AIC First XV: Unbridled joy greets premiers St Laurence’s College
Scenes of unbridled joy swept across Crawford Oval on Saturday afternoon as St Laurence’s College’s First XV accomplished its AIC premiership winning mission.
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Scenes of unbridled joy swept across Crawford Oval on Saturday afternoon as St Laurence’s College’s First XV accomplished its AIC premiership winning mission.
Unbeaten Laurie’s overpowered St Edmund’s College 36-7 to claim its first outright premiership since 2008 after sharing last season’s title with arch rivals Marist College Ashgrove during a brief, COVID-19 interrupted competition.
Today’s win was a triumph for coach Welmar du Plessis, his staff, captain Harry Holt and the First XV squad, not merely the 15 players who started in today’s encounter.
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To think it began with a squad of around 30 training on a hot November afternoon last year at Chipsy Wood Oval, home of the Souths Magpies, and finished on a cold, brilliant winter’s afternoon in front of heaving masses at Crawford Oval.
“We are so proud of their dedication. To give up all that time, we are extremely proud of them and they deserve everything they have achieved,’’ said St Laurence’s College old boy Peter “Doubles’’ Daley, echoing the thoughts of his band of brothers from the Old Boys network. “We are immensely proud of them.’’
Old Boys joined students and their parents flocking from around town to Runcorn this afternoon to absorb the magnitude of the achievement.
This was a championship side with the special traits of being meticulous and disciplined in the execution of game plans.
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St Laurence’s discipline was never more evident that in a recent match against Villanova College when the team resisted the temptation to ad lib, instead sticking to the game plan and working to a place on the field before executing a movement which finished in a try.
“They don’t get rattled and their focus stands out,’’ observed Daley, who knows a thing or two about the chemistry needed to put a successful rugby side together.
“Sometimes it is hard to get (schoolboy) players to focus, but they were really focused.’’
St Laurence’s were also a team and not a group of all-star players.
They had star players, and that will be reflected in a Team of the Season which www.couriermail.com.au will reveal on Monday morning, but they did not have an out and out superstar. And nor did they need one.
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TODAY’S MATCH
Nick Tucker’s match reported the 13-year drought is over.
St Laurence’s College conquered their last challenger, St Edmund’s College 36-7, at Crawford Oval late today to win their first outright premiership since 2008.
Lauries finished the job they started on May 1 when they upset competition heavyweights Marist College Ashgrove 15-7 in the opening round of the AIC First XV Rugby competition.
Lauries’ Manual Arts teacher Welmar du Plessis, as head coach, crafted an unstoppable side built on teamwork not individual stars.
Young and old celebrated. As well as schoolboys there were old boys from the 1967 premiership team such as Dennis Hanrahan and Kevin Hardy, who showed up to support. Old boys from the 1991, 2001 and 2008 premiership team also cheered on this year’s side.
Lauries’ captain, Harry Holt said, “We got the job done. It has been a cracking season and an absolute honour to have played with the boys.”
“I was keen on Friday night but sad at the same time. It was the last time running out with the boys. I just wanted to cherish these last moments together.”
Lauries’ flanker Joe Nadenic scored first from a scrum set play which coach du Plessis said, “they’d worked on all year but never got to try, and today was the first time they tried, and it worked.”
Eddies’ halfback Tafito Falaniko Ah-Ki showcased his quick thinking when he opted for a quick tap off a first half penalty. He put in a fantastic chip over the Lauries’ defensive line for his chasing winger Hayden Molkentien, who scored under the sticks to give Lauries a fright.
Mammoth centre Mikael Ibrahim was next to impress the old boys when he broke the line with sheer strength and passed it to his centre partner Joe Woods, who then dished it off to flyhalf Lachlan Marchant who executed a great team try to make it 17-7.
Lauries’ front rower Matt Tuite was next to score to extend the lead to 24-7 at half-time.
Ibrahim also scored the day’s most exhilarating try following the half-time break after catching a kick on the 40m line and beating countless Eddies’ defenders to run 60m.
This got the hundreds of passionate Lauries’ fans on their feet.
Flanker Tom O’Callaghan scored Lauries’ last try of the match to make it 36-7 and guarantee the Lauries’ 2021 First XV their rightful place in the College’s prestigious history.
Lauries’ coach du Plessis said, “It’s a good feeling. All credit must go to the boys. They put in the hard work, the hard yards, and I am proud of them. Massive credit to all the coaching staff too.”
“The forwards showed up big time today. They dominated up front which gave the backs a good opportunity to run,” du Plessis said.
For Eddies, captain Sam Bothwell in the front-row, lock Logan Costello and centre Regan Payne were standouts.
Woods, Ibrahim, winger Lachlan Nguyen, lock Ryan Jackson, No.8 Harry Holt, halfback Thomas Parker-Ryan and fullback Declan Wixted all played excellent rugby in Lauries’ premiership-winning performance, finishing off a spectacular undefeated season.
St Laurence’s College 36 (J. Nadenic, L. Marchant, M. Tuite, H. Bailey, T. O’Callaghan tries; O. Hawes 4 con, 1 pen) beat St Edmund’s College 7 (H. Molkentien tries; Z. Kaatz 1 con)
At Ashgrove, Marist College Ashgrove confirmed the side as clear No.2 in the competition with a 24-nil win over St Patrick’s College.
At Iona College, St Peters Lutheran College stormed from behind to win 33-19.
“Everything were threatening to do clicked into place today. It was a great win for the boys,’’ said coach Russell Todd. “We were 19-nil down then came to life.’’
Once we got our first try we got a breathe of confidence and started playing footy, letting the ball do the work and attack in the wide channels.’’
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He said the side was also patient and when Iona challenged his team’s defence again in the second half, Saints tackling was outstanding. “They worked so hard. I was so proud of them. They really deserved,’’ Todd said.
Padua coach Shane Buckley said his team’s one point win, 8-7 over Villanova, in a tough, physical clash was a nice way for the year 12 boys to finish their rugby at the school having been on a journey together since primary school.
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