AIC First XV rugby: Who made the Rd 4 Team of the Week?
AIC First XV rugby Team of the Week features a player from a losing side who produced “the best performance by an AIC hooker’’ seen by one coach. Story here.
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Iona College coach Paul Davey has heaped praise on his young hooker Fononga Tuitahi for his performance in a losing side following Padua’s 43-24 win last Saturday.
“That was one of the best individual performances by a hooker I have seen in AIC ever,’’ Davey said.
Tuitahi was in the middle of a superior scrum, but around the ground played like a flanker while carrying the ball with the gusto of a tight five forward.
It would be surprising if there was a hooker in the competition who made more tackles or runs than Tuitahi does.
St Laurence’s hooker Huw Griffiths and St Patrick’s young veteran Manaaki Bateman spring to mind as game challengers.
“The exciting thing for us is that two-thirds of our front row were Year 11 boys and it is not just about Hopo (Leota) going forward, the other two (Tuitahi and Sam Hodder) are there as well.
“Both are going gangbusters. Diesel Hauff is another Year 11 who’ll be back and our halfback Keanu Bothma is only a Year 10 boy and we are proud of the legacy and the pride in the Iona rugby jersey which has come back this year and we are hoping the younger boys bring it forward next year.
“But we are looking forward to a winning season (this season) and winning our last three matches.’’
TEAMS OF THE WEEK
While the Team of the Week is full of players from winning teams, Tutiahi and his teammates Adam Kelly (breakaway) and Hopo Leota made the side, while St Edmund’s Will Tatt and Tiger Campbell were strongly considered before being one of the first reserves chosen.
Five-eight Campbell was both a villain and a hero, but without him St Edmund’s would not have been in a position to beat Villanova - so we give him a tick and ease him into our squad this week.
The best performance of the round came from Padua College and not surprisingly that school’s First XV provided six players to our squad this week - and it could have been more.
Padua College scored 43 points, but their defence came before their attack and that they played their way to a 31-7 advantage in the second half proved the difference despite Iona’s fast finish. “They will never back down to anyone, no matter how big they are,’’ praised Padua coach Andrew Clyne.
“Their energy and their line speed has been awesome.’’
St Laurence’s College’s awesome foursome Finn Mackay, Ben Davis, Luka Smith and Huw Griffiths were all recognised, although hooker Griffiths had to be content with a reserves jumper given Tuitahi’s performance.
At Ashgrove, the boys in blue and gold were on fire against St Peters, while on Andrew Slack Oval, Villanova’s best were its back row forwards, however winger Lachie Ebrington was a late match winner as we get down to the pointy end of the season.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Fullback: Jayden Solien (Padua)
Solien was at his electric best with a sensational chip and chase effort to create a try, but made the extra man for his team’s second try and all game fielded excellent tactical kicking by Iona’s fullback Campbell Rolfe.
“Even if he doesn’t have the ball he probably attracts two or three (defenders),’’ said Iona coach Andrew Clyne.
Wing: Connor Quinn (Iona College)
A speed demon, but Quinn was more than just a sprint with his work off the ball and well judged defence when Padua came asking with its backs ball play.
Outside centre: Oliver O’Regan (Padua)
O’Regan makes our Team of the Week for his defence when he put his body on the line on countless occasions against physical opponents to help snuff out Iona and build pressure on them.
Given the big match it was, O’Regan’s performance justifies his selection.
Inside centre: Finn Mackay (St Laurence’s)
We moved Mackay one position out because we simply had to get the best two performing five-eighths of the round, he and Padua’s Damon Humphrys, into our team.
Mackay was masterful. His kicking at goal was accurate, his grubber kicking and general play kicking on point and his passing excellent.
He had a touch of class as per usual.
Wing: Xavier Howard (Ashgrove)
Year 11 outside centre Xavier Howard did all the right things in his side’s 85-0 victory over St Peters.
He scored two tries, was simply brilliant with his support lines.
Flyhalf: Damon Humphrys (Padua)
Humphrys’ masterclass general play kicking all game was a highlight which actually peaked in the first half when he relieved pressure despite playing into the breeze.
