Stylianos Vrontos, Swampdogs headline Round 15’s top performers
The NT News sport team has run the rule over the DRU grade competition, compiling a list of the top performers and point scorers from Round 15. See who made it from your club.
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The final round of regular season action delivered on the excitement with massive scorelines and close finishes across the board.
We have run the rule over the weekend’s top performers and point scorers from the round that was.
Find out who from your club and team made the list below.
ROUND 15
STYLIANOS VRONTOS (University Pirates, A-grade)
Player of the round and putting on one of the most dominant individual displays this season the Pirates fullback ran riot against the dual-reigning champions. The multi-code athlete used his football skills to score his first try, volleying a wayward pass before picking up the Gilbert and running under the uprights. He went on to score three more tries, leading his side to a 25-10 victory, securing the minor premiership in the process.
PADDY EDWARDS (Swampdogs, B-grade)
A member of the Swampie’s backline that was scoring at will, the inside crossed for a brace.
NATHAN EVERETT (Swampdogs, B-grade)
Conducting his troops around the park with the same level of vigour as Carlos Kleiber, the fly half crossed for a hat-trick as well as slotting three from the spot.
JOSH ROBINSON (Swampdogs, B-grade)
Robinson did a lot of attacking and not much defending at the weekend, the fullback another Swampdog to record three tries.
CHARLIE MITCHELL (Swampdogs, B-grade)
The lock found himself among the action at the weekend, scoring two tries in his side’s 120-0 win over Darwin.
HAYDEN AUSTINE (Swampdogs, B-grade)
While the usually offensively potent Austine didn’t cross for a five pointer, he did kick them sweetly from the spot, making nine goals.
HOLLY LOVATT (University Pirates, Women)
The Pirates fullback was elite at the weekend, racing away for two great long-distance tries in a 45-12 win over Casuarina.
SAVANNAH BOLT (University Pirates, Women)
Off the bench, Bolt got in the thick of the action, recording a well deserved second half brace.
AMBER TOLE (University Pirates, Women)
University’s winger worked great in tandem with her fullback Lovatt, scoring two tries in the win.
BAYLEY HAKES (Palmerston Crocs, A-grade)
The hooker was again Palmerston’s strike weapon at the weekend, scoring another brace in a 39-24 defeat at the hands of Darwin.
ROUND 14
BAYLEY HAKES (Palmerston Crocs, A-grade)
One of the Crocs’ best this season was at it again at the weekend. The hooker crossed the paint for two meat pies in a 31-20 loss against reigning premiers Casuarina.
AIDAN MCCOMISKY (Casuarina Cougars, A-grade)
A key contributor in his team’s victory, the inside centre scored two tries, both in the first half.
CASSIELA WAPAU (Darwin Dragons, Women)
The Dragon was on song against the Bunnies, scoring a brace and kicking one from the spot in the top of the table clash.
SHUNSEI OKAZAKI (South Darwin, A-grade)
Okazaki was electric for Souths in the side’s emphatic 65-7 victory over the Dragons. The scrum half snagged two tries – one being the try of the season contender – and kicked four from the tee.
DAN CAKAU (South Darwin, A-grade)
The teenage speedster was everywhere at the weekend. He set up Okazaki for the try of the season contender while scoring a hat-trick himself.
DALLAS CAULTON (South Darwin, A-grade)
A part of the Bunnies that joined in on the action, Caulton scored a hat-trick and kicked one on the wing.
JANNA RANSOME (Darwin Dragons, Women)
The Dragon had hot hands on Saturday, recording a double against South Darwin.
ILALIO LUTUA (Casuarina Cougars, B-grade)
Lutua scored a brace in the Cougars 21-0 win over Swampdogs, helping his side reclaim the Secretary’s Cup.
ROUND 13
ASIVELI RAUGA (University Pirates, A-grade)
Alongside his captain Robert Butcher at outside, the ‘Ice-Man’ scored an impressive brace in the Pirates 33-25 victory over Darwin.
ROBERT BUTCHER (University Pirates, A-grade)
Playing inside at the weekend the captain was dominant with the boot once again slotting 4/5 from the spot. He also scored a try for good measure.
ROXY MAHONY-GILCHRIST (Palmerston Crocs, Women)
A major factor in the Crocs securing the points over South, Mahony-Gilchrist scored a brace in the 26-12 win.
VICTORIA ALLEY (Palmerston Crocs, Women)
Alley, like Mahony-Gilchrist was immense at the weekend, kicking ¾ from the spot.
VILIMONI MATAINADROGA (South Darwin, A-grade)
Matainadroga had hot hands at the weekend, scoring a double in the big 33-3 win over Palmerston.
