AIC First XV rugby: The road ahead; Team of the Week
AIC First XV rugby: Who made our latest Team of the Week and what is the road ahead for the teams? Revealed here.
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The AIC First XV rugby season is down to the business end, with Padua College and St Laurence’s College on a collision course.
Those schools will play in a round 7 grand final - providing they both win this weekend, something which cannot be taken for granted.
HOW ROUND 5 UNFOLDED, SUPER SUB STARS
St Laurence’s are three-time reigning premiers, having won outright in 2022 and 2021, and sharing the title with Ashgrove in a Covid-ridden 2020 season.
Padua is seeking its first premiership since 2016 - after also winning in 2015.
But St Laurence’s first must get past a revitalised Marist College Ashgrove while Padua have to ensure they beat St Peters - don’t forget St Peters should have beaten Laurie’s.
Footnote: Congratulations to John Bryant (St Laurence’s), Tim Ryan (St Patrick’s) Nick Baker (Marist Ashgrove) and Floyd Aubrey (Marist Ashgrove) who were selected in the Junior Wallabies side for Monday’s clash against New Zealand’s under 20s.
So what is the road ahead?
And who made our Team of the Week following a dramatic round 5 which saw Padua super sub Jayden Solien break the clash with Villanova wide open - and then which saw Padua hang on 17-13 as Villa’s forwards pounded the line in the final seconds.
Solien makes our Team of the Week squad.
“We have been using him in the back end of games for most of the year and you saw what he can do. He just broke the game open,’’ said Padua coach Andrew Clyne.
“It was pretty electric. He has an x-factor.’’
RELATED LINKS
ROUND 4 AIC FIRST XV RUGBY TEAM OF THE WEEK
CLUB ROUND 9: COLTS 1, WOMEN’S LATEST
AIC ROUND 4: HOW YOUR SCHOOL WENT
The first handful of players into our Team of the Week this week were:
+ Padua inside centre Mitch Rogers who had a blinder
+ His man of the match five-eight Damon Humprhys
+ Unstoppable Iona prop Hopa Leota
+ Iona lock Will Lane, an effort player who did everything.
It said everything about Will Lane’s effort when he chased hard as St Peters winger Grayson Gibson sped away. It was a just in case play by the big bloke.
Iona prop Leota bagged yet another two try double, Humprhy’s kicking game was supreme and Rogers defence on the fringe and blink or you miss it passing and running was fabulous.
Villa’s Ben Addley was man of the match in his team’s narrow loss to Padua.
+Ashgrove’s No. 8 Jasper Barry, inside centre Cody O’May and outside centre Tom Howard, who all had their hand in the 39-24 home win.
+Inspirational St Patrick’s hooker Manaaki Bateman who dug deep for 70 minutes.
+Dominant Laurie’s prop Byron Murphy who, with two try accomplice Tom Jago, and star flyhlf Finn Mackay, got the job done against St Edmund’s.
ROAD AHEAD
IONA 2-3
Iona a have the chance to close their season out on a positive note, with bayside rivals Villa in round 6 and St Patrick’s in round 7.
Getting players back has been key for Iona but having blooded plenty of young players back for next year, Iona will be in safe hands.
Villa (away)
Paddies (away)
Predicted results: 1 loss
VILLANOVA 3-2
The Eddie Harris coached Villa side has been fierce competition for all this season and Iona will need to be on their game Saturday to get the job done.
The game will be played at their fortress on Andrew Slack oval, Villa’s last home game of the year sure to be a thriller.
Iona (home)
St Peters (away)
Predicted results: No losses
ST PETERS 1-4
St Peters haven’t had their way in terms of winning but they can really threaten.
They are as good as any other school on their day, a 16-15 round 2 loss against Laurie’s the proof.
They will be looking to send off skipper Vice Latu among other senior players in style when they look to dethrone the unbeaten Padua on Saturday.
Padua (away)
Villa (home)
Predicted results: 2 losses
PADUA 5-0
What a season it has been so far for a dark horse team not many would have picked at the start of the year.
Now with just two games left they’ve got to dig deep and deliver. The only other unbeaten team in Laurie’s awaits in round 7 but before that they have to deal with St Peters - and that won’t be easy.
St Peters (home)
Laurie’s (home)
Predicted results: 1 loss
ST PATRICK’S 0-5
The Paddies boys have been hot and cold this season and they should be super proud for it.
They have given the best teams scares 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. There’s no doubt the competition has taken notice.
In round 5, Ashgrove were 39-24 winners after getting out to a 39-10 lead - in other years Paddies may have surrendered but not this time.
Eddies (away)
Iona (home)
Predicted results: 2 losses
ST EDMUND’S 1-4
After a triumphant year last year which saw them challenge Laurie’s 13-18 in the grand final, Eddies’ have produced a mixed bag.
Clinching their only win against the Saints, Eddies’ are yet to produce a 70 minute performance but round 6 and 7 presents itself as an opportunity to redeem their season - a season spearheaded by Year 12 scrumhalf weapon Tafito Falaniko Ah-Ki.
Paddies (home)
Ashgrove (away)
Predicted results: 1 loss
MARIST ASHGROVE 3-2
Ashgrove couldn’t be in better form heading into Saturday’s clash against Laurie’s.
After back-to-back losses to begin the season, Ashgrove had scored a combined 119 points in their next three games. Of course it will be a tough task to keep the momentum going out at Runcorn but if there’s a game to get up for it’s this one.
Richard Graham will have them ready.
Laurie’s (away)
Eddie’s (home)
Predicted results: 1 loss
ST LAURENCE’S 5-0
Ashgrove has confidence and so do Laurie’s. How could they not?
The last time they lost a game was a trial match in 2020 and since then they’ve been untouchable.
They are coming off a 44-point-victory over last year’s grand finalists Eddies’ and they will be primed to deliver the same fate to arch rivals Ashgrove when they play in front of a bumper home crowd on Saturday.
Ashgrove (home)
Padua (away)
Predicted results: No losses
TEAM OF THE WEEK
15. Jude Knapp (Ashgrove)
14. Levi Hawea (Iona)
13. Tom Howard (Ashgrove)
12. Mitch Rogers (Padua)
11. Cody O’May (Ashgrove)
10. Finn Mackay (Laurie’s)
9. Tafito Falaniko Ah-Ki (St Edmund’s)
8. Jasper Barry (Ashgrove)
7. Ben Addley (Villanova)
6. Brock Powell (Padua)
5. Will Lane (Iona)
4. Jack Corby (Padua)
3. Byron Murphy (Laurie’s)
2. Manaaki Bateman (St Patrick’s)
1. Hopa Leato (Iona)
Reserves:Damon Humprhys (Padua), Tom Jago (Laurie’s), Kunanon Dickman (St Peters), Julian Soliem (Padua), Riley Marlborough (Iona), Adam Kelly (Iona), Riki Taylor (Villanova), Nick Hinchey (Padua),George Noone (Padua), Jack Chandler (St Edmund’s), Will Tatt (St Edmund’s), Kai Seeto (Iona), Campbell Rolfe (Iona), Aiden Rooney (Padua), Callum Rooney (Padua), Jackson Moloney (Villanova), Daniel Taylor (Villanova), Bailey Caplick (Ashgrove).
Round 6
Villanova v Iona College
Padua v St Peters
St Edmund’s v St Patrick’s
St Laurence’s v Marist
Round 7
St Peters v Villanova
St Patrick’s v Iona
Padua v St Laurence’s
Marist v St Edmund’s
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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