AIC First XV schoolboy rugby team of the week
The round 1 action from the AIC First XV rugby has delivered a ripping team of the week, with a player from every side represented in our squad.
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It was a bumper round 1 of AIC rugby, with St Edmund’s breaking through for a stunning win, and two thrillers which saw Villanova and Padua win by the skin of their teeth.
And premiers St Laurence’s College wasted no time impacting the season with a big win over Marist College Ashgrove.
So who made our Team of the Week?
Fullback: Jeremy Trappett (Iona)
Returning First XV fullback Jeremy Trappett brought a physicality and determination to the plate against Villanova that showcased his competitiveness and x-factor. In Iona’s heartbreaking 1-point loss on Saturday, Trappett scored a dazzling double, and looked like a scoring threat with ball in hand. The First XV veteran was a force in defence and an excellent support player with enough firepower to share around.
Wing: Noel James (St Patrick’s)
James displayed the endurance of an ultra marathon runner with a big effort for Paddies. He played fullback, but we are happy to reward his round one effort with a place on the wing. And although he was not the best player on the field, he shone for his work ethic covering from sideline to sideline. But one to watch is very much Tom Howard from Marist Ashgrove and with a few more opportunities, he’d have been in our side.
Outside centre Sully Hoad (Iona College)
The Hoad twins Sully (outside centre) and Ayden (inside centre) showed glimpses of how lethal of a centre pairing they can be when on song. Villanova did an excellent job shutting Sully and Ayden down, however the identical twins still did damage, rampaging up the middle with strong carries. Their natural ability to fend off the first defender, make post contact metres and deceive defenders to create overlaps was evident on Saturday
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COLTS 1, ROUND 2 TEAM OF THE WEEK
Inside centre: Mikael Ibrahim (St Laurence’s College)
Mikael Ibrahim said to his teammates “follow me” after a barnstorming start to the match. He tore through the Ashgrove early on – and again later in the match. He looked like a man among boys and will again be a key player in Laurie’s premiership retention plans.
Wing: Joseph Wilson (Villanova)
Villanova’s trusty fullback started Saturday’s nail biter against Iona in superb fashion, scoring a spectacular 85m intercept try. The way Wilson reads his opposition’s backline is a prime example of who he is as a player. The No. 15 has aced all the fundamentals, and was a reliable anchor both advancing the ball and in the defensive line. He looked threatening when returning the ball, had a great kicking game when Villanova needed an exit and looked extremely comfortable under the high ball. We named him on the wing to get the best 15 players into our Team of the Week.
Fly half: Zane Kaatz (St Edmund’s College)
Kaatz was like the train station master waving his lantern as he guided St Edmund’s to a remarkable round 1 upset against St Patrick’s College. He had the benefit of playing outside Tafito Falaniko Ah-Ki who was also masterful. But a special mention to Year 10 student Wallace Charlie (St Peters) who was the baby of AIC round 1 matches.
Halfback: Mitch Rogers (Padua)
Rogers pressed the go button in the second half to revive his team’s prospects against a St Peters Lutheran College side that had skipped to a big lead. Against a 14 man opposition, Rogers played an up-tempo game, sparking his team against a tiring St Peters who ultimately lost the match in the final minute.
No. 8 Joe Nadenic (St Laurence’s College)
A 2021 rookie, the tall, long limbed Nadenic has swung into a leadership role with aplomb. Raw-boned and hardened from last season’s experiences, he was a part of a black and gold menace which relished close quarter contact.
Flanker Nick Hinchey (Padua)
Hinchey and his partner in crime Brock Powell were outstanding in Padua’s come from behind victory over St Peters. When the game opened up in the second half and Padua were looking to over run their rivals, Hinchey and Powell went with the pace of the match.
Flanker: James Roberts (St Peters)
It would have been a major upset if St Peters had toppled Padua College in round 1, and if it had happened, Roberts may well have been chaired from the field, such was his performance from flanker.
Lock: Jake Kurbatoff (St Laurence’s)
Laurie’s wanted to take its round 1 clash with Marist Ashgrove the trenches and the first bloke to get down and dirty was the team’s spiritual leader Kurbatoff. He was mighty in the set and pieces and around the field.
