RECAP: ACT & SNSW claim women's Shield, QLD Country break ...
RECAP: The 2024 Australian Rugby Shield finals are run and done at Caloundra Rugby Club on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
After three games across four days, all teams featured in Sunday's ARS playoff round with 5th, Bronze and Shield finals on the line.
Catch up on yesterday's ARS action via our rugby.com.au Day 3 RECAP.
ACT & SNSW Kestrels clinched the women's Shield in a 15-10 thriller over hosts Queensland Country Orchids before the Heelers avenged their Orchids sisters with a drought-breaking men's Shield win (31-19) over NSW Country Cockatoos.
Scroll down for results, wraps and match replays.
Heelers down bitter rivals in epic Shield drought-breaker
QLDC Heelers 31 (Curran, Christie, penalty tries; Mason con, Mason 4 pens) def NSWC Corellas (Beach, Walton, penalty tries; Grant con)
Queensland Country have finally ended a 24-year Shield drought - and did so in style against their bitter rivals NSW Country Cockatoos.
The Heelers were relentless on home soil, dominating the contact zone while centre Colby Mason controlled proceedings from the tee.
A late Michael Walton try looked to spark life back into the contest but the Heelers' charge-down on a regulation conversion attempt from dead in front proved pivotal.
Corellas finish Shield campaign on a high
NSWC Corellas 31 (Rankmore, Winsor, Fuller tries) def ADFRU Women 5 (Faalalotonga try)
2023 women's Shield winners NSW Country finished on a high by downing ADFRU 15-5 in Sunday's bronze final.
The Corellas struck early through Piper Rankmore and never ceded the lead with Callie Winsor and Yuri Fuller crossing the chalk.
A late try to Faalalotonga Faalalotonga gave the Defence women hope but the NSW Country women were too strong, holding out for a 10-point win.
Stoic Kestrels clinch women's Shield over Orchids
ACT & NSW Kestrels 15 (Fua, Zdravevska, Brigstocke tries) def QLDC Orchids 10 (Beardmore 2 tries)
ACT & SNSW are champions once more in 2024 with the Kestrels delivering a maiden women's Shield title back to the bush capital.
Australia A powerhouse Martha Fua shone in a best-on-ground performance, scoring a try and leading an incredible Kestrels defensive line that withstood immense pressure late from the Orchids.
Queensland Country flyer Reeghyn Beardmore bagged a double but it wasn't enough as ACT & SNSW withstood wave after wave in the dying minutes to condemn the Orchids to back-to-back Shield final defeats.
Dominant Defence claim men's Shield bronze
ADFRU Men 96 (Bruce 4, Waipara 2, Lennon 2, Chamberlain, Hicken, Hogan, Cochrane, Wantsall, Coel tries; Muller 13 cons) def QSRU Subbies 0
Defence's fitness and endurance after four days of tournament play shot to the fore in a one-sided bronze final against Queensland Suburban.
Winger Jamie Bruce starred with four tries while flanker Ambrose Waipara and outside back Charles Lennon bagged braces in a lop-sided affair.
SA Black Falcons stave off stubborn Jackies
SA Black Falcons Men 33 (Vi 2, Tavui, Wilkes try, Wilkes 2 cons, Wilkes 3 pens) def TAS Jack Jumpers 28 (Fenney, Balducci, Lovell try; Pieters 2 cons; Pieters 3 pens)
A second-half double to Manu Vi proved key to securing a fifth-place finish for the SA Black Falcons men.
The South Australians started brightly through captain Ed Wilkes but couldn't shake the Jack Jumpers, who snuck a half time via an Aiden Fenney try and the boot of TJ Pieters.
The second half saw a spurt of tries with Vi's double enough to see South Australia home despite a late scare from Tasmania's Aron Lovell.
South Australian women shade Kelpies for fifth
SA Black Falcons Women 12 (Ikahihifo, Caucau tries; Kelly con) def QSRU Kelpies 7 (Raqili try; Wood con)
The Black Falcons women also broke through for their maiden 2024 win at the expense of Queensland Suburban.
South Australian standout Ana Ikahihifo crossed early and Naomi Caucau's try on the stroke of half time proved vital in a fixtures shortened by injury.
A try to Kelpies prop Mere Raqili also ensured the Queenslanders didn't go home empty handed.
