RECAP: Day 2 of the 2024 Australian Rugby Shield has wrapped up on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Queensland Country and NSW Country extended their sweeps across the men's and women's field and each have inside running on a Shield final berth come Sunday.
Catch up on all the Day 1 ARS action from Caloundra Rugby Club.
Meanwhile Queensland Subbies enjoyed a come-from-behind win over South Australia to open their account while ACT & SNSW Kestrels remain unbeaten in the women's draw.
QLDC Orchids 31 (Fidow 2, Beadmore, Doblo, Jackson tries; Harris 3 cons) def ADFRU Women 0
Hosts Queensland Country continued their hot start to the 2024 Shield at Defence's expense, running out five-try winners.
The ADFRU scrapped hard but couldn't make a dent as the Orchids kept their rivals scoreless in a defensive effort matched only by their clinical attack.
Queensland Suburban broke Black Falcons' hearts on Thursday night, turning around a four-try deficit to run out 26-24 victors.
The South Australians started brightly with four tries in an early 20-minute burst but couldn't hold on as Subbies reeled in their rivals with Matthew Coutts' late try a dagger blow.
A Black Falcons penalty goal attempt shot wide in the dying stages as Subbies clung to their two-point lead for a famous win.
ACT & SNSW Kestrels 53 (Tai 2, Carroll, Enyi, Scrivener, Turnbull, Fua, Bone; Edwards 4 cons) def QSRU Kelpies 5 (Name Withheld try)
ACT & SNSW Kestrels are in the box seat for Shield final qualification after producing a massive 48-point win over Queensland Suburban.
Australia A reps Lily Bone and Martha Fua both crossed the whitewash while wingers Grace Tai and Caitlin Turnbull bagged two tries apiece out wide for the Kestrels.
NSWC Cockatoos 68 (Hubbard 4, Murvai 2, Smith, Sinnoti, Gibbon tries; pen try; Danckert 8 cons) def TAS Jack Jumpers 10 (Chand, Lombard tries)
Cockatoos flyer Jake Hubbard snagged four tries in a star showing for NSW Country in their Day 2 win over Tasmania.
The Jackies managed a try in each half with wingers Jone Chand and Kyle Lombard dotting down but were largely outclassed by the favoured Cockatoos.
Reserve prop Tyla Murvai also bagged a brace in NSW Country's 10-try haul with a late penalty try highlighting their dominance up front.
NSWC Corellas 36 (Campbell 2, MacGregor, Mansfield, Sullivan, Ball tries; Colman 2, Ball cons) def SA Black Falcons Women 5 (Kelly try)
Defending Shield holders NSW Country survived an early South Australian onslaught to extend their unbeaten streak on Day 2.
The Black Falcons women dominated the early collisions and scrapped hard inside their own 22 to deny the Corellas a sniff before half time, going into the sheds locked 0-all.
The classy Corellas found another gear after the break with five tries in 15 minutes but the South Australians would find joy with a superb set-piece try in the 68th minute before Georgie Ball iced the win with a long-range effort.
QLDC Heelers 35 (Stevens, Mason, Mailangi, Kimber, Nabole tries; Mason 2, Bezombes 2, Davison cons) def ADFRU Men 14 (Harris, McHugh tries; Muller 2 cons)
An early flurry of tries proved enough for hosts Queensland Country to hold out a resurgent ADFRU in the men's opening Day 2 clash.
Five different Heelers found the chalk but the Defence boys wouldn't go away, bagging their own tries through Ryan McHugh and George Harris to keep the contest alive.