It was his tactical kicking which altered the momentum of the match after Iona had owned the opening 15 minutes. “At the right time he plugged the right corners and we responded pretty well,’’ said Padua coach Andrew Clyne.
Halfback: Brock Dillon (Padua)
One of the reasons Humphrys was so effective was because of the quality of pass he was receiving from his halfback Brock Dillon.
Dillon had to find a pass so Humphrys could avoid pesky Iona flanker Adam Kelly and he did just that - while also making two breaks to create tries and swooping in defence.
“He carried when he needed to, made a few line breaks and scored, and defensively he was a dominant defender,” said Clyne.
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No. 8: Ben Davis (St Laurence’s)
Davis pipped Padua captain Will Tozer into our side, although Tozer was of course an automatic selection on the bench.
At Runcorn, agile big man Davis dazzled to give his side an immediate edge.
He is a player the Souths club would welcome with open arms when he transitions into Colts rugby next year, but for now he was making a difference for premiership contenders St Laurence’s in just about every aspect of the game.
Breakaway: Adam Kelly (Iona)
The open side breakaway for Iona, Kelly tried desperately to alter the trend of the match and inspire his team with his leg driving second effort runs.
Kelly is not a big man, but he also played above his weight in the defensive line and in summary played his heart out.
Lock: Jackson Connor (Villanova)
The big, mobile and athletic Connor made his presence felt in all departments and without his performance would Villanova have won?
Connor was rewarded for his efforts by receiving the Peter Doubles Daley Medal.
Lock: Ben Caughley (Ashgrove)
Wow. What a return to the action this bloke has had since coming into the line-up in round two (he was returning from an injury so warmed his engines in the Seconds for round one).
Caughley runs like a man on a mission and is a nightmare to bring to ground through the middle third of the field.
He played flanker, but could play almost anywhere on the field and be effective.
Breakaway: Will Gallagher (Villanova)
The dynamic open side flanker was again at the peak of his powers with his all energy, second effort performance against St Edmund’s.
His desire was what helped get his side into a position to pip Eddies’ in yet another last minute round four thriller.
Prop: Luka Smith (St Laurence’s)
Loosehead powerhouse Smith showed how much he learnt from last year’s premiership season with another breathtaking display in the St Laurence’s front row.
Smith rumbled his side up the field and it took a heap of St Patrick’s defenders to bring him down.
His broad shoulders and big frame came into play when he took some stellar carries off set-piece lineout plays.
Hooker: Fonoga Tuitahi (Iona)
Iona had a good one here in this Year 11 hooker who was in absolutely everything.
He would have peeled the oranges for the halftime break if he could.
Tuitahi made tackles, he carried hard and was in the middle of a front three (Leota and Hodder were the others) who marched the team’s scrum forward.
Prop: Hopo Leota (Iona)
Given his reputation and top tier performance, you have to be careful not to take his very good performances for granted.
If you had walked in off the street and you and knew nothing of his past, you’d have walked away noting his powerful scrum effort, deft hands and runs which had Padua scrambling to man the pumps every time he touched the ball.
RESERVES:
Huw Griffiths (St Laurence’s)
Will Tozer (Padua)
Max Downie (Villanova)
Will Tatt (St Edmund’s)
Jesse Daly (St Patrick’s)
Campbell Rolfe (Iona)
Cohen Taylor (St Patrick’s)
Tom Howard (Ashgrove)
Jack Breuer (St Edmund’s)
Fynn Dalton (Padua)
Lachie Ebrington (Villanova)
SPECIAL MENTIONS:
Liam O’Callaghan (St Laurence’s)
Henry Armstrong (St Patrick’s)
Will Kartelo (St Laurence’s)
Callum Rooney (Padua)
Tiger Campbell (St Edmund’s)
Tom Millard (Ashgrove)
Jacob Moesberen (Padua)
Solomone Koroi (St Peters)
Taavi Upchurch (Padua)
Nate Roberts (Ashgrove)
Harry Vidler (St Edmund’s)
Paul Deeb (St Peters)
Denzel Savelino (St Patrick’s)
Joel Drew (Ashgrove)
Sam Hodder (Iona)
Nate Clark (Padua)
Lachlan Perry (St Edmund’s)
Lachie McCall (Ashgrove)
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