TAS First XV rugby’s form guide, Players of the Week and road ahead
As the TAS First XV rugby premiership race hots up entering round 5 on Saturday, we peer down the road ahead, running our eyes over the form guide and naming the key players who stamped their mark last week.
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As the TAS First XV rugby premiership race hots up entering round 5 on Saturday, we peer down the road ahead, running our eyes over the form guide and name the key players who stamped their mark last week.
After round 4, where Ormiston and Columban's cashed in, an intense round 5 loomed with a heavyweight clash between Canterbury College and Ormiston at Canterbury the prime fixture.
So, with only three games remaining in the season before finals, here’s our form guide, best round 4 players and the road ahead for all eight teams.
ORMISTON COLLEGE
WIN-LOSS 4-0
Despite the loss of Laif Williams, the Redbacks have made a statement to the competition from round 1 that the reigning premiers were still the team to beat with four consecutive victories.
At full strength, the Ormiston line-up looks unbeatable, but how they will tackle rivals St Columban’s or Canterbury College come finals time presents itself as their biggest challenge on their way to premiership glory.
KEY PLAYERS FROM SATURDAY:
Lucas Wood:
Wood has established himself as the rock in his team. He has been everything and more for coach Kris Peterman and his best is needed this week against Canterbury.
Angus Melville:
Ormiston are going to want No. 8 Melville in beast mode to finish off the season. When he’s on his game, so are the Redbacks — his physicality and defensive presence the game changer.
Lock Riley O’Brien and prop Harrison Dhu:
If these two continue to pour in 110 per cent effort then Ormiston will be in safe hands. At the weekend, the pair of them dominated the breakdown, winning possession for their side.
ROAD AHEAD
Canterbury
Columban’s
CHAC
PREDICTED RESULTS: No losses
ST COLUMBAN’S
WIN-LOSS 3-0
Columban’s have won three because of a bye round against St John’s. Despite this, their 44-5 showing against John Paul College proved they have a part to play in the premiership battle.
Coming up against WestMAC this Saturday is another chance to strengthen their combinations. It will come as no surprise to see, for the second year in a row, Columban’s and Ormiston butting horns in the big dance.
KEY PLAYERS FROM SATURDAY:
Eli Ortiz:
If Ortiz takes charge in attack then life is a whole lot easier for fly half Caleb Ritchie.
He can run, there’s no doubt about it. So if he injects himself like he did in round 4 then rivals will have to hold out multiple scoring options.
This will prove a handful.
Sam Hoolihan:
Columban’s had inside centre Hoolihan come out on fire against JPC. They need to put him through space because once he finds space his speed comes to the fore.
He’s not the biggest centre but he makes up for it with the lines he runs.
Devlyn Nel:
Ormiston have Angus Melville and Columban’s have Devlyn Nel.
A high-work rate No. 8 who, as captain, leads his side through his actions. A Nel double on Saturday led the way for the visitors. Feeding off his energy was hooker Alby Lyons, towering lock Toby Vinton and flanker Bailey Atkins who had their best games of the season.
ROAD AHEAD
WestMAC
Ormiston
Canterbury
PREDICTED RESULTS: One loss
RELATED LINKS
TAS ROUND 3 REPORT – ST PAUL’S AMAZING WIN
TAS RUGBY ROUND 2 TEAM OF THE WEEK
MEGA GALLERY – TAS RUGBY PICTURE GALLERY
CANTERBURY COLLEGE
WIN-LOSS 4-0
This is a team with plenty of fight.
Despite such a young core with limited First XV experience, they’ve come together in the big moments. Look no further than their 24-14 Logan-derby thriller over JPC.
They’ve got a tough road home with Ormiston in round 5 and Columban’s in round 7, but if their round 2 win was their last of the season coach Josh Afu would be proud.
KEY PLAYERS FROM SATURDAY:
Bailey Murphy:
The returning inside centre for Canterbury has been a tremendous leader.
He’s a goal kicking machine, whose value could never be put down to line breaks, line break a
assists, and try assists – even though he has a knack for setting up his teammates.
Charlie Newton:
Afu’s best player in his team’s 61-7 victory over St John’s, Newton was a high energy flanker who popped up everywhere around the paddock.
