Womens Reds v Tonga

[Burgs]

Reds Rookie Tess Littleton Adds Another Passport Stamp For Tonga

Wed, Jul 24, 2024, 11:17 AM
Reds Media Unit

When Tess Littleton visited 16 countries last year on a footy-playing overseas trip, she never imagined needing her passport for a Queensland Reds debut.

Winger-fullback Littleton is in line to make her debut off the bench in Tonga on Friday when the Reds women’s team play their first-ever game abroad.

Wallaroos fullback Lori Cramer and flanker Carola Kreis will act as co-captains for the historic tour.

Littleton’s pace and form as a finisher for University of Queensland have earned her a spot as one of eight potential debutants for the Reds.

Lock Tiarah Minns, an experienced lock from the Melbourne Rebels, backrowers Maggie McConnachie and Zoe Hanna plus centre Ariana Hira are new faces in the starting side.

Littleton, hooker Roni Setu, young Sunshine Coast backrower Bliss Wilkins and halfback Wynonah Conway can all debut from the bench.

“It’s an amazing opportunity with the Reds. I’ve only really made the move from halfback this season and I’ve enjoyed the extra chances to attack in the outside backs,” Littleton, 24, said.

“It shows what’s possible when you are enjoying your rugby.”

The Toowoomba-raised player rejoined UQ this season after mixing last year’s overseas holiday with stints for the London Broncos in rugby league and Hammersmith and Fulham Rugby Club.

“Rugby has always been No.1 for me. I first played for UQ when I was studying a few years ago and a job in Brisbane has brought me back,” she said.

Facing Tonga’s national side will be a significant hurdle as the first overseas match in the 28-year history of women’s rugby for the Reds.

Having Wallaroos Cramer, Eva Karpani, Madi Schuck, Tiarna Molloy, Nat Wright, Carys Dallinger, Ivania Wong and Mel Wilks in the starting side is a helpful slice of experience for such a challenge.

Australia’s PacificAus Sports program supports the Tonga tour.

PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative developing pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to compete in elite competitions and access high-performance coaching in Australia and internationally.

The program partners with Australian national sports organisations to support a range of Pacific sports, including rugby union. Funding is split evenly between women and men.

Queensland Reds Women v Tonga

Friday, 26 July
Teufaiva Sport Stadium, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Kick-off: 9.30am (AEST)

1. Madison Schuck – Bond University
2. Tiarna Molloy – Easts
3. Eva Karpani – Bond University
4. Tiarah Minns* – Manly, Sydney
5. Lucy Thorpe – Bond University
6. Maggie McConnachie* – Brothers
7. Carola Kreis (cc) - Easts
8. Zoe Hanna* – Bond University
9. Nat Wright – University of Queensland
10. Carys Dallinger - Easts
11. Ivania Wong – Sunnybank
12. Ariana Hira* – Bond University
13. Mel Wilks – Bond University
14. Caitlin Urwin – University of Queensland
15. Lori Cramer (cc) – University of Queensland

16. Roni Setu** – University of Queensland
17. Alapeta Ngauamo - Wests
18. Charli Jacoby – University of Queensland
19. Bliss Wilkins** – Brothers Sunshine Coast
20. April Ngatupuna – Easts
21. Wynonah Conway** – Brothers
22. Mercedez Taulelei-Siala – Sunnybank
23. Tess Littleton** – University of Queensland

Reds debut

* Reds debut

** Potential Reds debut

[Burgs]

History Made With Reds’ Women On Attack Against Tonga

Fri, Jul 26, 2024, 11:12 AM
Reds Media Unit

More- https://reds.rugby/news/history-made...-tonga-2024726

A superb two-try performance from centre Mel Wilks highlighted the Queensland Reds’ historic meeting with Tonga in Nuku’alofa today.

The first match abroad in the 28-year history of the Reds’ women’s team was a landmark in more ways than one as the score ticked to 65-0 by full-time.

For winger Ivania Wong, her first half try was the perfect way to celebrate a record and how far the women’s game has advanced since her debut.

Her 38th game for the Reds makes her the all-time leading cap-winner for Queensland, a feat achieved in an unbroken streak.

The unfortunate spin-off was Wong being carried from the field with an ankle injury in the second half and heading to hospital for X-rays.

For the Tongan women, their passionate jumper presentation ceremony on match eve showed how much it meant to play for a first time in their homeland.

Co-captain Carola Kreis crossed for three of the 11 tries.

The best involved a Carola and a Mercedez.

Kreis was supporting on the inside when 17-year-old back Mercedez Taulelei-Siala made a fine swerving break down the right touchline in her best half of rugby as a Red.

The Reds were on the scoreboard early when standout Wilks took a quick tap and surged over from 20m out.

It was reflective of the Bond University centre’s first half. She was the most direct line-bender on the field with her determined ball-carries and ability to stay on her feet through contact.

She repeated the dose early in the second half with a second try from 30m out.

“The Tongan girls definitely brought the physicality in the first half (15-0). Our fitness and skills told in the end,” Kreis said.

“I’m most pleased that all the girls who turned up from clubland found their feet.

“It’s an honour to make this tour to Tonga and it wouldn’t have been possible without what PacificAus Sports are putting into building relationships like this in the Pacific.”

The early 5-0 start became 10-0 midway through the first half when fullback Lori Cramer fed Wong for a try after well-worked build-up.

Wallaroo Cramer’s good hands and touches always added to the flow of the Reds because she’d made a fine cleanout earlier in the play.


With four debutants in the starting side and another four getting chances from the bench, it was always going to be intriguing to see who stood up.

Bond University flanker Zoe Hanna was an eye-catcher with her composed handling and involvements. Centre Ariana Hira did not shirk the heavy contacts when ball-carrying, new lock Tiarah Minns added height and lineout aplomb and No.8 Maggie McConnachie made some strong metres with the ball.

It was the experienced core of the team which got the Reds humming. That included Wallaroos prop Eva Karpani, back at the Reds after a title-winning season with NSW in Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s.

Her scrummaging, her trademark K-Train runs and a relieving second half penalty earned when she got her hands on Tongan ball near the tryline were marks of quality.

New Wallaroos halfback Nat Wright gave the Reds every chance with her fast service, long pass and eager eye to always go on the attack. She was cramping by full-time as evidence of how much she had put in.

Hooker Tiarna Molloy’s workrate and impact was up and lock Lucy Thorpe was busy.

There was a debut in the final quarter of the match for 17-year-old Queensland Country flanker Bliss Wilkins, a wonderful honour for the Brothers Sunshine Coast forward.

University of Queensland winger Tess Littleton christened her debut off the bench with a late try while April Ngatapuna’s strong ball-carrying earned a deserved try when she joined the backrow from the bench.

“Being able to connect with the Tongan culture and represent Queensland for the first time…it’s an amazing experience,” said Littleton, a Toowoomba product.

Australia’s PacificAus Sports program made the tour of Tonga possible for the women’s and men’s teams.

PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative developing pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to compete in elite competitions and access high-performance coaching in Australia and internationally.

QUEENSLAND REDS 65

Tries: Carola Kreis 3, Mel Wilks 2, Ivania Wong, Eva Karpani, Tiarna Molloy, Tess Littleton, April Ngatupuna, Mercedez Taulelei-Siala

Conversions: Carys Dallinger 5

Def

TONGA 0

Half-time: Reds 15-Tonga 0

At Teufaiva Sport Stadium, Nuku’alofa