Bond University’s dominance of the StoreLocal Premier Women’s competition extended for another year on Sunday at Ballymore, defeating Easts to secure a third straight premiership.
The win came off the back of a virtuoso performance from star centre Melanie Wilks and a two-try contribution from her Queensland Reds teammate, USA Eagles tighthead prop Charlie Jacoby.
Remarkably for the Bull Sharks, it’s not only a third straight season where they’ve come up trumps at the big dance, but also a third time that they’ve achieved the ultimate success despite not ending the season on the top of the ladder.
They join Easts and Sunnybank as the only clubs to win a hat-trick of Women’s Premier competitions since the turn of the century.
Wallaroo front rowers Tiarna Molloy (Easts, withdrawn for Wallaroos purposes), Madi Schuck and Eva Karpani (both injured) were notable absentees but there was no shortage of star power on display. Wilks crowned her performance by being awarded the Cheyenne Campbell Medal - an accolade she also received in 2022 – in a clear best on ground performance, Bond proving again that there is something special in the water at the Canal.
Bond Uni Captain Zoe Hanna paid tribute to the Bull Sharks’ culture, saying that heart overcame size in their pursuit of glory.
“I don’t know what makes us different, but we have an awesome culture, and the girls go out there and really play for each other,” Hanna said.
“Our forward pack is not the biggest but every one of them have massive amounts of heart. Both teams were nearly dead in this heat, but it was a phenomenal effort and we just kept working.”
Hanna explained that Wilks’ ability to settle the team was just as important to the team as the one-cap Wallaroos’ obvious talent.
“Mel Wilks is a phenomenal player, she brings so much experience and she’s such a talent, and everybody is calmer when she is on the field as she is so relaxed and ready to go herself.”
Easts started the stronger of the two sides, picking up where they left off in do-or-die victorious clashes against Wests and Sunnybank over the last two weeks, and they deservedly hit the scoreboard first with winger Leilani Hills scoring out wide and Carys Dallinger slotting an outstanding conversion.
It didn’t take long for Bond to hit back and even the scores though, Jacoby showing her experience to find the tryline from close range after second rower Lucy Thorpe broke through two tackles to set her on her way.
The try brought Bond to life, momentum shifting as Amahli Sieli-Hala showed unbelievable footwork and strength to stay upright and reach out with her right hand to score in the Northeastern corner with two defenders on her back, giving Bond a deserved 12-7 lead at the break.
Getting the first points after the break was always going to be critical, and Wilks ensured that the Bull Sharks picked up where they left off when she ran more than 50 metres and brushed off five defenders before releasing winger Dianne Waight to score, and when Jacoby scored again shortly afterwards it was clear that Bond’s big-game experience and extra conditioning after a week off were going to be advantageous in the heat.
A yellow card to Loretta Lealiifano for a late tackle further exposed the Tigers, Bond taking advantage as Tyler Birch scored their fifth try of the afternoon and Wilks succeeding with a difficult conversion.
To Easts’ credit, they refused to lie down and deservedly scored a second try of the match through back rower April Ngatupuna, but Bond would have the final say as replacement Akira-Michelle Crocker sealed the victory with the final try of the match one minute from time, Zara Colless converting.
Referee Tom Heffernan blew the final whistle, Bond prevailing 36-12 and continuing to build their legacy as the standard-bearer for women’s Rugby in Queensland.
Bond Uni 36 (HT 12)
Tries: Charlie Jacoby (2), Amahli Sieli-Hala, Dianne Waight, Tyler Birch, Akira-Michelle Crocker. Conversions: Melanie Wilks (2), Zara Colless (1)
Easts 12 (HT 7)
Tries: Leilani Hills, April Ngatupuna . Conversions: Carys Dallinger
Bond Uni: 13 Paris Mohr, 2 Mahlia Snowden, 3 Charli Jacoby, 14 Grace Baker, 5 Lucy Thorpe, 6 Jemma Bemrose, 7 Leticia Medeiros, 8 Zoe Hanna (C), 9 Tyler Birch, 10 Evie Sampson, 23 Dianne Waight, 4 Gabriella Rivers, 12 Melanie Wilks, 17 Eva Doblo, 15 Amahli-Sieli Hala. Reserves: 18 Dena Stowers, 16 Eva Butler, 19 Faagase Tupuola-Palale, 25 Saedy Goble-Lote, 20 Phoenix-Tiaria Todd, 11 Miya Rapana-Faifua, 22 Zara Colless, 21 Akira-Michelle Crocker
Easts: 1 Maletina Brown, 2 Laina Cooper-Finau, 18 Cheyenne Letalu, 4 Taulaga Malaitai, 8 Rosie Ebbage, 19 Adi Dreu, 7 Machiko Silila, 24 April Ngatupuna, 9 Marina Lealiifano, 10 Carys Dallinger, 11 Leilani Hills, 25 Loretta Lealiifano, 13, Natahlia Moors, 14 Carla Huysamen, 15 Abbi Spooner. Reserves: 16 Tyrah Finau, 3 Theresa Soloai, 5 Chelsey Lemusu, 12 Alexandra Inwood, 6 Maggie Glassock, 21 Gemma Schnaubelt, 22 Renez Bates, 23 Jasmine Zischke