FIRTH WARUSAM (South Darwin, B-grade)
The blindside was in the thick of the try scoring action against the Crocs, crossing for a double.
DEBBIE GIMINI (South Darwin, Women)
Back to her try-scoring best the Rabbitoh was her teams lone try scorer, snagging a brace in the 14 point defeat.
ROUND 12
HAYDEN RIGGS (Darwin Dragons, A-grade)
Despite being on the wrong end of a 26-12 scoreline against Casuarina, Riggs was a standout through his stellar defensive efforts.
KAYLEE HOFFMANN (Darwin Dragons, Women)
Hoffmann was a weapon for Darwin, laying some crunching tackles in defence and numerous solid hit-ups with the ball.
SOUTH DARWIN (A-grade)
The Rabbitohs A-grade outfit put on a tremendous showing at the weekend, narrowly pipped by the relentlessly good Pirates. South Darwin had its fair share of the ball, putting together productive attacking phases that garnered five separate try scorers.
AYLA MURFITT (Darwin Dragons, Women)
The Dragon was a key cog in her side’s attack, crossing the paint for two tries in a 29-5 win over Casuarina.
ROBBIE BUTCHER (University Pirates, A-grade)
The infallible Butcher was at it again with the boot in a tight 36-33 victory over South Darwin. Butcher kicked 4/5 from the spot and, as clutch as ever, kicked the game winning penalty goal in the 75th minute to seal the win and take out the President’s Cup for 2024-25.
STYLIANOS VRONTOS (University Pirates, A-grade)
The fullback was his ever busy self in the Pirates win at the weekend scoring a brace.
ROUND 11
SEREMAIA TUISORISORI (University Pirates, A-grade)
The winger put on a try scoring clinic at the weekend, crossing the paint four times. He also converted one from the spot for good measure.
ROXY MAHONY-GILCHRIST (Palmerston Crocs, Women’s)
A big contributor in helping Palmerston secure its second win on the bounce Mahony-Gilchrist scored the crucial second try for her team in the 12-7 win over University.
ASIVELI RAUGA (University Pirates, A-grade)
The ‘Ice-Man’ had hot hands on Saturday night, scoring two tries in the Pirates’ mammoth victory.
SHUNSEI OKAZAKI (South Darwin, B-grade)
A driving force for the Bunnies’ recent success, Okazaki led from the front once again. The fullback scored one try, kicked 3/3 from the spot and also converted a three pointer in the Rabbitohs’ 24-0 upset over Swampdogs.
BEN DORAHY (University Pirates, A-grade)
The man out wide on the left was one of three Pirates who recorded a brace at the weekend.
ROBBIE BUTCHER (University Pirates, A-grade)
Mister reliable was at it again leading the charge in his side’s 89-7 victory over the Crocs. The captain had the Gilbert on a string slotting 11 from the tee. He also crossed for two tries, taking his tally to 32 points for the match or 35.95 per cent of Pirates’ total.
ROUND 10
BAYLEY HAKES (Palmerston Crocs, A-grade)
A try scoring magnet this season the barnstorming forward crossed the paint for two meat pies in his team’s 26-19 loss against Casuarina.
MEIGHAN BARKER (Palmerston Crocs, Women)
The talented youngster was a weapon at the weekend, scoring a hat-trick in a 29-0 win against the Cougars.
TREY CROWLEY (Casuarina Cougars, A-grade/B-grade)
Always in the action the fly-half kicked one from the spot and three penalty goals in the Cougars seven point victory over the Crocs. He also contributed in B-grade, crossing for a maximum and slotting two from the tee in a win over University.
NOAH PULLINO (Casuarina Cougars, B-grade)
The open side came up with a brace in Casuarina’s convincing 19-5 win versus the Pirates.
SHUNSEI OKAZAKI (South Darwin, A-grade)
Influential at the back all night long Okazaki scored a five pointer, kicked two from the spot and kicked one penalty goal in South’s 22-0 win over Darwin.
NATHAN EVERETT (Swampdogs, B-grade)
Another player who is in the action almost every round, Everett couldn’t be contained at the weekend. The fullback steered his side around the park, crossing for three tries in the Dogs’ 28-0 thumping of the Crocs.
HAYDEN AUSTINE (Swampdogs, B-grade)
Backing up his side’s efforts from the spot, Austine went a perfect 4/4 with the boot.
VICTORIA ALLEY (Palmerston Crocs, Women)
Alongside Barker, Alley was another Croc on a tear. She scored one try and kicked two conversions in the dominant victory over Casuarina.
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