Super W: Australian captain give 6 week suspension
Queensland recorded a second win in the Super W last weekend, and Melbourne a second big defeat, but the headlines were made by Australian captain Liz Patu who faces a possible lengthy suspension for biting an opponent.
Published by John Birch, March 2nd, 2019
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Queensland and Australia captain Liz Patu faces a citation for biting.
Queensland recorded their second win of the season, beating last year’s third placed team Western Australia 28-3 – though the win was marred by a biting allegation against Queensland and Australia captain Liz Patu.
WA took an early lead when Tui Cope converted a 16thminute penalty after Queensland’s Lefau-Fakaosilea received a yellow card.
But it was a lead that lasted only three minutes. Queensland hit back after Lori Cramer levelled the scores and shortly after WA winger Zakiya Kereopa was yellow carded for pulling the hair of her Queensland opponent, Alana Elisaia crossed the line for Queensland to put her team 8-3 up at the break.
Queensland dominated possession in the second thoughout the the second half, but could only score three more tries, two of them from centres Cecilia Smith and Lefau-Fakaosilea after interceptions.
Those frustrations may have resulted in an incident in the second half when WA forward Rebecca Clough complained that she had been bitten by Liz Patu in a ruck close to her own line. At a hearing on Monday Patu was given a six week suspension.
Winger Ivania Wong completed the scoring for Queensland in the final minutes of the game.
On Sunday The Brumbies – losers on the opening weekend to New South Wales – thrashed Melbourne 69-0, just a week after Melbourne had lost 112-0 to Queensland.
No. 8 Tayla Stanford scored three first-half tries in 23 minutes as Brumbies raced to a 40-0 lead at halftime. Overall the team from Canberra scored 11 tries to add to the 17 the Rebels had conceded in week 1.
The Brumbies were dominant across the board, their forward power giving them their first score after 7 minutes, while it was the speed of the backs who two minutes gave the second score, Sammie Woods putting fullback Rachel Crothers in to touchdown.
The Rebels did have a chance to get on the board after 13 minutes, but hooker Ashleigh Marsters missed the penalty opportunity.
In the second half Melbourne battled hard, with fullback Georgia Page the outstanding threat, and were competitive at scrum time but it was their defence that let them down as the Brumbies scored five more tries in the second half.