AIC First XV: Ash break drought; round 3 turn up
AIC First XV schoolboy rugby: Marist College Ashgrove released the hand break on its season, while Villanova and St Laurence’s, then St Peters and Pats, played out classics today.
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Marist College Ashgrove released the hand break on its season to find 41 points and beat a dogged Iona College 41-19 at the foothills of the Taylor Range.
With a lovely blend of power forward play and splendid backline movement, Ashgrove went around a gutsy Iona who offered plenty to hit the lead in the second half only to fall away at the death.
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The result sparked a lovely celebration before members of the 1983, 1973, 1963 and 1973 First XV teams who were enjoying a reunion.
And in other games, Padua maintained the rage to beat Eddies, while St Laurence’s edged out Villa in a mini classic.
And St Peters, after a near miss a week earlier against Laurie’s, won in a thriller over St Patrick’s. More on those games below.
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Ashgrove finished with a flourish, with wing twins Jack Forrester and Joel Drew combining for Forrester to score after Tobias Graham had created space.
Halfback Condon then garnished an excellent day out with a close range try as the scoreline blew out in a manner which did not reflect the closeness of the scores.
Marist coach Richard Graham praised his team’s discipline and the group’s ability to play the way “we wanted to play’’.
He also noted the execution of his kicking game and the enthusiasm of the chasers.
Iona coach Paul Davey said his side was not far off but a slow start - which saw them trail 17-nil - and the yellow card of centre Will Lane hampered his team’s continuing recovery.
The loss of big prop Hopo Leota, a try two hero, also eroded Iona’s campaign which was spearheaded by flanker Adam Kelly and No. 8 Ned Dore.
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Down 17-0 and then 17-14 at halftime, Iona leapt into the lead after a masterful switch in play by halfback Darcy Pratten found fullback Levi Hawea storming down the blindside.
Hawea was felled by Ashgrove fullback Jude Knapp, but the ball popped up for a trailing Ned Dore who plunged over.
But Ashgrove were back in front 22-19 when winger Joel Drew scored after his flanker Atticus Armstrong had passed in contact.
Iona winger Kai Seeto then lit up the match with a dazzling burst, a try only prevented by Tom Howard’s last line tackle in cover defence.
Howard then set in motion a crucial try finished magnificently by inside centre Cody O’May who barrelled his way 22m to score.
Howard’s pass, after cutting back inside, was a beauty and at 27-19 Ash had their nose in front, albeit a long way from home.
O’May was a part of a battle Royale in the centres between he, Howard and the Iona pairing of Will Lane and Campbell Rolfe.
Ashgrove five-eight Tobias Graham also gave his side nice direction either with astute tactical kicks, straight running or shifts to his centres, while Iona pair Seeto and Hawea were dangerous on the fringe.
A lot of the reason for Ashgrove’s fine performance sits on the shoulders of No. 10 Graham who Wallaby legend Paul McLean, a spectator in the stand, noted played with his head raised, eyes up.
Around Graham flankers Harry Thompson and Atticus Armstrong (before he left the field) shone, while the tight five hang in against a powerful Iona forward unit.
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In the first half, Ashgrove had a text book start, controlling possession and mixing sure handling from its forwards with selective spreads toward the midfield.
Ball control and territory were the foundation on which a 10-nil lead was established, with prop Nic Gullo the beneficiary of a rolling maul which propelled him over the line.
Ashgrove backed its ball work with sound enough defence, repelling Iona’s sorties, and were back in the attacking zone when fullback Jude Knapp went sliding over halfway and toward the 22m.
With momentum on his back, and after another successful set up through the forwards, Ash skipper No. 10 Tobias Graham zeroed in on the try line with straight running that had him close enough to reach out and score.
Ash almost scored again when flanker Harry Thompson secured a charge down, but the bouncing ball beat his five over the sideline.
Down 17-nil, Iona had to be next to score and they were when prop Hopo Leota powered his way over, rewarding some enterprising lead up play.
Leota was unstoppable despite Ashgrove players successfully getting their bodies in front of him.
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Leota was at it again soon after, capitalising on a momentum shift when again he scored from close range, spinning off a rolling maul to score.
Campbell Rolfe’s dead eye kicking saw Iona cut The score was 17-14 at halftime.
And in Runcorn, St Laurence’s College came out like men on a mission when beginning both halves before handing Villanova College their first loss of the season 34-29.
When things were in the balance, Laurie’s resorted to the safety of their forwards and it paid dividends.
Up 24-17 with eight minutes to play, the boys in black and gold dug their heels in and after a dozen or more phases, prop powerhouse Rylan Lock landed a telling blow under the sticks.
Or so we thought, before a wild back-end-forth sequence finished a game for the ages.
Laurie’s moved ahead 31-17, then a flick pass in contact from Cameron Bukowski found fly half kicking genius Larry Clark in support – giving Villa supporters a sniff at 31-24.
Then Finn Mackay, thanks to the work of his forwards, added three points to move ahead 34-24.
And when we thought it was over, flanker Ben Addley dived in to keep his team’s hopes alive, Villa in striking distance down 34-29.
