KEEBRA’S TITANS CUP TREBLE
THE Keebra Park open girls team has headlined a stunning day of rugby league for the Gold Coast high school that won three titles on the one day.
Australian Under-19s representative Tiana Raftstrand-Smith spurred her side to victory as Keebra Park won the open girls grand final, an effort matched by the school’s open boys and boys second division sides.
THE Keebra Park female team has joined its open boys as a Titans Cup champion after defeating Marsden SHS 24-6 in the inaugural open girls decider.
The dynamic play of Australian Under-19s representative Tiana Raftstrand-Smith spurred the Keebra Park side to victory.
Centre Faith Tutauha scored a double with tries in either half to complement scores by Raftstrand-Smith,
Chantay Ratu and Harmony Perry.
Lock Raven TihemaMako kicked two goals.
Keebra Park captain Sunny Gerrard said to raise the Titans Cup aloft as champions was a special privilege.
“To have this honour and take it away with the girls is just an amazing feeling,” the back-rower said.
“We’ve put in hard work all season and it’s great to come away with the win.
“Our inspiration was just how bad we wanted it. I’m sure everyone wanted to win but at the end of the day we played our guts out and we came away as the better team.
“At the start of the year we didn’t even really get to train so to come away with the win after having such difficulty with the season is awesome.
“It was awesome for (the graduating students). I’m sure they looked forward to it and they can say they won a final with Keebra Park forever now.”
Marsden proved challenging opposition with halfback
Destiny Brill already a rising star on the Super W scene with the Queensland Reds.
Marsden prop April Ngatupuna was awarded player of the match from the losing side for her barnstorming carries through the middle.
Keebra’s incisive backline won the battle with all five of the school’s tries scored out wide.
Coach Nathan Small said winning the trophy was just reward for his players’ efforts pushing themselves outside their comfort zone.
“That was a special moment and there was a bit of emotion at the end as well,” he said. “We got out to a nice lead but the first time Marsden had the ball they marched down the field and scored quite easily.
“I was nervous for a bit there but the girls stuck to their game plan and really applied the pressure.”
It was a clean sweep for Keebra Park on Titans Cup grand final day with wins in the open boys, open girls and boys second division.