Colts 1 club rugby: GPS in thriller, Uni, Easts, Wests win
A scrumhalf sensation from GPS was a goalkicking game-winner against Bond while Uni, Easts and Wests won well in Colts 1 club rugby. More here on how round 8 unfolded.
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A stunning Colts 1 spectacle between the Gallopers and Bull Sharks set the club rugby scene alight on Saturday.
At Yoku road in Ashgrove, GPS won 38-36 over competition heavyweights Bond, with Bull Sharks interchange energiser Heinrich Fourie scoring a try on the stroke of full time to come within two points.
Always-impressive halfback and captain Sam Howarth had the chance to tie what was a riveting, top-shelf game of Colts 1 rugby but his kick, about 15m in from touch, sprayed away and that was game.
Just last week GPS almost defeated Wests before a try by Harry Solofa and subsequent equalising conversion from Jamie Alexander secured a 17-all draw.
GPS only narrowly avoided a draw in round 8, with scrumhalf James Prole a sensation on his local stomping grounds in Ashgrove.
Prole can regularly be seen doing kicking and passing extras in the off-season and all his hard work proved the difference in a grand 74-point showcase of under-20s rugby.
Prole had only last week been promoted from Colts 2 for his chance at retaking the No.9 jersey which he wore with pride last season.
He kicked all five of his conversions, slotted a key penalty goal, kicked well for touch and utilised an effective box kick which GPS assistant coach Matt Mafi labelled as “the difference”.
“The lads really put in the effort and they probably deserved to win last week,” Mafi said in reference to the draw against Wests.
“We are really happy they got the win this week.”
Around Prole’s golden right boot, the jinking feet of fullback Jonah Allen also played a big part. Allen scored a sensational solo try, one of two he scored.
But the real match was upfront where there was a bruising battle of the packs.
Front-rowers Rogan Huntley, Blaze Moana and Jonah Rangiwai were scrum time weapons while for GPS, hooker Nic Gullo scored a wonderful rolling maul try and was accurate with his lineout throws.
Captain and No.8 George Griffiths was outstanding with his lineout jumping and leadership under pressure. Around him, lock Tom Hansson scored a try and flankers Tom Williams and Riley Canavan worked themselves into the ground.
They just had to given the potency of the Bond pack and midfield, which featured dynamic duo Max Angove and Rocco Gollings.
Inside centre Angove was both a handful in attack and menace over the ball, while speedy No.13 Gollings was a threat whenever he touched the ball.
On one occasion he sliced through the GPS defence and created a try, one of six Bond scored.
GPS only scored five tries but Prole’s lights-out goalkicking accounted for crucial 13 points.
At Brothers, University consolidated top spot on the ladder with a wire-to-wire victory over The Brethren.
Uni won 27-17 but Brothers showed tremendous heart returning from a 12-nil deficit within the first 10 minutes to be knotted at 17-all with 25 minutes to go.
Barnstorming Uni No.8 Angus Kelly scored an emphatic solo try to lead by seven points, before flyhalf Isaac McAuliffe nailed the coffin shut a little later on with a penalty goal.
Brothers interchange player Nate Wines looked certain to score when trailing by seven but typical scrappy Uni defence denied him and any chance of a late comeback.
Kelly was destructive, and University amped up — especially in the first half.
Hooker Hardy Bryant, and backrowers Hugh Chapman and Jack Henry were just tireless across 70 minutes and brought it on defence to capture the lead and never surrender.
ANGEL AIMS UP
Indeed Brothers lock Harrison Angel was outstanding as Brothers gathered themselves after being startled early to trail 12-10 entering the second half.
The loudest forward on the field, Angel marshalled his troops well in the rolling maul and his lineout wins created Brothers’ best chance to score late in the first half when Emmanuel Taviri dived in.
Angel had brought down lineout ball and headed a rolling maul before the ball swung left to right, reaching Zach Lewis (fullback) and Liam Robinson (hooker) before finding an unmarked Taviri. Taviri later left the field with a knee injury.
The vocal Angel, as well as skilful prop Reagan Knowles and battering ram Isaac Ratuere were top notch in an enthralling first thirty minutes of play.
The University forwards were also mighty, with nimble backrower Henry, Hugh Chapman and hooker Bryant all having their moments defensively, either pilfering the ball or clobbering Brothers attackers.
TAYLOR TAKES NO PRISONERS
Uni winger Ruston Taylor produced the highlight of the game early in the second half when he followed up his own dislodging tackle with a superb 30m dash to create a magical Mitch Moss try.
Frame thumped Sam Condon, then found his feet to receive an offload after the ball had spilt to ground. He then sped downfield, fending off two defenders, before Henry and outside centre Spencer Frame shifted the ball to the rangy Moss who crossed in the right corner.