With one last chance as time on the clock dwindled, Villa’s hearts were broken by the breakdown brilliance of Laurie’s lock Tom Jago, who sealed the deal with a pilfer.
Laurie’s head coach Welmar Du Plessis said the start was paramount for his side.
“We knew physicality would make a difference. We did good. We left it all out there. Credit to Villa, we knew it was going to be tough.
“It was nerve-racking at the end.
“We played in the right areas but the wind was against us.
“The boys don’t need much motivation to play against Villa. They are always up for that. It was important for us to step up. We needed to. It was too close for comfort.
“We appreciate the support of everyone that came out.”
Du Plessis also said that it was special getting 2020 First XV captain John Bryant out to speak to his team during the week.
“He (Bryant) spoke about how special it was to wear the jersey, what it meant to him and to cherish the moment because it goes by quickly.
“He told the boys not to get ahead of themselves. There’s a long way to go.”
Laurie’s started like a house on fire, rocketing out to a 17-3 lead after 20 minutes.
Like a well-oiled machine they were, feeding the forwards in close and kicking for territory through fullback Xavier Santos and fly half Mackay.
Mackay played for the Melbourne Rebels Under 16s side last year in the National Championships so it came as no surprise to see what Du Plessis described as a “special player” turn up when it matters.
Moving mountains early was No. 8 Ben Davis and blindside flanker Bailey Cotelli, who combined beautifully to put Davis in for try No. 1
Prop Rylan Lock and Tom Jago had touches in the passage too, but it was the crisp offloading ability of Cotelli which made it possible.
Then the home side went bang, first through Mackay who sliced his way through the line with two sidesteps as he made his way back in field.
Lock crossed next, burrowing his way in with a ferocious pick and drive.
Down 17-3 Villa had to conjure something and conjure it quick.
And so they they did with the speed of winger Hugo Harrison breaking open the defence.
He continued to sizzle down the right edge.
After working their way into the Laurie’s 22, a swift through the hands movement starting with No. 8 Jackson Moloney and featuring centre Cameron Bukowski, flanker James Sullivan and hooker Daniel Taylor, saw wing Roman Dunne deliver the fantastic left touchline finish.
All of a sudden the visitors were back in it heading to the break down 17-10, the boot of goal kicking hooker Taylor adding five points to their cause.
Half time came and went and almost immediately Laurie’s extended their lead, 24-10, prop Byron Murphy heeding the words of coach Welmar Du Plessis and delivering with an unstoppable rolling maul try.
Ironically, that was the method of Villa’s next try, with flanker Ben Addley spearing off the rolling maul and planting it down.
It was a just reward for the hardest worker on the field. The boot of Healy added the extras from out wide of course.
Clark and Addley scored in the comeback attempt but it was too late.
Villa coach Eddie Harris said the Laurie’s knew their roles, “everybody doing what they were supposed to.”
“We got flustered early. We weren’t on the job and they had more go in them early.
“They were just better,” Harris praised.
“ I thought we were going to get it in the end there.
“We forgot the basics and things like turnovers, which is normally our strength, costed us.”
In Ipswich, Padua College continued its challenge this season with a 22-8 win over St Edmund’s.
Eddies coach Andrew Kirk praised Padua’s defensive discipline which was “outstanding’’.
“It was 7-3 at halftime and a couple of lapses in concentration cost us in the end - two five minute periods,’’ he said.
But he said fullback Ben Puller was close to the best player on the park, while open side flanker Jack Chandler continued his golden form. Halfback Tafito Falaniko Ah-Ki also shone.
Padua coach Andrew Clyne said it was a tough game. “They were a tough team. I thought we did not play our best in the first half, but after a response at halftime they produced,’’ he said.
But he said patience in attack and ball retention were key to his team going on to win.
He said flanker Brock Powell at flanker and Jack Corby’s set piece work shone, while the pair’s general defence was strong.
In the clash between St Patrick’s and St Peters, St Peters prevailed with a late try to pinch the game 26-20.
Even after hitting the front, St Peters almost lost the clash but Paddies were held up over the line in the last play of the day.
Wallace Charlie, No. 10 for St Peters, scored late and also clinched the Doubles Daly Medal for his side.
“We never dropped our heads once,’’ said coach Cameron Wright.
“I was really proud of how we went, and we were physical, in their face and applied so much pressure.
“And when we got into their territory we got over the line.’’
Johnny Nona also played his heart out at flanker, praised coach Wright. “Especially toward the end he went to another level. He was a standout.’’
Paddies coach Jim Potts said while his side played well, it came down to want and desire.
He was disappointed to allow a “soft try’’ late in the match, but saw positives.
“We played well and it was an entertaining game, four tries to three, and were held up under the posts in the last play of the game.
He said Paddies prop Keiahn Nuku Nuku was man of the match after St Pat’s scrum “roasted’’ the opposition.
Hooker Manaaki Bateman was also outstanding for the losing side, rising from his sick bed to play, while other prop Max Whipbourne did well. Paddies also performed in the lineouts.
Footnote: Replays and live coverage of match will be available courtesy of the QRU and available via the website: https://qld.rugby/aic
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