Queensland women rack up record Super W score against Rebels

Sun, Feb 24, 2019, 3:37 AM
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by LIVE
It was record breaking day for the Queensland women, as they piled on 112 unanswered points on the Rebels. Catch all the best moments here.

Queensland Women's XV have sent a warning shot to the remainder of the Super W competition after racking up a century in a record 112-0 thrashing of the Rebels in Melbourne.

The Queenslanders have stewed for months over their extra-time grand final loss to NSW and took that out on the Rebels, running in 17 tries in a first-round thrashing of the Rebels.

Queensland were always going to be favourites heading into the match but having added to the depth of their team during the off-season and found a new level of fitness, they were a level above the Rebels.

Captain Lori Cramer finished with a personal haul of 32 points from a try, 12 conversions and a penalty, while three players notched hat-tricks as Queensland's job became easier as the match wore on, the Rebels' defence wilting in the 32C heat at Box Hill Rugby club.

Cramer said making it count when they had the ball led to the record rout.

"I think just respecting the ball and when we had the ball, making it count and building phases and staying patient and having faith that we'd get over the line (led to so many tries)," Cramer said.

"We are a completely different side and I think just staying composed and recognising when we have momentum (then) capitalising on the opportunities and putting the foot on the throat when we do have momentum and not taking it off.

"There's always things to work on. I don't know if necessarily we're going to change anything but ... making sure that we do keep that pressure on and clean up a few mistakes."

 

Wingers Ivania Wong and Alana Elisaia and centre Alyssa Lefau-Fakaosilea finished with three tries each, while Ceceila Smith had a double.

Queensland dominated every facet of the game, with their set pieces, defence and work at the breakdown way too strong for the Rebels.

But it was tough to gauge their strength against a Rebels side that failed to win a game in last year's inaugural Super W season and will battle again this year despite adding depth to their squad.

Little went right for the Rebels, who were unable to make the most of their few attacking opportunities and were guilty of defensive and handling errors on too many occasions.

Cobie-Jane Morgan of Queensland Women runs with the ball during round one Super W match between Melbourne Rebels Women and Queensland Women at Box Hill Rugby Union Football Club on February 24, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Nothing was going right for the Rebels. When Georgia Page - probably the best on ground for Melbourne - took an intercept in the 65th minute, she offloaded but found Queensland centre Lefau-Fakaosilea who accepted the pass with glee and crossed for her second try of the match.

Queensland's domination made it tough at times to see the players that shone, with tries coming almost at will in the final 55 minutes.

But when the match was an arm wrestle in the opening stages, halves Livinia Gould and Cobie-Jane Morgan were outstanding, linking their backline with ball won by the forwards, including Wallaroos flanker Millie Boyle, who made her Super W debut after returning from shoulder surgery.

Rebels captain Meretiana Robinson refused to offer excuses for her side.

"We'll go back to training, the coaches will have plenty to say ahead of the next round," she said.

"We'll just look to build, look ahead to the Brumbies and throw away this game."

Robinson admitted the Rebels had panicked as the game got out of hand.

"I just think keeping hold of that ball, ball security (is where we can improve most)," she said.

"The girls panicked a bit and we went away from our structure. We've got to remember to stick to what the coaches have taught us and trust in our processes, because it does work."

After a pre-season in sweltering heat, the visitors made the most of the Rebels' discomfort in the 32C conditions, running in eight tries in the opening 40 minutes to lead 53-0 at the break.

 Lavinia Gould of Queensland Women is tackled during round one Super W match between Melbourne Rebels Women and Queensland Women at Box Hill Rugby Union Football Club on February 24, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)Queensland opened the scoring just over two minutes after the kickoff, with flyhalf Lavinia Gould finding gaping holes in the Rebels defence after her forwards had marched up field.

A Gould defensive play also led to Queensland's second try, with her pressure at the breakdown forcing a turnover, with Wallaroos captain Liz Patu making easy metres before front row partner Christina Sekona dived over to score.

The visitors crossed twice more inside the opening 20 minutes - through Cecelia Smith and Alyssa Lefau-Fakaosilea - to push out to a 22-0 lead.

Queensland take on Rugby WA in the opening leg of a Suncorp Stadium double-header on Saturday, with the Rebels heading to Canberra to take on the Brumbies on Sunday.

RESULT

Queensland Women's XV 112

Tries: Ivania Wong 3, Alana Elisaia 3, Alyssa Lefau-Fakaosilea 3, Cecelia Smith 2, Lavinia Gould, Christina Sekona, Liz Patu, Lori Cramer, Cobie-Jane Morgan, Kiri Lingman 

Cons: Cramer 12 

Pens: Cramer 

Rebels Women 0

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