It was 17-10 but The Brethren responded immediately when hardworking No.8 Juan Falaniko sprung free from Uni’s grasp and found nippy halfback Joe Post on his inside. It was 17-all after Zach Lewis nailed his second conversion close to the touchline.
FINAL SAY
At 17-all the game was there for the taking. Uni No.8 Kelly produced a stunning response to Post’s try with a turf-shredding run to smash through defenders and make it 24-17 with 20 minutes to play.
Despite the efforts of gutsy inside centre Sam Condon, crafty flyhalf Charlie Johnstone and backrower Tom Bailey — who was barrelled into touch late in the game as he motored towards the line — University escaped The Butchery 10-point victors.
At Sunnybank, the Easts Tigers roared back into the winner’s circle after suffering three last-gasp losses over the past three rounds.
Second row revelation Max Campbell and blindside flanker Tom Stoddart were enormous as the visitors turned a slender 8-5 half time advantage into a confidence-boosting 34-12 victory.
Easts coach Jack Richards said it was the type of performance he had been looking for, with his young team grinding out a tough first half where Sunnybank enjoyed a glut of possession — before moving in on their Sunnybank prey.
Easts’ forwards were ferocious, with representative tighthead prop Byron Murphy enjoying a purple patch of form after a great display against Brothers in round 7.
But the most pleasing aspect for Richards was the continued rise of lock Campbell and the splendid starting debut of former Churchie schoolboy whiz Caleb Godfrey.
For the first time this season the athletic Godfrey wore jersey No.5 and he was top notch in his role, alongside Stoddart, Campbell and Co.
Easts, in its 26-5 second half taming of the Dragons, also got plenty from returning midfielder Ilan Cloete.
A sporting wonder ranked first in the nation for his age group in Judo, Cloete was a ball of energy and muscle which gave Easts a wonderful platform to thrive off.
He scored a try and the momentum he gained helped create points elsewhere. Captain Larry Clark scored two tries from outside centre and was superb with his leadership, composure and calm head when Easts drifted away from its game plan.
In-form hooker Dre Loughlin and big loosehead prop Royden Fakaosilea scored tries on either side of half time for the hosts, with impressive flyhalf Jack Maunsell and centres Teahoterangi Rapata and Junior Sitia Malupo threatening at times.
But Easts defended bravely in the first before the boot of Sam McGahan and the set-piece work of his forwards forged a considerable lead which the Dragons could not reel in.
At Norths, the Bulldogs returned to their blistering best to run away comprehensive 45-27 winners over the Eagles.
After Norths outside centre Will Balke kickstarted proceedings with a stunning intercept try to hand his side an early lead, the Bulldogs got barking to open up a 21-12 half time advantage.
When Norths fumbled the ball off the kick restart, Wests scored immediately through prop Salesi Kali.
From there on, the visitors rolled onwards and upwards towards the half century mark.
Powerful loosehead prop Hamish Ward scored two tries within the first 30 minutes before winger Chrionie tiso, Charlie Bird and Alex Watkins found the stripe to pull away from Norths.
Inside centre Bird has been a brilliant addition to Phil Mooney’s Wests backline after earlier this season playing for the Wynnum Manly Seagulls’ Meninga Cup rugby league team.
Just rock solid, Bird’s “strength has been his consistency”.
“He carries well, he tackles well, he communicates well. He’s just been a really good, stable influence for the team,” said Mooney.
After drawing 17-all with GPS and losing 37-24 against Sunnybank, Mooney said “it was great to bounce back” with every player lifting their standards to overcome a gritty Norths outfit that started well.
“It was a step up by everyone. He (Hamish Ward) exemplified the improvement by everyone,’’ Mooney said.
Two-try terror Ward spearheaded Wests’ power game, which Norths coach Dan Ritchie conceded was a big factor.
“They won the contact battle. They won the collision,” Ritchie said of his opposition’s physicality.
“We just haven't been able to put it together for 70 minutes.”
The usual suspects were to the fore for Wests. Hooker Harry Solofa was excellent on both sides of the ball, lock Will Pascoe busy as ever and third-year Colt Daniel Mavunda full of beans at openside flanker.
For Norths, loosehead Oli Aleman put in a performance himself, and father James — a member of Norths’ Golden Oldies team — would be proud of.
Aleman played the full 70 minutes, scrummed well and set a high standard with his work rate.
No.8 Luke McGarry was immense matching motors with the abrasive Wests forwards.
Norths’ best moment came when fullback Tommy Green consolidated the scoreline late in the game with a miraculous chip-and-chase try.
Originally published as Colts 1 club rugby: GPS in thriller, Uni, Easts, Wests win
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