Connell, Harvey 19s grand finals; City v Country clashes
Grand final thrillers, Meninga Cup update: The Dolphins and Cutters were respective premiers after two epic deciders. Coverage here, along with City v Country 17s reports.
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Redcliffe were the 2024 Connell Cup premiers after a rousing 24-10 win over the Townsville Blackhawks.
The Dolphins turned for home at halftime leading 16-nil, then withstood a Blackhawks’ recovering before coming to rest 14 point winners.
CONNELL CUP TEAM OF THE SEASON
In the representative fixtures, the City girls defeated Country 60-6 while City beat Country 50-24 in the boys’ encounter.
Mackay premiership winning coach Matt Sanders missed the Harvey 19s final to remain in the sugar cane capital with his wife who was expecting the pair’s child.
Sanders praised the commitment of the side. “We are a regional team and with that comes a lot of commitment,’’ Sanders said.
“We have a lot girls who live out of town and who live 100km away and they are there every training with a commitment to become better.
“The love the game and we are blessed in Mackay to have a really good bunch who are committed, and they got the rewards today.’’
More on the Harvey 19s grand final below.
Meanwhile, in Meninga Cup action on Saturday, the Dolphins beat Pride 30-14, Falcons defeated Magpies 30-12, Devils beat Capras 36-8 and Wynnum Manly defeated 44-6. More on those matches later in our story as well.
And Tigers improvement under coach Ben Weston also continued at pace with a 60-14 win that was led by Jackson Connor and Diezel Brunker coming off the bench.
In Saturday’a fixtures Mackay enjoyed an away 34-16 win over the Clydesdales, while Ipswich beat Burleigh 32-10. More on that win later in our story below.
CONNELL CUP GRAND FINAL
Redcliffe forwards, take a bow. It was on the back of the squad’s absorbing first half, middle third performance that Saturday’s grand final was won and lost.
The Dolphins won 24-10, with captain Brian Pouniu triumphantly hoisting the Cup skyward.
Every member of the Redcliffe pack involved in that first half surge was entitled to handle the premiership cup first, because their fingerprints were all over Redcliffe’s premiership win.
Down 16-nil at the break, the Blackhawks came back hard. We always knew they would because they were too good a side to not to.
Initially the Blackhawks’ raised the tempo in defence, and off the back of that the side seemed to get more energy around the rallying efforts of hooker Cooper Cox.
An intercept try by Townsville Blackhawks centre Cohen Dittman 18 minutes from full-time then set the scene for an edge of your seat finish, and for a seven or eight minute period the Blackhawks’ looked likely to draw level.
It was a nervous time for Redcliffe as the Blackhawks’ produced its best of the grand final for the second half.
Importantly a Bond Bradley penalty goal six minutes from full-time gave Redcliffe a buffer, and then an angled run by No.13 Charlie Dickson found the line and the Dolphins were safe leading 20-10.
Redcliffe’s middle forwards Cody Starr, Charlie Dickson and Archie Maddocks were strong in the first 20 minutes, and when Starr and Maddocks were rested, on came Nate Berrigan and Jairus Halahala to add another dimension to the Redcliffe middle third effort.
Dolphins’ signed Halahala had been late to the party this season after missing matches through injury, but he has been a revelation over the last month of the competition.
Behind the forwards armour halves Noah Fien and Carter Welfare functioned with the precision of traffic cops in Times Square, New York, benefiting from their dummy half Amare Wynyard.
It was a grand team performance to establish that crucial 16-nil bumper, all started by the middle forwards.
Redcliffe halves Noah Fien and Carter Welfare have been the perfect foil for each other all season, with the first trying coming when Welfare found his running mate, No.7 Fien.
Redcliffe’s forwards Starr, Dickson and Maddocks continued to rumble away, and it was their one, two, three punch which generated momentum that saw hooker Wynyard scamper over following a brilliant solo run.
Interchange forward Halahala leg drive in contact, and Berrigan leg speed and brave carries, maintained the rage as Redcliffe continued to control the game in the first half.
At times Berrigan resembled Cowboys champion Reuben Cotter with his dynamic, quick runs.
