As our regional Rugby competitions around the state head towards finals, let’s check in and see which clubs will be vying for silverware around Queensland.
The Penryhn Sharks put the pressure on Barron Trinity in a close match between the two clubs in Round 15, with only three points separating the teams in a high scoring affair.
Barron Trinity claimed a narrow 38-35 win, with the visitors outscoring Penryhn six-tries-to-five, but the boot of Sharks flyhalf Setu Tasi nearly secured an upset win, with the play maker converting all five tries.
The Penryn Sharks season is over as there are no hopes of the club making finals, but the team have shown plenty of potential looking forward to 2023 season.
Minor Premiers JCU Mariners put on a show against the Northern Beaches Mudcrabs, running in eight tries to secure a 54-12, while the Southside Crusaders had a strong 52-33 win over the Cairns Wanderers.
Round 15 Results:
A Grade
Barron Trinity Bulls 38 def Penryn Sharks 35 JCU Mariners 54 def Cairns Northern Beaches Mudcrabs 12 Southside Crusaders 52 def Cairns Wanderers 33 Cairns Brothers - bye
Reserve Grade
JCU Mariners 85 def Cairns Northern Beaches Mudcrabs 5 Cairns Wanderers 40 def Southside Crusaders 29 Barron Trinity Bulls - bye
North Ward have secured a win over Burdekin away in Ayr in Round 13 of the Townsville A Grade competition.
Burdekin hosted their annual Old Boys Day celebrations, while the weekend also marked the 10th anniversary of the Joe Acton memorial game, in memory of the former North Ward Club member.
The two teams have already played each other twice this season, both securing a win a piece, this would be the last time they play during the regular season before finals.
A try each from both sides in the first half saw a low scoring game, but a conversion from Declan Marchioni allowed North Ward to get the early lead going into half-time. The score stood at 7-5 in favour of the away team.
The second half was a physical battle between the sides as both were desperate to score points and hold out their opposition. The attempts from the home team weren’t enough to keep North Ward out as Rohan Lardelli crossed over with 8-minutes to go, extending his team’s lead.
Desperate attempts to level the game on their home ground were made by Burdekin, but North Ward’s defensive efforts were enough to hold them out in the dying moments of the game, securing a 12-7 win.
Elsewhere, Charters Towers Bulls went down in front of their home crowd as they were defeated by table topping Townsville Brothers, 55-10. The Bulls are still searching for their first win of the season, with only a hand ful of matches left. Teachers West brought the heat, posting a huge win over Western Suburbs, 53-10. Western Suburbs will need to win their last few games to keep their season alive. Although the top three positions on the ladder won’t change before finals, the final spot is up for grabs between Western Suburbs and Burdekin.
Round 13 Results:
A Grade
Teachers West 53 def Western Suburbs 10 Townsville Brothers 55 def Charters Towers Bulls 10 North Ward 12 def Burdekin Canetoads 5
Reserve Grade
Teachers West 10 def Western Suburbs nil North Ward 31 drew with Burdekin Canetoads 31 Townsville Brothers 27 def Ingham Cutters 17
Third Grade
Brothers 43 def Teachers West 5
Slade Point put in a dominant performance against Brothers in Round 16, securing a 71-12 at Leprechaun Park. Winger Atiake Kofe scored a hattrick in the 11 try haul, while fullback PJ Van Den Berg kicked three conversions and Zack Simpson came off the bench to slot a further four.
At Moranbah Sporting Fields, the Bowen Mudcrabs claimed a convincing 64-nil wil over the Moranbah Bulls.
Winger Lafaele Samuela crossed for four tries, whilst scrum-half Pisa Tipi Vena scored two. Centre Nick Poole converted seven tries and scored one himself to record an individual tally of 19-points.
The Proserpine-Whitsunday Raiders continued their winning ways, posting a 44-7 win over Mackay City at Quarry Hill. The Kuttabul Camlelboks had the bye this week.
Round 16 Results:
Slade Point 71 def Brothers 12 Bowen Mudcrabs 64 def Moranbah Bulls nil Proserpine Whitsunday Raiders 44 def Mackay City 7
A 29-nil win for the Biloela Cockatoos at Ryan Park over Mount Morgan sees them remain on top of the ladder.
Also at Ryan Park, Rockhampton Colts suffered a close lose to Brothers, with only five points separating the team – 36-31. Joshua Sparks scored the match winning try to deliver Brothers the win.
The Dawson Valley Drovers secured a 29-20 win over Frenchville in the last game of the round at Ryan Park. Centre Grant Reddiex was one of the best on ground for the Drovers, crossing for a brace of tries.
