank, Wests, Brothers in matchwinners
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