Ones to watch: Warwick rugby young guns set to lead team to grand final glory
A crucial win has scored the Scots PGC College team a one-way ticket to the Darling Downs School Super Cup grand final. Meet the rising stars hoping to lead their side to victory in the huge final clash this week here:
Warwick
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Warwick’s Scots PGC College have played their way through an epic Darling Downs School Super Cup to earn a place in this week’s grand final, with just one game now standing between their side and championship glory.
The side will take on Faith Lutheran College in Wednesday night’s huge final clash in Toowoomba, who defeated the Warwick team 22-0 in an earlier round.
It hasn’t been an easy run to the final for the Scots PGC side, with a 21-0 win against Mary Mackillop Catholic College balanced out by a huge 71-0 loss to Toowoomba Anglican College.
Scots PGC rugby coach Michael Tucker said his team worked hard to redeem themselves in the semi-final against TAS and were able to come away with the win in a close contest, earning their place in the grand final.
“Scots’ focus on defensive line-speed paid off, with Paul Costello nabbing a 50m intercept try to keep Scots in touch,” Tucker said.
“The forward pack then held strong to play out the final seconds of the game before Hamish Swift kicked the ball into touch, locking in a tough 21-19 win and earning a place in the final.”
The Scots PGC coaching team has revealed six key playmakers they believe will prove influential in the grand final clash ahead of the big game.
See the full list below:
Aaron Hinch
Position: Outside centre
School: Warwick State High School
He may only have five games of rugby under his belt, but Hinch is already described as a dynamic player with “the X-factor”.
Tucker said Hinch had cemented himself as a key player in the 1st XV.
“Playing at outside centre, he has scored six tries in those first five starts and doled out plenty of big hits that have marked him as a dangerous player to come up against, and a great teammate to have,” Tucker said.
“Hinch is a Warwick High boy, (and) has quickly become a well-loved member of the team for his enthusiasm for the game.”
Scott Taat
Position: Inside centre
School: Scots PGC College
Scots PGC head of rugby Cahal Davis says Taat is an absolute gun and has played phenomenally throughout the competition.
“He’s been very good this season, when he moved to the school he transitioned from AFL to rugby and has improved every year. He’s a very good tackler and great ball runner,” Davis said.
“He’s a partner of Hinch in the centre and is currently playing in his last season with the school.
Tate is in his third year of boarding at the college and has shown great growth during his time with the side.
Jesse Bohm
Position: Hooker
School: Scots PGC College
Tucker says that Bohm often gets the team on the front foot with his leadership, wide carries and smart passing game.
“His heads-up play and all-round game made him the starting hooker for the Darling Downs School 18s Rugby team, where he then earned QLD honours at the State Championships,” Tucker said.
Lachlan Woods
Position: Fly half, halfback
School: Scots PGC College
Tucker described Woods as a great kicker and a player with great chemistry with his team, especially with fellow half Hamish Swift, with the pair working together to direct the back line.
“Thrust into the starting fly half role after beginning the season as halfback, Lachlan has been confidently leading the team around the park, playing as a servant to his outside backs and giving the team a strong structure to play off,” Tucker said.
“‘Woodsie’s playing in his second game at fly half in the semi-finals, orchestrated a 14-point comeback in the last 8 minutes of the game, capped off by making the difficult near-sideline conversion to win the game.”
Paul Costello
Position: Back row
School: Scots PGC College
Costello has been labelled as a ‘jack of all trades’ by Tucker, as he fills various positions as needed in the centre and the blindside flanker, which is a position he’s made his own.
Tucker said Costello was a key player in the Scots PGC back row when needed and a strong addition to the core of the team.
“Paul is a hard worker for the team that leads our defensive line speed and epitomises the team’s motto of ‘bust yourself,’ often being the first player there in support and covering big distances in games,” he said.
Owen Eising
Position: Second rower
School: Scots PGC College
Playing in the ‘engine room’ of the team as a second rower, Eising’s work ethic and skills in the scrum allow for the rest of the team to thrive.
Eising and fellow second rower Will Bryant are both in their first year as part of the 1st XV, but their coaching team say the pair have made an impact on the squad already with strong plays and quick thinking in the ruck.
Scots PGC College 1ST XV will play against Faith Lutheran College in the Darling Downs School Super Cup final at Clive Berghofer Stadium in Toowoomba on Wednesday, August 31.
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