AIC First XIII rugby league Team of the Week – Calef Johnson stars
AIC First XIII rugby league Team of the Week: Nightmare Padua forward; Iona Year 10 student and a fearless Year 11 Villanova player named in the squad.
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Padua College fired a shot across the bow of competitors with a rousing 36-4 win over arch rivals Marist College Ashgrove.
Their fine team performance is reflected in our Team of the Week, with five players named in our squad.
PLAYERS TO WATCH THIS LEAGUE SEASON
Padua’s performance was spearheaded by mobile prop Calef Johnson and second rower Ollie O’Regan.
Villanova College got away with a hard fought 30-12 win over a spirited St Patrick’s College.
Villa, dominating first half possession, moved the ball well and played to their strengths to lead 18-nil at halftime.
Paddies coach Brian Polich said: “Villa started fast and SPC started slow, from a statistic point of view, in the first half, Villa had 16 sets to SPC eight.’’
But Paddies worked their way back into the match in the second half, closing the margin to 18-12 which spoke volumes for the team’s spirit. “However, when the opportunity presented to really put more pressure on, we missed it and lost the momentum,’’ Polich said.
Meanwhile, Iona bounced back with a convincing 30-10 victory over St Edmund’s.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Fullback: Jayden Solien (Padua)
He’s back. After providing one of the highlights of the AIC First XV rugby season when he scored a sensational, match winning try, speed merchant Solien was at it again playing five-eight in Padua’s league victory over Ash. We named him fullback here to get the best players from last weekend in the squad
Wing: Jake Maynard (St Patrick’s College)
He was Paddies strongest carrier on their return sets and communicated well to shut down Villa’s shape. Maynard never stopped communicating.
Centre: Jackson Connor (Villanova)
Connor played edge forward but we named him one wider here at centre to fit our best players into our Round 2 Team of the Week. A typically strong performance from the Bulldogs contracted rookie.
Centre: Cooper Read
Read made consistent yardage and strong contact in defence. He won two penalties with his carries out of danger for Eddie’s half, relieving pressure of his side as they looked to attack.
Wing: Aiden Jackson (Villanova)
Jackson played in the centres over the weekend and he makes the side for his fearless game-style.
For an undersized centre, Jackson has no fear and that was shown when he confronted the Paddies defence at full pelt.
He loves heavy contact.
Five-eight: Larry Clark (Villanova)
The sporting all-rounder was terrific in and around the ruck on the weekend, engineering Villa’s attack.
Halfback: Levi Hawea (Iona College)
The fleet-a-foot utility who can play anywhere from halfback to fullback was outstanding in firing Iona to victory. Unfortunately we won’t see him again this season after he injured himself playing club league last Sunday.
No. 13. Will Lane (Iona College)
You know what you are going to get when Will Lane straps his head and charges onto the field – effort on effort, courage, toughness.
Iona would not swap Lane, their captain, for anyone.
Second row: Ollie O’Regan (Padua)
Another multiskilled forward who can play middle or edge, O’Regan was outstanding in Padua’s win over Ashgrove playing as a second rower.
He made our round 1 Team of the Week as well.
Second row: Ben Addley (Villanova)
Addley got down and dirty again, working hard at No. 13.
Man of the match in three Confraternity Carnival performances and a First XV flanker, his outstanding season keeps rolling along.
Prop: Cooper Benvenuti (Iona)
He is one of the youngest players in the competition, but Year 10 student Benvenuti is made for the rough and tumble of senior football. One of Brisbane Tigers’ best in Connell Challenge under 16s, he is a mobile, raw-boned rookie who can play up-tempo or get down in the trenches.
Hooker: Mitch Rogers (Padua)
The classy Rogers was up for the battle, engaging the middle defenders and bringing his forwards onto the ball and challenging with his own spurts from the ruck.
He also kicked goals.
Prop: Calef Johnson (Padua)
Ashgrove players will have nightmares about the versatile Johnson. When they confronted him in the AIC rugby season, he shone as a centre giant. But last Saturday the mobile big man was outstanding as a prop.
Reserves:
Cameron Bukowski (Villanova)
Bukowski played in his preferred position of hooker, and of course we couldn’t split him and Rogers (Padua) again this week. His leadership, presence and vast representative experience helped Villa secure their first win of the season
Jack Chandler (St Edmund’s)
Chandler would wear No.14 in this team and cause havoc with his energy off the bench.
Creative out of dummyhalf, Chandler played every minute, defended astutely and scored his team’s first try.
Sasha Adams (St Patrick’s College)
Playing prop, Adams never stopped working and punched through the line a couple of times. “He showed he could back that up with strong defence in the middle,’’ said Paddies coach Brian Polich.
Finn Dalton (Padua)
The work-a-holic Dalton makes our squad again this week for his tireless middle forward effort.
He got stuck into it in defence as well.
Isaac Roach (Ashgrove)
Playing No. 13, Roach would have slept well on Saturday night after a wholehearted performance against a challenging Padua pack. He carried the ball strongly and got through a lot of work defensively.
Roach represented Ashgrove’s First XI football team last term.
Cruz Boxsell (St Edmund’s)
Boxsell didn’t shirk any of the tough stuff against a big Iona pack.
Head coach Lachlan Trenerry praised Boxsell’s work in the middle, saying “he has found a balance between ball playing and carrying.”
Leon Karena (Ashgrove)
The Stanthorpe product from Marist College Ashgrove makes his second appearance of the season in our Team of the Week after another typical effort, including aggressive defence and strong attack.
Ricky Taylor (Villa)
Villa prop Ricky Taylor was a trusted ballrunner who consistently got his team on the front foot.
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