AIC First XV rugby round 3 team of the week named
AIC First XV schoolboy rugby: See who made the latest team of the week here following wins to Ashgrove, Iona, Padua and St Laurence’s.
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The AIC First XV schoolboy rugby team of the week is in, following a round which saw Villanova push Padua to the brink of defeat.
Padua won 17-14 in the end, and a handful of players who took part in that enthralling match in Tingalpa are recognised here alongside the competition’s standout performers.
It is a competition starting to really heat up ahead of a rescheduled round 4 which will see Villanova and Iona entertain a bayside derby on Andrew Slack Oval this Tuesday afternoon.
In Ipswich, St Edmund’s College will host St Patrick’s College before a blockbuster in Runcorn on Saturday.
St Laurence’s (3-0) host Marist College (3-0) in another edition of one of the competition’s longest-living rivalries.
St Laurence’s will be celebrating its 110th anniversary, and there is no side the black and gold’s would rather confront more than arch rivals Marist College Ashgrove.
The crowd will be big, the crowd will be loud, roaring their approval as every blow is struck.
It is a game that will have a premiership grand final feel about it - and so it should given that both teams are unbeaten.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
15. Max Bolton (Iona)
A calming influence at fullback, Bolton continued to enhance his reputation in what is his first season of First XV rugby.
A player with true rugby smarts, Bolton was one of the best on Davine Oval.
The week prior he had his hands full — doing the work of one and a half players, catching kicks and sparking attacks against Padua — and it led to a few mistakes.
Against St Peters, he had his best game at fullback and flourished while his teammates took care of business elsewhere on the field.
14. Jarah Chaseling (Padua)
If it was as simple as getting Jarah Chaseling more chances with the ball, Padua would be all over it by now. They’d have the competition’s most dangerous backline.
They have a ferrari lurking out back in Chaseling, a rugby league edge forward from the Norths club who has been lightning with limited touches in 2025.
After scoring a superb solo try against Iona in round 2, Chaseling caught the eye again in round 3 before being awarded the Doubles Daley medal by Villanova.
13. Hudson Bishop (Villanova)
In the absence of inside centre Max Rakitovszky, Bishop has stepped in and done a tremendous job.
He nullified Padua’s midfield strike weapons Harlem Faalafi and Harrison Vera at the weekend and was a defensive linchpin.
Padua scored three forwards tries, with Bishop brave in the backline.
12. Lachie Francis (Villanova)
Played flyhalf but had to be in the team despite the automatic inclusion of Ashgrove No.10 Joseph Cervetto.
Francis, like his small but skilful backline teammates, looked a smart, more than capable playmaker at the weekend.
His variety of pass, fearless mindset of running not kicking and front-on defence were features of his game.
When the going got tough in the second stanza, Francis made crucial one-on-one tackles at key junctures to stay at eye-level with Padua.
11. Darcy Kerr (Villanova)
Arguably Villanova’s best back through three rounds, winger or fullback Kerr came to life in Tingalpa with heavy involvement in backline moves and gutsy defence.
One of three brilliant Villa backs wearing white headgear — the other two were Alex Borger (halfback) and Lachie Francis (flyhalf) — Kerr was well thought out with his short passes and grubber kicking.
Running the ball, Kerr’s light footwork and turn of speed create half chances and overlaps.
10. Joseph Cervetto (Marist Ashgrove)
The Ashgrove flyhalf has been an attacking wonder over the past fortnight.
In round 2 against St Peters, Cervetto scored a double from inside centre with two long-distance tries taking the wind out of his rivals.
Then, on McMahon Oval in round 3, the pacy Australian under-18 water polo talent scored a stunning try counter attacking with Ollie Millard and Xavier Howard.
He has a big frame and is using his speed, fitness and effort to add flair to an already potent Ash backline.
9. Joshua Madden (St Laurence’s)
In less-than-ideal conditions, Madden produced a pristine performance.
Frequently plucking the ball from out of the mud to pass it, and always contending with a damp ball, his service to his charging forwards enabled his side to consistently pass the gain line.
Around his immaculate service, Madden would also put his forwards in front of the ball with deft box kicks.
8. Diesel Hauff (Iona)
The Iona players fell like flies both during the week, on game day and during the match as injury and illness set in.
Iona needed someone to stand up and lead the way and Hauff did it in spades, particularly when St Peters started to gain parity in the second half.
He was The Man who made great defensive decisions covering multiple people.
7. James Kenny (St Peters)
The Saints flanker was at his tigerish best, getting down and dirty at the breakdown, courageously defending and carrying possession against bigger bodies.
The athletic big man has been a great forward leader for his side this season.
6. Henry Page (St Laurence’s)
Page played the house down during a whirlwind first half performance.
Making up for lost time after a career disrupted by injury, he attacked with his defence, did the dirty work over the ball, and ran as a support player when his primary runners carted possession forward.
So good was he, he deservedly won the Doubles Daley Medal on the strength of playing just half a game.
5. Seb Kracht (St Edmund’s)
Kracht was enormous for St Edmund’s College.
He tried desperately to give Eddies a platform with his runs, stood up to the Laurie’s runners with physical defence and was a disrupter on the opposition’s attacking lineout ball.
It was some performance.
4. Will Ross (Padua)
Ross did what he needed to do, and more, to keep Padua’s premiership fire burning.
Against an outstanding Villa side, Ross was a nightmare in the lineouts — stealing a few and stifling a few more.