A player who excels in the effort areas.
ROAD AHEAD
Ormiston
St Paul’s
Columban’s
PREDICTED RESULTS: 2 losses
JOHN PAUL COLLEGE
WIN-LOSS 1-3
Although their record doesn’t show it, JPC are one talented team.
They’ve been competitive in every game. They could be 2-2 but due to the quality of Canterbury’s Jack Henry, they have only tallied one win this season.
With a pinch more direction in the backline and polish, they could give the best team’s in the competition a run for their money.
Regardless, the season has been a success after unearthing Kingbenjamin Swirling and DJ Gray, both players returning next year.
KEY PLAYERS FROM SATURDAY:
Kingbenjamin Swirling:
Swirling is a battering ram. He’s a No. 8 who can play in the backline due to his ball-carrying and v8 engine.
One of coach Joshua Kron’s most reliable. You know what you are going to get.
If he hadn’t left the field early on Saturday the scoreline would have been much closer.
DJ Gray
Gray is the current if not next up star of the competition. In just Year 10, you can only imagine how dominant he will be in his senior year.
Who knows. Maybe he will shift from fullback into the centres to give him ball.
He’s exciting.
ROAD AHEAD
St Paul’s
St John’s
WestMAC
PREDICTED RESULTS: No losses
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL
WIN-LOSS 2-2
The St Paul’s First XV are a well coached team. They are never out of the fight, and they can give the competition a good shake on their day.
It’s a combination of coach Andrew Thomas and the hunger across the board his team possesses.
Do not count them out.
KEY PLAYERS FROM SATURDAY:
Mitchell Merritt:
Merritt made his case for the Ben Tune medal early with second efforts earning the Pumas chances at the WestMAC line.
They couldn’t execute but had Merritt not laid the foundations, it wouldn’t have been possible.
The winner of the Ben Tune medal in front of a gala Pink Day at St Paul’s.
ROAD AHEAD
JPC
Canterbury
St John’s
PREDICTED RESULTS: 2 losses
RELATED LINKS
TAS RUGBY ROUND 1 REPORT, TEAM OF THE WEEK
TAS RUGBY PLAYERS TO WATCH THIS SEASON
WestMAC
WIN-LOSS 1-3
Much like JPC, WestMAC haven’t had their way in terms of winning. But, as their 12-12 draw with St Paul’s suggests, they have the tools to be competitive.
WestMAC have been unlucky this year and haven’t been able to get it clicking on all cylinders.
They are on the improve, but it’s a competition with benchmark schools like Ormiston further along in their progression.
KEY PLAYERS FROM SATURDAY:
Mason Taylor:
A second rower whose defence and low-chops earned the praise of coach Ben O’Connell.
“He played second row and again he was very good with his defence. Just low tackling. Textbook.”
Ky Litzow
A newcomer to rugby, Lidzow made some terrific defensive decisions on the wing.
It is a position that demands a knowledge of the game so for someone new to the game, his reads, pressure and ability to hold down his edge was mighty impressive.
ROAD AHEAD
Columban’s
CHAC
JPC
PREDICTED RESULTS: 2 losses
CANNON HILL ANGLICAN COLLEGE
WIN-LOSS 0-4
The CHAC boys have been hot and cold this season and they should be super proud for it.
They give even the best teams a scare but when it has gotten to crunch time their rivals have had other ideas.
As a whole their team has improved in leaps and bounds this year, stepping it up a couple notches.
There’s no doubt the competition has taken notice.
KEY PLAYERS FROM SATURDAY:
Will Harper:
An attacking threat in every sense.
Harper ran it hard, fast and straight, bending the Pumas defensive line.
Angus McConville:
On the defensive end, fly half and captain Angus McConville led from the front when putting his body on the line and stopping everything that came in his direction.
ROAD AHEAD
St John’s
WestMAC
Ormiston
PREDICTED RESULTS: 2 losses
ST JOHN’S
WIN-LOSS 0-4
St John’s did a great job fielding a team last week to front Canterbury College and high praise to them for scoring a try.
ROAD AHEAD
CHAC
JPC
St Paul’s
PREDICTED RESULTS: 3 losses
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