It was Berrigan’s hard running and agility which also helped him score his team’s third try - but only after Halahala’s post contact metres, and Dean Griffin’s strong carry, had given Redcliffe additional momentum.
But the Blackhawks were not dead.
One of Blackhawks’ potent attacking weapons has been its left side raids toward Taakoi Benioni, and it was one such raid which got the Blackhawks’ on the board early in the second half.
On the other side of the field Redcliffe captain Brian Pouniu also had a great running battle with Blackhawks’ right edge battleship, Enliko Savelio.
Then came the Blackhawk’s second half recovery fuelled by Dittman’s intercept try.
Dittman, who seemed to get faster the further he went, ran 95m after Redcliffe were building for a try at the other end of the field. That try made it 16-10.
HARVEY NORMAN UNDER-19s
The brilliance of Mackay Cutters centre Jennifer Kimber gave her side the winning edge in a last second thriller against the Tigers.
Mackey won 18-16, surviving two late tries from the Tigers.
The game ended with the Tigers pounding the Mackay line. It was a fabulous roller coaster ride.
Kimber’s elusive wide running, enthusiasm on the kick and chase, and runs from dummy half all helped Mackay edge out their rivals in a match worthy of a decider.
But it was her glorious solo run 20 minutes from fulltime, when she attacked Tigers elite defender Relna Hosea from a centre field scrum, which was most celebrated. It was a try from 20m out that will be repeated on highlight reels.
You could have put the bank on the Tigers fightback from a 18-8 deficit, and so it was the case when winger Lily Neill crossed in the 48th minute, making it a converted try between the sides.
And then they scored again with two minutes remaining when winger Kaylah Moloney squeezed over.
The Tigers threw the kitchen sink at the Cutters’ smaller ball runners, but Mackay’s forwards and dummy half runners refused to be intimidated.
Some may need a good douse of smelling salts after the game to revive themselves - such was the force of some defensive hits by Tigers players - but it was a battle well worth the end result.
“We just trusted ourselves,’’ said Mackay coach Matt Sanders, who missed attending the match due to the impending birth of he and his wife’s child..
He said there were times when his side looked to be cruising but “the girls hung on’’. I was really impressed with the way they weathered the storm,’’ he added.
It was another all or nothing run from dummy half - this time by captain Mersades Lawson - which penetrated the Tigers defence and enabled the Cutters to carve out a hard earned 14-8 advantage.
Brave Mackay forward Leila Murphy, a light weight compared to her opponents, should receive a ribbon for courage after her performance, while hooker Paityne Johns gave the winners run at the start and in the at the end.
Murphy sustained a leg break which help the game up for around an hour before she was transferred to hospital. She’d have woken this morning sore but proud to be a part of the Mackay squad.
All season Mackay Cutters hooker Paityne Johns has challenged teams, and it was another of her darting runs which set the wheels in motion for Mackay’s second try to break a 4-all deadlock.
Following Johns’ run, a left edge shift saw Mersades Lawson cross, and a booming conversion by Paige Mooney made it 10-6.
On the other side of the field Cutters centre Jennifer Kimber was having a battle royale with Relna Hosea, although Kimber did enough to create a try down that ride of the field, but her pass was not taken.
The Tigers were a big, bruising pack, but they were also highly skilled and enjoyed playing at pace.
It was such momentum generated by the pack which led to front foot ball for Porche John who crashed over from dummy half to allow her side to hit back just on halftime.
Earlier, the Tigers started with typical intensity and it was no surprise when impact player Patricia Wani powered over to opening the scoring in the game.
CITY-COUNTRY GIRLS
City halfback Lili Lewis put on a masterclass and No.13 Shalom Sauaso was not far behind her as the locals blew their country cousins off the park with a scintillating first half performance, winning 60-6.
It was real hot potato stuff as the City girls played at pace, backing their skills in contact to keep the ball moving.
City had dominated possession across the opening half, leading to a landslide of points.
Country just could not get the ball.
It was a pity because everyone knew the Country players were outstanding young athletes who were a much better side than the scoreboard indicated. But the Country girls will live to fight another day.
Ironically Country were denied what would have been the team try of the season right on halftime when a ball bounced forward after some miracle passes and wonderful support play had been started by No.13 Pypah Ferguson unloading.