Lock: Larry Siala
Siala and Logan Costello were in the engine room as Eddies rumbled to a thrilling round 1 upset win. The Siala was powerful with his leg drive and must have been an inspiring sight for teammates around him.
Prop: Rylan Lock (St Laurence’s)
Hooker: Bailey Cotelli (St Laurence’s)
Prop: Hugh Smith (St Laurence’s)
You don’t go to John Eales Oval, Ashgrove, and win the forward confrontation without effort on effort, and this terrific trio relished getting down and dirty which paved the way for a 34-15 scoreline. The set pieces were cast iron, the pick and drive and rolling mauls fortified by this threesome.
RESERVES
Tafito Falaniko Ah-Ki (St Edmund’s College)
No. 9 Ah-Ki was supreme in rallying his side from behind to claim a morale boosting victory over Paddies. His sniping running or passing game beyond the feet of his forwards was decisive, adding a touch of class to a wholehearted team performance.
Fly half: Larry Clark (Villanova)
Clark had a faultless 70 minutes on Saturday afternoon, steering Villanova to their first win under new head coach Eddie Harris. Harris said, “I thought our fly half Larry Clark played really well. He controlled the game, had nice kicks and kept pressing those corners.” However Clark’s play of the game came in the dying minutes where Iona were on a mission to advance up the field and score on the siren. Clark was still chasing in the 70th minute, wrapping up his Iona opponent with a courageous tackle to seal the game.
Connor Moloney (Villanova)
It’s hard to leave out a player who scored a try to win the game. Ice-man-Moloney scored the jaw dropping 4178 crowd silencer with three minutes left on the clock, to retake the lead at 26-25 for Villanova. He dived in under the sticks with a vocal pack of Villanova boys cheering him on from beyond the dead ball line. Villa’s green machine came up massive in the match’s dying moments, running a great line which saw him burst through a gap in Iona’s defence to earn Villanova their maiden win of 2022 away from home.
Ayden Hoad (Iona)
He was heavily marked but still managed strong carries. Hoad also drew in his defender and offloaded the ball to his Wynumm Manly Seagulls teammate Will Lane on the wing who scored on the stroke of half time. He played alongside his twin Sully (outside centre) and the frustrating round one loss will no doubt rile this deadly centre combination up and add fuel to the fire moving onto round
Logan Costello (St Edmund’s)
Costello was superb for Eddies at lock, strong in the set pieces and around the field. It was some second half ambush which confronted Paddies and leading the charge was Costello.
Harry Gould (Marist Ashgrove)
It was a tough, tough day for the big fella at prop for Marist but his pick and drive and maul contributions were full of vigour. There was no doubt Ashgrove were motivated and trying hard, but as a unit Laurie’s were superior upfront.
Ben Davis (St Laurence’s)
If there was a ball on the ground you expected to see it disappear beneath the black jersey of a young bloke wearing No. 6 for Laurie’s. Davis was outstanding in the tight and when Ash went wide or his team opened up, he was a terror across the John Eales Oval.
James Sullivan (Villanova)
Sullivan was the unsung hero in Villanova’s 1-point victory. He was a tackling machine, showing up for Villa in defence for the entire 70-minutes. Sullivan scored a textbook pick-and-drive try to regain the lead at 19-17 with 15 minutes to go. A timely try to put the home team on the back foot and mount the pressure.
Brock Powell (Padua)
The Padua flanker led the way when his side switched to an up-tempo game to try and reel in a 14-man St Peters College.
Tristen Storey (St Patrick’s College)
Storey was the leader of the pack and alongside lock Eli Avci, were Paddies best forwards in their loss to St Edmund’s College. A hardened, brave prop at scrum time, Storey was also a forceful runner carrying the ball in general play.
FOOTNOTE: Our coverage continues on Saturday, with a story posted early evening at www.couriermail.com.au
ROUND 2
Villanova v St Peters
Iona v St Patrick’s
St Laurence’s v Padua
St Edmund’s v Ashgrove
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