Round 15:
Bilolea Cockatoos 29 def Mt Morgan nil Brothers 36 def Colts 31 Dawson Valley Drovers 29 def Frenchville Pioneers 20
At Morton Park in Emerald, the Emerald Rams posted a convincing 46-7 win over the Blackwater Basilisks. The Rams ran in seven tries with winger Adam Bonner crossing for a hattrick.
Basilisks Apenisa Tawake scored the only try for the visitors which was converted by Chris Latimer.
Otufelenite claimed a 29-nil win over the Cappella Cattledogs, with both Tevita Lomu and Kalei Vaiangina crossing for doubles.
Round 13 Results:
Otufelenite 29 def Capella Cattledogs nil Emerald Rams 46 def Blackwater Basilisks 7
A late push from the Maroochydore Swans wasn’t enough to best the University of the Sunshine Coast Barbarians in a nailbiter that finished 20-18 in favour of the Minor Premiers. The two teams were ultimately separated by a missed conversion from Swans flyhalf Shane Wright during the game. Nonetheless the Swans will be confident entering the finals with such a valiant effort against the current title favourites.
A disappointing season for wooden spooners Wynnum has come to an end, suffering a 40-5 defeat at the hands of a red-hot Noosa Dolphins side. The Dolphins have won four of the last five and have a points differential of +111 over this five-game stretch, entering the finals as dark horse contenders for the title.
A man of the match performance from Caloundra flyhalf Mac Burgess has inspired the Lighthouses to a dominant 47-nil victory over the Caboolture Snakes. This win marks four on the trot for Caloundra as they enter the finals in a rich vein of form.
Round 15 Results:
A Grade
USC Barbarians 20 def Maroochydore Swans 18 Noosa Dolphins 40 def Wynnum Bugs 5 Caloundra Lighthouses 47 def Caboolture Snakes 0
Reserve Grade
USC Barbarians 34 def Maroochydore Swans 7 Wynnum Bugs 34 def Noosa Dolphins 17 Caboolture Snakes 20 def Caloundra Lighthouses 18
The Goondiwindi Emus and Toowoomba Rangers remain top-of-the-table leaders after convincing Round 13 victories in the Men’s RDO Equipment Risdon Cup.
Goondiwindi continued their winning form securing a tenth straight victory in a 69-10 thrashing of the Gatton Black Pigs as they set their eyes on a fourth premiership in five years.
The Rangers pose as the other premiership threat with a dominant 78-5 win over the Condamine Cods. Both teams share ten wins, one draw and one loss.
Elsewhere, third place Dalby also remain in fine form scoring fifty unanswered points against the Roma Echidnas assuring a trip to the finals.
The fourth-placed Toowoomba Bears got a pivotal 34-18 win over the fifth-placed University of South Queensland Saints, pushing two wins clear on the ladder.
Only two rounds remain before Super Saturday 1 commences on August 13.
Round 13 Results:
Men’s RDO Equipment Risdon Cup A Grade
Dalby 50 def Roma Echidnas 0 Toowoomba Bears 34 def USQ Saints 18 Goondiwindi Emus 69 def Gatton Black Pigs 10 Toowoomba Rangers 78 def Condamine Cods 5 Nutrien Ag Solutions Bill Flamsteed Premiership
B Grade St. George Frillnecks 17 def Dalby 16 Goondiwindi Emus 21 def Warwick Water Rats 0 USQ Saints 62 def Toowoomba Bears 5 Condamine Cods 35 def Toowoomba Rangers 26
The Bond Pirates have upset Nerang in a low scoring affair. Nerang’s hat-trick hero from last week, Logan Watene, scored the only try for the Bulls as the match ended 5-14 in favour of the Pirates. The Pirates will be keen to carry this performance into next week when they face the Griffith Knights in the first week of finals.
A hat-trick from Dolphins second rower Jackson Searle has helped Surfers Paradise cruise to a 50-point victory over the bottom-dwelling Gold Coast Eagles. Elsewhere on the pitch, Dolphins outside centre Isaac Ngauamo was a constant threat with a try of his own and six conversions. The dolphins will look to make it three wins a row next Saturday against the Nerang Bulls in the first week of the finals.
Round 15 Results:
First Grade
Surfers Paradise Dolphins 57 def Gold Coast Eagles 7 Bond Pirates 14 def Nerang Bulls 5 Griffith Uni Knights - Bye
Second Grade N/A No round this week
Written and complied by: Amelia Pattel, Joseph Maranta, Michael Jones and Kabel Dawes
