Brisbane Broncos Old Boys Shield and Renouf Shield
Schoolboy league grand finals: Wavell SHS’s Year 7s and Keebra Park SHS’s Year 8 teams were the toast of their communities after Broncos Old Boys and Renouf Shield premiership wins.
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Wavell SHS clinched the Brisbane Broncos Old Boys Trophy Year 7 premiership by edging out Keebra Park SHS in the closest of deciders, while Keebra Park SHS triumphed in the Year 8 Renouf Shield.
Wavell won their match 8-6, surviving a scoreless second half as Keebra Park SHS came hard and often at them after halftime.
It was Wavell’s first junior premiership since 2014.
In the afternoon heat, the defence from both sides was outstanding, with the big bodies on both sides being felled like trees in the forest.
That aspect was a credit to every player from both teams, and an insight into the pride they had for their respective communities.
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It was a ripper of a match, made even better when one of Keebra Park’s best, fullback Will Hamblin, got on the outside of Wavell’s defence to find the white line.
Denzel Silby’s booming conversion from wide out made it a two-point ball game, with Wavell SHS leading 8-6.
Earlier in the match Hamblin had saved a try, with a diving covering defending effort on a runaway Jesse-Jame Schuster.
Wavell had opened the scoring through dangerous edge Lennox Lakalani, and then went further ahead when long striding centre Cruz Molo crossed.
Wavell did have the better of the opening, but when Keebra Park settled it was anyone’s game, despite the two try deficit.
Wavell, with Rarne Neemia a threat whenever he carried, almost wrapped up the game with minutes remaining, but prop Harlem Nymansou was ruled to have produced a double movement.
Keebra also received a penalty, and when the match ended Keebra were back on the attack, beaten by Wavell’s defence and the clock.
It was a grand match.
Renouf Shield Final
Keebra Park year 8 fullback Kingston Seve was a three try hero as Keebra launched its way to the treasured Renouf Shield premiership victory by 40-10.
In a grand final an x-factor player or two can be the difference, and so it was the case as Seve and centre Israel Lotaki proved too hot to handle on the outside of the Ipswich SHS defence.
The vital moments came in the seconds leading up halftime, and in the minutes after halftime when Seve scored twice.
Just before the break Keebra Park SHS centre Lotaki caused havoc on one side of the field, only for fullback Kingston Seve to score on the other.
The Keebra No. 1 Seve glided 20m to score on the bell to deliver a blow to Ipswich SHS’s chances, with Keebra leading 16-4 at halftime.
Then after halftime, Seve, who was man of the match, did it all himself from 40m out, with his long stride and fend too much for the willing but out gunned Ipswich SHS defence.
Ipswich SHS had recovered from a 12-nil deficit, making Keebra Park pay for a restart error when winger Iverson Inu squeezed over in the corner.
Earlier, Keebra Park SHS made the running, with a brilliant individual effort from halfback Harvey Smith garnishing his team’s start to the match.
He dummied and backed his pace in a short dart to the line, a try which was also reward for his team’s forward build-up which had fatigued their rivals.
Smith’s try followed a chaining passing effort for Lotaki to score in the right hand corner, with the imposing centre crossing after a sweeping movement across the face of the tryline.
Smith then launched a sideline conversion between the posts and Keebra were up and running.
Keebra Park SHS finished strongly, with right winger Ashton Helies enjoying the scoring feeling.
He later set up a try for Seve after turning defence into attack.
Ipswich were beaten by the better side, but it was a grand achievement to make the hotly contested grand final and all the boys should feel proud of their efforts. They will surely be better for the experience when the whistle blows to start next season.