It was appropriate Ferguson, a Clydesdales’ player, also scored her team’s first try
Phew, what an opening 30 minutes it was as City went ahead of the clock to lead 34-nil.
Marsden SHS halfback Lewis was sensational, helped by the speed of play the ball and also angles run by teammates all around her.
Also dominating was Ipswich SHS product Sauaso, a powerful runner and driving defender who looked like a women playing among the girls. Both girls have an extremely bright future.
City prop Lishainah Ulugia had a huge start to the match, with a barge over try followed by a pass in traffic which set the wheels in motion for her team’s second try.
The second try was a beautiful backs ball play through the hands of five-eight Danielle-Elizabeth Tutakangahau and fullback Luadaka which led to Shar-Lene Nati scoring, but only after City had been granted field position from a movement started by prop Ulugia.
Later in the second half Ulugi returned to the field to score.
More strong, straight middle forward running - this time by Sky-yvette Faimalie and Shalom Sauaso - led to halfback Lili Lewis keeping the ball alive. Ultimately it was hooker Raewyn Olomalii who scampered over, making it 14-nil.
Sausao was just as dominant as Ulugia, with a fine individual try to make it 20-nil.
To score next City took advantage of the space provided by a centre field scrum, and a left side shift ended in the hands of fullback Luadaka crossing.
It was another beautifully worked scrum move soon which saw five-eight Danielle-Elizabeth Tutakangahau loop behind her forwards, linking with a charging Luadaka who put her winger Nikeisha Ngaru over.
When Country finally gained an even flow of possession in the second half, City No.13 Sauaso and props Ulugia and Faimalie with defence that would send the heads of the Country ball carriers rocking backwards.
Lewis was named played of the match.
CITY-COUNTRY BOYS
Five tries in 17 minutes sent City exploding away from Country during an action packed under-17 representative fixtures, won by City 50-24.
If you were lured by the ground announcer to the Tigers canteen for some hot chips and a pie, you would have risked missing at least two tries during an explosive period to start the second half.
From leading 22-18, City hit the go button to put space between the two teams.
City centre Joseph Tupose was initially the spark which fired his side to a five try binge.
He produced classical centre play to put his winger Siosaia Poese over one minute into the second half, and then a crashing run gave his side momentum which ultimately led to Oliver Patterson scoring.
Then to complete a trifecta of tries, Jared Horne supported a chip ahead by Patterson after his hooker Hayden Watson had blazed away down a wide blindside.
At 36-18 the match was getting away from Country in a hurry, but Sunshine Coast No.13 Jackson Koina showed his team the way to the line with a fighting individual try to make it 36-24.
However, dynamic hooker Sam Martin then righted the ship for City once more with another try, and then back rower Ronnic Starkey and within the space of 17 minutes six tries had been scored. It was extraordinary stuff.
It was an eye-catching first half, with City getting out to a 22-6 advantage before Country surged late with two tries to cut the margin to just four points.
City halfback Marley McLaren brilliantly created one if his team’s third try with a deft chip kick which Oliver Patterson latched onto with ease.
Earlier a Seth Gundry flat pass to a charging winger Siosaia Poese, and a try by elite edge forward Taylon To’a had given City some early runs on the board.
City’s scoring was broken by a try from hooker Brodie Hilt after a crashing run by Capras centre Elijah McKay had knocked the City defenders back.
There is no better scrapper in this age group than No.9 Hilt who fought and wriggled his way over from close to the line.
With halftime looming City prop Kobi Floro, the biggest man on the field, crashed over after taking an inside running line to lift his team ahead 22-6.
Wavell SHS prop Floro had threatened earlier in the half working off his No.13 Jared Horne, and it was no surprise to see him impact the game.
But the 16 point margin at that stage flattered City, and it came as no surprise when Country narrowed the margin entering the halftime break when makeshift hooker Zac Bateman sprinted over.
One thing this under-17 age group is not short of is hookers. Every side had a hooker who was capable of playing in this representative fixtures, and we again saw the depth in the dummy half ranks with Hayden Watson (City) and Bateman entering the fray.