Ross moved well across the sodden surface to be an effective attacking option also.
3. Vin Rix (St Laurence’s)
Rix had a whale of a match with his runs and scrummaging contributing to his team’s forward thrust.
Luka Smith was initially Laurie’s main man, but as the match progressed Rix really warmed to the occasion. His brilliant game was garnished by a break which led to Nic Nadenic scoring.
2. Mitch Wallis (St Patrick’s)
The hooker position in this year’s team of the season is already looking like the most competitive spot due to the quality of No. 2’s across the competition.
Wallis, despite being in Year 10, is an early contender after three wholehearted performances of 70 minutes.
His two try showing against Ashgrove was a just reward for his patience and power in the rolling maul, as well as his strong scrummaging which held up strongly against the blue and gold.
1. Luka Smith (St Laurence’s)
Smith was St Laurence’s primary ball runner who generated so much momentum for his side.
He was also a huge threat during pick and drive assaults and was a part of a tight five which gave St Laurence’s an advantage at scrum time.
He scored two tries, and was involved in a nice trick play from a line out which led to Tom Gainer scoring.
RESERVES
Jett Tupou (Villanova)
Big Jett Tupou took matters into his own hands against Padua.
Outside of his scrum duties, the hard-to-handle No. 2 ran the ball with vim and vigour to get Villanova motoring forward.
He took twice as many carries as you see a modern day hooker take and not once took a backward step.
Joel Whelan (Padua)
The tidy fullback switched gears to flyhalf for Saturday’s game with Damon Humphrys away in Gladstone.
In Humphrys’ absence, Whelan stepped up wonderfully before a shoulder dislocation prevented him from seeing the game out.
He is a chatty chap on the field who gave his peers plenty of direction and clear communication, around kicks which plugged the corners of Andrew Slack Oval.
Harrison Vidler (St Edmund’s)
Vidler shifted back to his preferred position of inside centre, after playing at outside centre, and looked the real deal.
A rugby league centre, Vidler offered plenty of strike carrying the ball and was stoic defensively in the midfield.
Paul Deeb (St Peters)
The school’s prime moving forward, Deeb does the simple things well.
He carries hard, tackles well, lifts well and is reliable in every aspect.
He was rock solid again on Saturday, as he has been for for seasons at this level.
Nomis Fidow (St Peters)
Fidow’s lineout throwing has been consistent this season and it was straight as an arrow on Saturday, around him providing plenty of good carries off scrumhalf Tristan Barclay.
The Cairns enforcer stopped plenty of traffic through his channel in defence and in attack found a way forward against a big Iona pack.
Archie Searle (Marist Ashgrove)
Before his teammates warmed into the game, loosehead prop Searle had already made a handful of carries and entered fifth gear.
A tough, uncompromising backrower turned prop, Searle was busy in the early going which allowed Ashgrove open up a telling 24-7 half time lead.
In front of the school’s 1965, 1975 and 1985 rugby old boys, the fiercely competitive prop brought boundless energy.
Henry Robinson (Marist Ashgrove)
Like his front-row accomplice Searle, lock Robinson has transitioned from a backrower and looked to be thriving in round 3’s muddy match against St Patrick’s.
A bloke who enjoys the physical stuff, Robinson has brought a competitive nature to the Ashgrove opens squad and was unrelenting with his go-forward and involvement in the first hour of Saturday’s 26-point triumph.
Tom Gainer (St Laurence’s)
The lightweight second rower completed the St Laurence’s pack beautifully, giving his side an extra flanker while never taking a shortcut in tight five duties.
When man of the match Henry Page was replaced, Gainer then swung to flanker and maintained the rage.
Lewis Bullock and Izaak Hughes-Musu (St Patrick’s)
The Paddies props matched motors with the Ashgrove tight five in general play and at scrum time.
It was a sound effort from the Shorncliffe big men.
Billy Atchison (Padua)
Billy was brave to the core against Villanova.
It’s not often you hear a coach rave about the defence of a scrumhalf but that was the case when Padua coach Andrew Clyne lauded his defensive courage and effort after Saturday’s match in Tingalpa.
Atchison did his core role well too, but it was his willingness to throw himself in front of forwards which impressed most in round 3.
Seb Gardiner (Marist Ashgrove)
Regularly one of Ashgrove’s finest forwards, Gardiner has been relishing his role as captain, backing up responsibility with performance.
The tireless openside flanker has been in everything, always around the ball and just excellent in both attack and defence.
Harry Graham (Marist Ashgrove)
The Ashgrove scrumhalf has been stellar through three games.
Graham’s passing has been pinpoint and he has got to the ruck base in a flash to sustain an up-tempo, pressurising attack by Ashgrove.
Was faultless against Paddies.
Special mentions: Chad O’Connell (St Edmund’s), Tomi Wilson (St Edmund’s), Finn Staley (Villanova), Alex Borger (Villanova), Brad Smith (St Laurence’s), Jack Mercer, Harry Welsh and Brooklyn Faalafi (Padua front rowers), Nic Nadenic (St Laurence’s), Liam Whale (Iona), Onosa’i Cvetko-Lueger (St Patrick’s), Harry Cairns (St Patrick’s), Tristan Barclay (St Peters), Zane Smith (St Peters), Liam Rice (Marist Ashgrove), Ryder Childs (Villanova), Matt Linnell (Villanova).
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