Day 3 of the 2025 Buildcorp Australian Rugby Shield is run and done with 2024 winners Queensland Country Heelers and ACT & SNSW Kestrels locking in their final berths<\/p>\n
The Women’s Shield final has been determined with 2024 winners ACT & SNSW set to tackle newcomers Sydney Women at 1:30pm AEDT on Sunday October 5.<\/p>\n
DAY 2 RECAP: Heelers, Kestrels on track for Shield defence, local NSW sides shine<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Queensland Country Heelers locked in back-to-back Shield final berths despite falling to NSW Suburban 27-24 and will face NSW Country Cockatoos in a 2024 rematch that doubles as the traditional Battle of the Border.<\/p>\n The 2025 Buildcorp Australian Rugby Shield is delivered in partnership with naming rights sponsor Buildcorp Group<\/a> and the City of Newcastle<\/a> – check out visitnewcastle.com.au<\/a> for more.<\/p>\n See below for Day 3 replays and rolling coverage from Hunter Rugby Union – you can also purchase tickets here<\/a> with all proceeds going back into supporting grassroots rugby. <\/p>\n No.2 Sportsground Livestream<\/p>\n 09:30 – ADRU Men 24 def South Australia Black Falcons Men 12<\/a><\/p>\n A last-gasp intercept try saw ADRU take the full five points and break South Australian hearts in Saturday’s opening clash of the men’s Shield.<\/p>\n The Black Falcons trailed 17-12 in the 69th minute and were hot on the attack deep in ADRU territory before Jack Scanlon produced the match-winning play, running 70m upfield and toeing ahead for his wing partner to touch down.<\/p>\n The results consigns South Australia to fourth place in Pool Pool B and a seventh-place final clash with Queensland Suburban Men on Sunday – ADRU will tackle Tasmania for fifth.<\/p>\n 11:15 – Queensland Suburban Men 33 def by Tasmania Jack Jumpers 50<\/a><\/p>\n Tasmania have produced their biggest ever Australian Rugby Shield victory, running in seven tries to defeat Queensland Suburban by 17 points.<\/p>\n Centre Peni Vea and winger TJ Pieters scored doubles but it wasn’t always smooth sailing as Subbies pulled back a 29-14 half time deficit to lead 33-29 in the 50th minute.<\/p>\n Kyle Lombard’s 54th minute hit-back put Tassie back in front and from there the Jackies were never headed with Vea bagging his second before Enzo Balducci put the result beyond doubt.<\/p>\n 13:00 – Queensland Country Heelers 24 def by NSW Suburban Men 27<\/a><\/p>\n NSW Subbies have produced an all-time win in Pool A to stun reigning Shield holders Queensland Country 27-24.<\/p>\n Each side scored four tries, two conversions and two penalty goals with Lachlan Camroux’s early penalty goal proving the difference.<\/p>\n Queensland Country had the chance to tie late but the penalty goal attempt sailed wide, sending the NSW Subbies faithful in raptures and their side into a bronze final at 1:30pm AEDT.<\/p>\n The Heelers’ two bonus points will be enough, however, to see them into Sunday’s Shield decider at 3:30pm AEDT.<\/p>\n 14:25 – NSW Country Cockatoos 15 v Wildfires Development Men 7<\/a><\/p>\n NSW Country earned their shot at redemption after downing the local Wildfires Development side by eight points in their Pool B decider.<\/p>\n In a match littered with Hunter Rugby talent, the Cockatoos did enough to edge their intra-state rivals with Matthew Martin and Jack Radford scoring important tries.<\/p>\n It sets the scene for a spicy all-Country men’s Shield final on Sunday while the Wildfires will push for third place in another intra-state derby against NSW Suburban.<\/p>\n No.5 Sportsground Livestream<\/p>\n 09:30 – Queensland Suburban Kelpies 17 def by Queensland Country Orchids 29<\/a><\/p>\n 2024 runners up Queensland Country secure their place in the women’s bronze final Shield after defeating state rivals Queensland Suburban by 12 points.<\/p>\n Doubles to Meg Jakins and Layla Fujii helped secure the bonus point win and lift the Orchids to second place – they’ll face South Australia at 11:45am AEDT on Sunday for third place.<\/p>\n 11:15 – ACT & SNSW Kestrels 43 def South Australia Black Falcons Women 5<\/a><\/p>\n Women’s Shield holders ACT & SNSW will enter tomorrow’s final in red-hot form after posting their third straight win of the tournament.<\/p>\n The Kestrels proved too strong for South Australia, running out 38-point victor with winger Sophie Bowley scoring two of her side’s seven tries.<\/p>\n