Bateman, a back rower, scored a tremendous individual try for Country, using his speed to simply beat the City defenders to the line.
Then came a right side run by centre Finn Kendall who put his second rower from Mackay, Mark Morrow, over and we had a ball game entering the second half, with City leading 22-18. That the scoreline accurately reflected the match over the opening 35 minutes.
City’s Sam Martin was named player of the match.
MENINGA CUP
The Dolphins beat Pride 30-14, Falcons defeated Magpies 30-12, Devils beat Capras 36-8 and Wynnum Manly defeated 44-6.
“I was very happy to get the win,’’ said Norths coach Shannon Tupara, whose team was led to victory by an outstanding performance from fullback Scott Simon, while utility forward Lauloto Salei played strongly.
Falcons Meninga Cup coach Cam Boaza said it was great to see the Sunshine Coast boys take ownership and get things right that they needed to fix. “We wanted to fix our defence and we worked hard on it this week. “It was a good team performance,’’ he said.
Centre Kai Porter did a great job in defence handling Broncos’ contracted Israel Leota while dummy half Jai Bowden was again outstanding.
In Sunday’s matches, Three tries in five minutes helped Mackey pull clear of the Western Clydesdales 34-16.
With the scores 12-all, Mackay hit the lead 20 minutes from fulltime after two battering ram efforts from props Matthew Watts and Tavita Penaia Te’o resulted in Te’o scoring.
A few minutes later Te’o contributed to his team stretching its lead when he passed, and didn’t run, tipping off to his halves who help fullback Mutua Brown find space to score.
Then following a penalty, Mackey attacked again, with early ball for centre Will Shears resulting in Shears shrugging off defenders and sprinting 25m to score a wonderful solo try.
And that, ladies and gentleman, was the match.
Earlier, Mackay opened the scoring against the Western Clydesdales when sustained pressure led to outstanding hooker Xavier Kerrisk scrambling over near the posts.
Mackay shaded the Clydesdales across the first half as a great battle between the respective edge forwards unfolded.
Cutters second rowers Rory Woodall and Travis Larner ran with plenty of intent, but were met by gallant pair Luke Cesari and Trace Beattie.
It was a great clash, made even more mouthwatering when Beattie struck back with his own hard ball running early in the second half to score.
Having scored earlier, Mackay hooker Kerrisk almost extended his team’s halftime lead to 10 points, but his pass from the ruck could not be handled as Clydesdales’ scrambled in cover defence.
This was after fullback Mutua Brown has set the match alight with a run that was supported by centre Shears and Luka Russell.
Edge forwards Larner and Woodall both played strongly, as did centre Shears and hooker Kerrisk, while Henry Thorpe organised well from No.13 when he was on the field.
Clydesdales Trace Beattie rolled up his sleeves for his side.
In the Bears v Ipswich clash, the Jets produced one of its best performances of the season to turn a 10-nil deficit into a 32-10 win.
With an outstanding forward pack headed by the front row of Nicholas Tuliatu, hooker Nathan
Fraser and the ever increasingly impressive Kanaan Magele, Ipswich seized control leading up to halftime and never lost their grip.
The team’s defence in the last 10 minutes would also have pleased the coaching staff when Burleigh were trying ever trick in the book to challenge their rivals.
The victory was iced late when Isaac Togia scored a weaving 35m solo try.
Bears dominated possession and territory for the opening six minutes of the match, and just when the Jets seemed to have weathered the storm, Burleigh prop Talas Abell cut back on the inside to find a narrow channel to the line.
A little piece of Coby Black magic then gifted Creedence Kelly Donovan a try when, from a tap penalty 10m out, Black created a try with just one pass. It was a special piece of play by a footballer with natural vision.
But despite slipping behind on the scoreboard, Ipswich were never that far out of the contest and it was not surprise when they hit back courtesy of the quick silver Amaziah Murgha.
The dancing feet of centre Caelys-Paul Putoko then allowed his side to draw level as halftime loomed.
A super ball from one of the Ipswich forwards then sent the Jets surging downfield, and off the back of that momentum second rower Jabiri Mack crossed.
Originally published as Connell, Harvey 19s grand finals; City v Country clashes
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