Club hub: Wright returns for Easts, Brothers claim QPR minor premiership

Brothers have won the Queensland Premier Rugby minor premiership after surviving a scare from an Easts side bolstered by the return of flanker Liam Wright from Wallabies squad duty.

Wright, who travelled to South Africa with the Wallabies ahead of their opening Rugby Championship clash against the Springboks, helped the Tigers push the Brethren before the visitors secured a 23-20 win at Bottomley Park, thanks in part to a pair of tries from Byron Ralston.

Defending premiers GPS won the Halley Appleby Memorial Trophy with their win over the University of Queensland at Yoku Rd, with Halley’s mum Sue and brother Josh on deck to present the trophy.

UQ struggled to hold Jeeps out, with the Gallopers scoring seven tries and two penalty tries in the 59-32 victory in their last match before finals.

In others games, Sunnybank notched a fourth win of the season with a 41-29 win over Bond, while Souths beat norths 42-24 with Reds halfback Scott Malolua scoring two tries to help the Magpies finish in sixth place.

Reds hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa scored a try for Sunnybank, who also featured Jordan Petaia in a 40-minute cameo as he continues his return from a foot injury, with his Bulldogs having a bye in the final round.

Semi-finals will be played over two days at Ballymore this weekend, with Brothers taking on GPS in the major semi on Sunday, with Easts and UQ to play the minor semi on Saturday. Entry on both days is free.

RESULTS

Bond University 29 – Sunnybank 41

Easts 20 – Brothers 23

GPS 59 – UQ 32

Souths 42 – Norths 24

SHUTE SHIELD

A Waratah-laden Sydney Uni made a major statement against Norths in a 66-17 win over their fierce rivals.

Waratahs scrumhalf Jake Gordon scored a try for Uni in the comfortable victory.

Junior Wallaby Angus Bell and NSW’s Lachie Swinton and Gordon all started for the students while Chris Talakai came off the bench.

Waratahs no. 8 Michael Wells featured for Norths along with outside back Cam Clark, who played at 13.

Andrew Tuala and Pat Tafa were both injected off the bench.

Wallabies flanker Jack Dempsey scored two tries in Gordon’s tight loss to Easts at Chatswood Oval.

Fellow Test player Jack Maddocks got on with a five-pointer of his own for the Beasties while Waratah Mack Mason slotted nine points off the boot.

Waratahs Tom Staniforth, Will Harris and Lalakai Foketi also started for Easts with lock Ryan McCauley coming off the bench.

Waratahs prop Sham Vui and Brumbies recruit Bayley Kuenzle both found the line for Southern Districts, but it wasn’t enough for the Rebels to get over the line against Eastwood.

Melbourne Rebels prop Matt Gibbon lined up with Vui and Junior Wallabies hooker Joe Cotton in the Souths front row while Jed Holloway was at no. 8.

There is one more regular round before finals in the Shute Shield

RESULTS

Eastwood 33 – Souths 21

Gordon 25 – Easts 29

Manly 42 – West Harbour 42

Sydney Uni 66 – Norths 17

Warringah 34 – Western Sydney 17

JOHN I DENT CUP

A host of Brumbies ran out in the John I Dent Cup last weekend as the competition nears finals time.

Pete Samu made his return from injury to play for Easts, with Blake Enever scoring a try, Toni Pulu starting at outside centre.

Henry Speight notched a five-pointer of his own for Gungahlin in the clash, playing at fullback.

Junior Wallabies hooker Lachlan Lonergan scored a double for the Vikings in a 22-17 win over Canberra Royals, with Joe Powell starting at halfback for the side.

Andy Muirhead lined up at fullback for Royals in the clash.

RESULTS

Easts 32 – Gungahlin 22

Vikings 22 – Canberra Royals 17

Wests 40 – Uni-Norths Owls 26

FMG PREMIERSHIP DIVISION

Cottesloe had a big win over Wanneroo in the FMG Premiership Division on the weekend.

Associates and Nedlands edged out UWA and Wests respectively in their clash.

RESULTS

Wanneroo 19 – Cottesloe 64

Associates 21 – UWA 18

Wests 19 – Nedlands 26

DEWAR SHIELD

Box Hill and Moorabbin took big wins over Endeavour Hills and Footscray, respectively, while Harlequins and Melbourne Uni also enjoyed victories in the penultimate round of the season.

RESULTS

Endeavour Hills 24 – Box Hill 52

Melbourne 21 – Harlequins 34

Power House 29 – Melbourne Uni 41

Moorabbin 47 – Footscray 0

SA PREMIER GRADE

Onkaparinga enjoyed a big win over Elizabeth while Woodville, Brightyon, Old Collegians and Port Adelaide were also on the victor’s list.

RESULTS

Woodville 52 – Barossa 21

Onkaparinga 155 – Elizabeth 12

Southern Suburbs 19 – Brighton 25

Old Collegians 34 – Burnside 26

Adelaide Uni 25 – Port Adelaide 31