Taroona claim Glenorchy derby as Burnie eye Premiership berth

The race for men’s premiership qualification is heating up in the TRU after a weekend of pivotal results. Read how the competition is shaping up.

UniQueens forward Lolohea Foki breaks free against Taroona during their TRU women’s clash at Rugby Park. Picture: CMW Photography

Taroona’s derby win over Stags and the Emus’ trouncing of Eastern Suburbs headlined round eight TRU action as the race for men’s Premiership qualification heats up.

The Penguins were pushed hard by rivals Glenorchy in an entertaining 34-26 affair with Taroona winger George Chaperon-Tucker and standout Stag Walter Dare trading doubles at Rugby Park.

The result saw Glenorchy slip down to fourth on the ladder with the Penguins and Bulls into second and third respectively following Devonport’s 37-17 win over Launceston 2.

In the state’s northwest, doubles to Tevita Kaianuanu and Ben Via helped Burnie to a 60-0 win over Eastern Suburbs and launched the Emus into the top five with just one game to play before the mid-year cut-off.

Saturday’s upcoming clash with Hobart Harlequins (sixth) could well decide which of Burnie and Quins will contest the Premiership in the season’s back half, though Hobart Lions’ Round 8 bonus-point win over University adds another layer of intrigue.

The Lions downed the students 43-15 last Friday and currently sit in seventh with upcoming games against Devonport and Taroona to decide their fate.

Wins in both fixtures would secure a Premiership berth, while a win and a loss would see bonus points and head-to-head record come into play.

All three of Taroona, Devonport and Glenorhcy are assured Premiership qualification while powerhouse Launceston 1 remain competition frontrunners following their 82-3 rout of Quins at Royal Park.

In the women’s competition, Taroona kept their unbeaten start to 2024 alive with a hard-fought win over UniQueens at Rugby Park.

Rival flyers Karryne Hurkmans and Ella Gair traded doubles but the Penguins proved too strong, holding on for a 29-22 win to hand UniQueens their first loss of the year.

Up north, Tigers posted their first win of 2024 in style with Rebecca Sweetman (three tries) and Bekah Escobar (two tries) running riot in a 41-5 victory over Eastern Suburbs.

In the under 18 boys division, Hutchins made it three on the trot with a 31-5 win over Taroona while doubles to Henry Stone, Rory Killian and Tom Alomes helped deliver a 66-17 win in the corresponding under 16 boys fixture.

The game of the round, however, went to Eastern Stags’ thrilling win over Tigers.

Tigers rolled in six tries to the Stags’ five with Oscar Davey, Nate Henrys and Zinzan Farmer scoring two tries apiece for the hosts.

But the visitors weren’t to be denied with Zavier Throw (three tries) and Hamish McNeil (11 points) digging deep to steer the Stags home at Royal Park.

The results set up a mouth-watering under 16 boys clash this weekend with second-placed Stags hosting ladder-leaders Hutchins at Eady Street.