Australian schools rugby day 1 stars, standouts, scorers, results, news, wrap and great photos
There were big hits, fancy footwork, two nine-try rampages and one state standing tall as the Australian schools rugby champs kicked off. Stars, standouts, top scorers in the day one result wrap
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There were nervous starts, a trio of blowouts, big hits and electrifying runs as the Australian schools championships kicked off on the Sunshine Coast on Monday featuring the rising stars of the game and our next generations Super Rugby and international players.
Three teams put 50 plus points on the board in their openers but coaches warned the going will only get tougher as the annual tournament progresses.
“We still have a lot more work to do. The next games will be a much tougher challenge and we need to make sure we are up for that challenge,’’ said NSW II coach Keirin Wallace after his sides massive 59-12 opening victory.
NSW II made their presence felt - and loudly sounded intention to defend the crown they won a year ago to the surprise of favourites NSW I - with a rollicking victory over Queensland II in the opening event of the tournament which continues on Tuesday and Thursday.
The NSW I side, pre-tournament favourites for the 2025 event, then produced their own emphatic victory with their 50-10 win over the ACT.
The third match of the day was played between the NSW Juniors and Victoria with the Juniors making it a cleansweep of matches for the NSW teams competing at the event and also scoring 50 plus points.
Queensland I then came out to score a big win power Western Australia in the finale match of the day.
See below for match reports and stars and standouts
NSW II 59 BEAT QUEENSLAND II 12
NSW II put on quite the show in the first game of the day, knowing they needed to win to keep their defence of last year’s schools title alive.
They side went on a try-scoring rampage, going over nine times with Queensland scoring twice.
No 10 Max Prykiel was one of the stars of the show, good with the boot and preventing Queensland scoring a try in the first half by outrunning his opposition.
Wallace identified a number of players who stood up in the match.
“I thought Noah (Rylands) our No. 8 was just exceptional. And our 15 (Payton Tarau) as well,’’ he said.
Tarau scored in both halves with Preston Smallwood also scoring two tries.
Other tryscorers included Rory O’Connor, Iliyaz Viliamu, James Archer and Ewan Moody.
Prykiel chipped in with six conversions in the match with Jeremy Rath kicking two
Isaac Fidock and Micah Figota scored the tries for Queensland II with Oliver Kennedy converting one.
Coach Wallace said the Queensland 15 Fidock stood out for his display for the hosts.
“He was exceptional,’’ Wallace said.
“It (scoreline) was probably a little more than we expected. I thought Queensland II were a pretty handy outfit.’’
NSW 1 50 BEAT ACT 10
NSW 1 shared the scoring around in the second match played in perfect conditions at Sunshine Coast stadium and in which eight different players went over the try line..
Daniel Osborne opened the try-fest with Darcy Emmett, Brock Prideaux, Cyris Bloomfield, Oliver Metcalf, Thomas Haslam, Chayse Geros and Hasani Bloomfield, off an intercept, all scoring tries.
Harrison Dene and Oscar Tremlett shared the kicking duties.
Daniel Veikune rewarded the ACT in the 45th minute with a try while Cameron Kirsten made the conversion and also kicked a penalty for the ACT.
“It was nice hard conditions with the hot weather,’’ said coach Anthony Calavassy.
“We are pretty pleased with the start to the campaign and we got lots of rotation which is good.
“We rolled around our whole subs and our forward pack got a good workout.’’
Calavassy identified a number of players as standouts.
“I though Henri Dempster, who did play the majority of the game at seven, he’s pretty electric and a good character for us around the paddock.
“I actually think out No. 22, Oscar Tremlett, who started the game in 10, was great. He played tough.
“I though he controlled the game really well. It was really important for us.’’
NSWJRU 55 BEAT VICTORIA 13
Both teams have plenty to prove at this tournament and it showed in their passion on the field.
The Juniors are made up of players who missed selection in NSW I and II with Victoria keen show they still have talent in their ranks despite the demise of the Melbourne Revels
While Victoria hung tough early, they could not keep the tough and talented NSW Juniors from romping away for the third 50 plus score of the opening day.
There were eight different scorers in the nine try blitz with Jaziah Swann diving over twice.
Others scorers were Joshua Barr, Jerome Pongi, Ilikaya Turagavukica, Sonny Raravula, Riley Donohoe, Tyler Birnie and Glassie Glassie.
Birnie also made five conversions in a top-notch performance.
Sonix Aiga and Kornel Lelei-Lambert scored Victoria’s tries.
In an ominous warning for their rivals coach Dough Ryan said his players “left points out there’’.
“But it’s always positive when you get the win,’’ he said.
“The biggest thing is their confidence to play with a bit of freedom and throw the ball around.
Some of the standouts in the match also included Max Jordan, Blake Gill and Isilei Moli
QUEENSLAND 1 48 BEAT WESTERN AUSTRALIA 5
After watching their Queensland II side get blown off the park to begin the tournament, the home side came out firing in the final match of the day to keep their state’s finals hopes alive.
The men in maroon controlled the ball and field possession in the opening half with four early tries before Western Australia got themselves on the scoreboard.
The match opened up in the second half as WA’s big forward pack got their side back into the contest but Queensland’s follow on attacking style was too tough to stop.
Queensland inside centre Jeremiah Patea and Tanner Baker finished with two tries of their own along with Quinn Timperon, Lane Edmonds, Cyrus Suniula and Brock Coombes.
Chase Bunce scored the lone five pointer for WA.
Queensland captain Angus Tagicakibau was impressive on both sides of the ball.
Queensland head coach Ben Cameron said he was proud of his side’s opening performance.
“The boys started really well, we knew after watching NSW I we would have a tough match tomorrow so we flipped our starting side but that just showed the great depth of our squad,” he said.
“We knew the pressure was on them, they had some bits of individual brilliance and talented players but we focused on nullifying that as best as possible.
“I thought Lane Edmonds was immense at flanker, his workrate was tremendous all game.
“Brock Coombes supported the ball well, took some good carries and our captain Angus Tagicakibau inserted himself into the game quite well.
“That’s three players but I could list another five or six so we were happy with that effort to start.
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Originally published as Australian schools rugby day 1 stars, standouts, scorers, results, news, wrap and great photos
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