Three-way lead in GTS best and fairest race
We’re a third of the way through the 2024 Blumers Lawyers George Tooke Shield competition, and Canberra Region Rugby League’s Jeff Hanson has run his eye over the best and fairest points tallies and some of the key statistics.
Heading into Round Six, there is a three-way lead on a tight-knit GTS men’s tackle best and fairest leaderboard.
On six points and leading the way are Bungendore duo Bradley Laurent and Josh Baker, along with Cootamundra custodian Jordy Ballard.
Proving his mettle, the hard-working second-rower, Baker, has emerged as the form player of the competition.
He earned three points in his past two games, contributing significantly to Bungendore's 40-6 win over Cootamundra in Round Four and the Tiger’s 34-18 victory over Crookwell on Saturday.
The best and fairest award is anyone’s to win, and behind Baker, Laurent, and Ballard are the Binalong pair Chris Rawlinson and Reuben Olah, Cootamundra’s Tom Miller, and North Canberra’s Peter Dunn.
GTS men’s tackle best and fairest leaderboard: Bradley Laurent (Bungendore) 6, Jordyn Ballard (Cootamundra) 6, Joshua Baker (Bungendore) 6, Christopher Rawlinson (Binalong) 5, Thomas Miller (Cootamundra) 5, Reuben Olah (Binalong) 5, Peter Dunn (North Canberra) 5, Joshua Dean (Boorowa) 4, Alex Stewart (Boorowa) 4, Jake Wheeler (Bungendore) 4, Ryan Prins (Binalong) 4.
Bungendore duo top key stat lines
When it comes down to key statistics, Bungendore are dominating the GTS men’s tackle competition.
The Tigers, in second place with only one loss, have scored the most points (188) and have the best defence, conceding the fewest points (48) among their rivals.
In a strong outfit, centre Jake Wheeler has scored the most tries in the competition and has six, one ahead of teammate Michael Gordan, UC coach Adam Booth, Crookwell fullback Charles Dawson, and Cootamundra playmaker Joe Ward.
Wheeler’s teammate Daniel Jacobs is on four tries, but the fullback is also the competition’s leading points scorer on 54, ahead of Cootamundra’s Jordy Ballard (48) and Binalong’s Chris Rawlinson (38).
GTS men’s tackle leading try scorers: Jake Wheeler (Bungendore) 6, Adam Booth (UC) 5, Charles Dawson (Crookwell) 5, Michael Gordon (Bungendore) 5, Joe Ward (Cootamundra) 5.
GTS men’s tackle leading points scorers: Daniel Jacobs (Bungendore) 54, Jordy Ballard (Cootamundra) 48, Chris Rawlinson (Binalong) 38, Adam Booth (UC) 32, Thomas McIlhatton (Harden) 26.
Smith leads league tag best and fairest race
In the GTS league tag competition, competition stalwart and Harden speedster Georgia Smith is out in front on an incredible ten points.
With ten tries to her name, Smith has picked up ten points during her past four games, including player-of-the-match efforts in Harden’s 50-nil win over UC in Round Two and the Hawkettes’ 14-6 victory over Northern Canberra in Round Four and their dominant 30-10 triumph over Boorowa in Round Six.
Smith, who’s no stranger to CRRL awards, does have a pack chasing, with Cootamundra’s Lauren Connell on nine points.
Connell picked up three points in the Bullettes’ Round Four win over Bungendore (44-6) and their 20-6 victory over North Canberra in Round Five.
Trailing the top two are North Canberra’s Kezia Hughes-Watts on eight points, Binalong’s Kristie McKenna and Crookwell’s Jayde Della on Seven, and Harden’s Emma James on six.
GTS league tag best and fairest leaderboard: Georgia Smith (Harden) 10, Lauren Connell (Cootamundra) 9, Kezia Hughes-Watts (North Canberra) 8, Kristie McKenna (Binalong) 7, Jayde Della (Crookwell) 7, Rebecca Guest (North Canberra) 4, Emma Gallagher (Crookwell) 4.
Kent’s try-scoring streak continues
Binalong speedster Annie Kent can consider herself unlucky not to be higher up on the GTS league tag’s best and fairest ladder after a scintillating start to the 2024 season.
Despite missing Binalong’s opening-round 24-14 loss to Crookwell, the fullback has played in four games and scored an incredible 11 tries.
The Brahmans have since gone undefeated during a four-game stretch, with Kent scoring a double in the Brahmans’ 12-all draw against North Canberra in Round Two before doubles in Binalong’s wins against Bungendore (38-6) and Boorowa (20-10) in rounds three and four, respectively.
Then, Kent put on a try-scoring clinic in Round Five, scoring five in Binalong’s 46-8 victory over the UC Stars.
Just behind Kent is Harden’s Georgia Smith with her impressive ten tries, and rounding out the top five is Boorowa’s Mackella Pye with seven and Harden’s Jasmin Chesworth and Crookwell’s Jayde Della, who have both scored six.
On the points-scoring leaderboard, Kent is also on top, with her 11 tries and 44 points placing her just in front of Harden’s Emma James, who’s on 42 points.
Also in the top five GTS league tag points scorers are Georgia Smith (40), Jayde Della (34) and Cootamundra’s Lilly Welch (32).
GTS league tag leading try scorers: Annie Kent (Binalong) 11, Georgia Smith (Harden) 10, Mackella Pye (Boorowa) 7, Jasmin Chesworth (Harden) 6, Jayde Della (Crookwell) 6.
GTS league tag leading points scorers: Annie Kent (Binalong) 44, Emma James (Harden) 42, Georgia Smith (Harden) 40, Jayde Della (Crookwell) 34, Lilly Welch (Cootamundra) 32.
