AIC rugby’s Rd 3 Team of the Week ahead of blockbuster

AIC First XV rugby’s Team of the Week revealed here following round 3 action which has set up a blockbuster this Saturday between Padua and Iona.

Padua and Iona will clash in the match of the round at Elliott Road on Saturday.

Padua remain unbeaten after three rounds while Iona, first round losers to St Laurence’s, will remain in contention if they win away at Padua.

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Other round 4 games feature:

Villanova v St Edmund’s

Marist v St Peters

St Laurence’s v St Patrick’s

But before this weekend’s big round of games, let us look back on round 3 and present our latest Team of the Week.

FULLBACK Jayden Solien (Padua)

First glimpsed in the AIC last season when he was a match winning super sub against Villanova, Solien this week was also named in the Meninga Cup Team of the Season after excelling for Souths Logan as a No. 13.

Against St Edmund’s Solien’s incursions at fullback were deadly.

WING: Lachie Smith (Iona)

Lachie Smith.

In a must win for Iona to keep their premiership hopes alive, Year 11 winger Smith scored two of his team’s three tries and defended very well to keep Ashgrove's backs well contained.

TEAMS OF THE WEEK

ROUND 1 TEAM OF THE WEEK

ROUND 2 TEAM OF THE WEEK

OUTSIDE CENTRE: Lewis Blaikie (St Laurence’s)

A nicely balanced outside centre, Blaikie is both a player to set up the next phase with a physical, crashing run, or a No. 13 who can finish a movement or set up his winger. He has that St Laurence’s D & A about him.

INSIDE CENTRE: Tom Millard (Ashgrove)

Young Tom Millard continued to enhance his reputation as one of the centres toughest, most consistent inside centres on Saturday.

The hard running, side stepping midfielder stepped up and his powerful second half try rewarded the visitors a well earned five pointer after brilliant, sustained phase play near Iona’s tryline.

PREVIOUS ROUNDS

ROUND 1

ROUND 2

ROUND 3

WING: Tyrone Burr (Padua)

Burr did his apprenticeship in the Padua Second XV all last season, earning his 2.30pm starts in the Firsts this year. He has held his position after showing improvement each week and scoring timely tries, especially one against Ashgrove in round two.

FLYHALF: Wallace Charlie (St Peters)

Wallace Charlie again did the best he could, kicking, stepping and passing St Peters out of trouble against a fleet footed St Patrick’s side stacked with pace in their backs.

A utility back pressing his cases for Queensland Reds Tier One Academy selection, Charlie will confront his Reds Under-18s buddy Tom Howard this weekend when the Saints are hosted by Ashgrove.

HALFBACK: Riley Horn (St Patrick’s)

Horn helped pilot Paddies’s beyond St Peters’ reach with a compelling performance in the halves for St Patrick’s. The five-eighth, who we named at halfback to get last round’s high achievers in the side, was tactically outstanding as his side turned a three point halftime lead into a rollicking win.

Cohen Taylor, right, celebrating a Manaaki Bateman try in round 2.

No. 8: Cohen Taylor (St Patrick’s)

St Patrick’s Peter “Doubles” Daley Medal winner, this workhorse No. 8 spearheaded St Pat’s second half acceleration away from a willing St Peters. A huffing and puffing all effort back rower, there is nothing pretty about Taylor’s play, but he is maximising his contribution by drying up his errors.

FLANKER: Ben Caughley (Ashgrove)

Ben Caughley.

There are no words to describe the inspiring performance blindside flanker Caughley put in for Ashgrove on the weekend.
With barnstorming No. 8 Jasper Barry his partner in crime, the long striding Caughley put Iona defenders to the sword with his relentless carries.

FLANKER: Liam O’Callaghan (St Laurence’s)

O’Callaghan is a model St Laurence’s First XV forward, building his game on effort, work rate and then second efforts. He is a team player to the core and is living his schoolboy dream of playing First XV in the famous black and gold jersey.

LOCK: Jasper Barry (Ashgrove)

Barry has been a steady improver across the last one and a half seasons culminating in his rise to be named captain in the absence of regular skipper Tom Howard. He has that rugged toughness, is mobile with good ball skills and also has a high work rate. His carrying of the ball would have been inspiring to teammates.

LOCK: Josh Forrest (Padua)

He played at blindside flanker and was Padua’s best back five player.

A kid who has played successfully at lock, he kept Padua’s hot start to the season going with a blue collar performance

Callum Rooney last season. Picture, John Gass

PROP: Callum Rooney (Padua)

For front rowers winning the lottery is scoring a try. Well Padua tight head prop Rooney hit the lottery jackpot by scoring three tries, a reward for his toil across both last season and again this year. You could see by the reaction of his

HOOKER: Fononga Tuitahi (Iona)

Tultahi is the middle man in a front row which has been pushed around by no one this season. He was again among his team’s best last Saturday at hooker, while also carrying the ball with gusto throughout.

PROP: Harry Higgins (Villanova)

No reserves position for Harry Higgins this week. The Villa loosehead prop goes straight into the starting side after being named on the bench following round 2. Against St Laurence’s imposing forwards, on a heavy track, he was effective and courageous.

jack Breuer, pink headgear, locking the scrum for St Edmund’s. He gains a Team of the Week mention for the third successive week.

RESERVES

Campbell Rolfe (Iona)

Jack Breuer (St Edmund’s)

Sam Binney (Villanova)

Will Tatt (St Edmund’s)

Matt Doherty (Iona)

Xavier Howard (Ashgrove)

Ned Godwin (Villanova)

Jacob Moesberen (Padua)

Finn Mackay (St Laurence’s)

PREVIOUS ROUNDS

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SPECIAL MENTIONS

Nate Roberts (Ashgrove)

Sebastian Gardiner (Ashgrove)

Christian Kurylewski (Ashgrove)

Huw Griffiths (St Laurence’s)

Jackson Connor (Villanova)