Ballerz, LGMs Sublime in Stafford Spring

LGMs have captured their first Stafford Mens premiership with an enthralling 4-1 victory over Beer Pressure on Wednesday night.

The win capped off an outstanding 2019 with LGMs finishing on top of the mens table in consecutive seasons.

Guarded by plenty of friends and family, the boys in purple took the field with a point to prove after being bundled out of last season’s semi-final in straight sets by summer champions P-Dub.

They didn’t have to wait long with LGM’s captain Jackson Paton pouncing on a short grubber to give his side their first points.

With scoreboard pressure applied, it was Beer Pressure who was able to wrestle back the momentum.

It was the same methodology that defeated autumn and winter mens champions Joeys in last week’s semi final.

A trademark backline move inside their opponents’ 15m came up with the goods with Luke Whitney crossing untouched in the corner.

Not through lack of trying, as each team had a flurry of try scoring chances and near misses.

Past and present Rep stars Will O’Keefe, Shaun O’Keefe, Jessie Ripley and Jackson Paton all lead the charge however came up empty handed at the break.

The halftime team chat to start fast and score first worked for one team.

It took just 30 seconds for LGMs to post the first points of the second half and it came through Jesse Ripley.

The North Brisbane Sharks speedster grabbed a short kick-off, before evading three men to score.

In trying conditions and with a gusty breeze, short kick-offs and high kicks where the order of the game, however second attempt by Jackson Paton failed to reap the rewards of the opening kick.

Despite this, the momentum was well and truely with LGMs as the boys were strong without the ball, generating superb line speed and regularly rolling subs.

Best and Fairest Will O’Keefe looked most likely with his side’s only two line breaks of the second half.

But it was Jesse Ripley who made a line break of his own to score his second and extend his side’s lead to 3-1 with 10 minutes to go.

Billy Robertson put the icing on the cake minutes later with a great solo try to seal the impressive victory.

A special thanks to our grand final team sponsors Arrivederci Pizzeria and Newstead Remedial Massage.

LGM’s will dine at Brisbane’s number one voted pizza while the boys from Beer Pressure each received a $30 gift card to ease the aches and pains.

Results
LGMs 4: Jesse Ripley (2), Jackson Paton, Billy Robertson
Beer Pressure 1: Luke Whitney
Best and Fairest – Will O’Keefe
Player of the Match – Jesse Ripley

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Well done to our LIVIN top try scorers!

Each of our winners received some cool LIVIN merchandise.

Mens – Corey Pocock (23)
Mixed Div 1 – Adriano Gaile (17)
Mixed Div 2 – Corey Pocock (26)
Mixed Womens – Eliza Mooney (12)

A special mention to Corey Pocock who has won the mens top try scorer award for the third consecutive season. During this time he has amassed 54 tries, the most of any mens player in a calendar year.

Eliza Mooney has also gone back-to-back with the mixed womens top try scorer award. Over the past two seasons she has tallied 30 tries.

Adriano Gaile comes away with his first top try scorer honour, equating for 27% of Ballerz’ tries this season.

2019 Try Leaderboard
Mens
Corey Pocock | Joeys (54)
Sam Gadsby | P-Dub (47)
Dean Saxvik | LGMs (40)
Jessie Ripley | LGMs (32)
Jack Woodbridge | P-Dub (31)

Mixed Guys
Cameron Webb | Soup A-Stars (39)
Jake Harding | Balls Of Fury (35)
Adriano Gaile | Ballerz (33)
Chris Honnery | Too Out Of Touch (30)
Dan Nystrom | Balls Deep (30)

Mixed Womens

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Ballerz have reclaimed the division one mixed title in a hard fought 6-2 win over winter champions Too Out Of Touch.

The victory marks the second time in three seasons Ballerz have taken home the top mixed honour and the fifth time in six matches they have defeated their rival.

Two of the most evenly matched mixed teams did not disappoint early with some quality end to end footy.

Sharks Rep player Brayden Barrett proved the difference as he ran in three tries and set up another in a dominant player of the match performance.

But, It was Too Out Of Touch who would strike first off the boot of Isaac Toohey to send Hayden Evans across in the corner.

Two possessions later, Ballerz stuck with Brayden Barrett slicing through some feeble defence off a Zac Jane pass to draw the scores level.

A carbon copy of the first try ensured with Brayden once again doing the leg work before handing the ball off to Jess Sleep for a two point try before the break.

The halftime message from both teams was clear, defence.

The opening five minutes were rock solid by both teams as a stalemate ensured.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man – it was Brayden Barrett who would split the Too Out Of Touch defence a third time and cross for his second try.

A series of close tries by Eliza Mooney, Isaac Toohey and Chris Honnery went begging as Ballerz communicated well when defending inside their own 10 metres.

Jake Coolwell put the nail into the coffin moments later with a trademark chip over the top of the defence for Brayden Barrett to grab and race away for this third.

Matt Genero finally broke through with a short kick of his own to bring the scores to 5-2 before Coolwell scooted away to ice the game.

A big thanks to our finals sponsors Arrivederci Pizzera and Newstead Remedial Massage. Both teams will need plenty of recovery time after a face-paced match in humid conditions.

Results
Ballerz 6: Brayden Barrett (3), Jess Sleep, Jake Coolwell
Too Out Of Touch 2: Isaac Toohey, Matt Genero
Best and Fairest – Matt Genero
Player of the Match – Brayden Barrett

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Congratulations to our Range Brewing try assist champions Joe Warren and Jake Coolwell.

This is the second consecutive season Jake has topped the mixed assist leaderboard. He has nabbed 27 assists over the past two seasons.

He sits a top the most try assists in the mixed competition in 2019 with 33.

2019 Assists Leaderboard
Mens
Joe Warren | P-Dub (15)
Ben Hayes | Joeys (13)
Matt O’Brien | P-Dub (11)
Luke Murray | P-Dub (11)
Jayden Turnbull | Joeys (10)
Matthew Allen | Joeys (10)
Jason West | Joeys (10)

Mixed

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One Kick Wonders have taken out the Stafford mixed division two with a gripping 7-5 win over Soup A-Stars.

The game plan for Soup A-Stars was simple, limit Corey Pocock.

One Kick Wonders’ captain scored 26 tries in eight fixture matches to lead his team to a blemish-free record throughout the fixture rounds.

In the final, he did not disappoint with three tries, two of whom were from long range as he showcased his stellar speed.

Two quick tries put his team on the board early with a third to Allan Hebbard off a Matt Beard short ball.

Soup A-Stars hit back shortly after with a nifty grubber from Ryan Rose to give his side their first points

Mason Hasselmeyer replied in kind to extend One Kick Wonders’ the lead to 4-1 moments before halftime.

The opening five minutes started much the same as the first half with Steven Cox breaking the line and racing away for his first try.

Soup A-Stars captain Cam Webb zipped around some would-be goal line defence to post the first points of the second half.

Rob Hunt sent Ryan Rose over for his second try as they wrestled momentum from One Kick Wonders.

An ultra-quick reply from Corey Pocock saw the Representative ace score his third to break the hearts of his opponent.

Mason Hasselmeyer crossed for this second shortly after by scooting through some fragile edge defence.

Amanda Chilcott crossed for a late consolation try after chasing her own kick.

Results
One Kick Wonders 7: Corey Pocock (3), Mason Hasselmeyer (2), Allan Hebbard, Steven Cox
Soup A-Stars 5: Ryan Rose (2), Cam Webb, Amanda Chilcott
Best and Fairest – Rob Hunt
Player of the Match – Rachel Toohey