Mountain Creek SHS claim historic Walters Cup win with stunning comeback victory

The Walters Cup round 3 Players of the Day includes a Mountain Creek SHS ace who scaled to the peak by booting his team to an extraordinary victory. WATCH WALTERS CUP REPLAYS

Mountain Creek SHS try scorer Taj Drake, hooking hero Cash Bennett, and match winning No.6 Billy Roderick.

Mountain Creek SHS five-eight Billy Roderick was the hero as his side came back from the dead to win its historic first ever match in Walters Cup after a bewildering finishing surge toppled Mabel Park SHS.

WATCH THE REPLAY OF MOUNTAIN CREEK v MABEL PARK

Down 22-6, Mt Creek conjured up on of the great escape victories, winning 24-22 after wing Taj Drake crossed with two minutes remaining.

Roderick, who had delivered Drake the ball, then stepped up pilot home a conversion from the sideline, sparking scenes of unrestrained joy.

WATCH REPLAYS

Ipswich SHS v PBC SHS

Keebra Park SHS v Wavell SHS

It was the second successive time in the match that the Roderick-Drake combined came up with a try after, a few minutes earlier, Roderick had chip kicked across the field into the arms of Drake.

Even after Drake’s touchline kick, Mabel Park sensationally had one last throw of the dice when possession was stolen with 45 seconds remaining, leaving the Mountain men to scramble to a win for the ages.

The victory marked a change in fortunes for Mountain Creek.

The team had lost its first game by just four points to Marsden at Marsden when they should have at least drawn.

Then, in round 2, Mountain Creek again came back from a big deficit to lead Redcliffe SHS 22-16 before Redcliffe scored late to draw the game.

But the bus trip home to the Sunshine Coast would have been a joyous trip after a win in the most dramatic of circumstances.

In other matches it was Palm Beach Currumbin SHS that defeated Ipswich 17-4, while at Wavell SHS, the Warriors drew 22-all against Keebra Park SHS.

PLAYERS OF THE DAY

Mountain Creek SHS 24 defeated Mabel Park SHS 22

Billy Roderick (Mountain Creek SHS)

The pied-piper of the side, Roderick has been an eye-catching talent this season, with his natural flair a point of difference in his side.

Kaiden Jennings, left, and Billy Roderick after Rd 2.

Yesterday he was again onsong, coming into his own the more the match progressed.

He nearly created a try with a chip and chase effort, then did produce two finishing touches to enable winger Drake to score twice.

Kaiden Jennings (Mountain Creek SHS)

Jennings was again a class act at left centre. When Mabel Park SHS had the momentum and were dominating the scoreboard, Jennings was the man most likely to throw medicine back at his rivals.

Ultimately he prevailed, scoring a try himself, burrowing past opponents who were trying to shut down his threats.

Then, soon after he supported creative play by his halfback Bohdi Hawkins and winger Drake to back up and score again.

Riley Apthorpe (Mountain Creek SHS)

The Queensland White 14-15 years selection was again the leader of the pack.

Against intimidating rivals urged on by school mates, a hooting and a hollerin, Apthorpe said “bugger this’’ and asserted himself in both stints on the field.

Tai Henare (Mountain Creek SHS)

Mountain Creek SHS has been getting great bang for their buck from the interchange forwards Jett Mewett and Beau McLachlan, and on Tuesday it was Henare’s turn to really step up and inject penetration and energy into the pack.

Special mention: Cash Bennett (Mountain Creek SHS)

The clever hooker is one of the best in the business in his age group and his teammates are lucky to have him handling the ball first.

Bennett came into his own in the final stages of the contest and put in a workmanlike performance at hooker.

He set up the first try of the comeback with a brilliant pass to Taj Drake.

Bennett linked up superbly with Roderick in the spine and stepped up on defence.

After creating the first try, he then backed it up with a crucial strip which led to Mountain Creek scoring its second try of the second half just moments later.

Taj Drake (Mountain Creek)

Drake was a part of the lethal left edge where all four Mountain Creek tries were scored.

His combination with Jennings and edge forward Makani Madgwick was one of the catalysts for the stunning turnaround.

The winger kickstarted the comeback when he scored a try off the back of an exquisite pass from hooker Cash Bennett.

He then held his nerve in the dying embers of the contest to score the game-tying try from a Roderick crossfield kick before the latter converted the extras to take the lead.

Ezekiel Filipi (Mabel Park)

Filipi was a weapon on both ends of the field with some big time defensive efforts and barnstorming runs.

The lock was dominant in the first half as he barged his way through the line with powerful runs and was rewarded with a try late just before the break.

When momentum shifted and Mabel Park trailed in the dying moments, Filipi stepped up on defence to produce a turnover from Mountain Creek which gave his side one final chance to try and claim the win.

PBC SHS DEF IPSWICH SHS

Dallas Russel (PBC SHS)

The theme of the day was playmakers turning up and Russel continued that trend with a sound 70-minute showing with great attacking kicks a big feature.

With five-eighth Preston Towell also quality, Russel engineered a comprehensive display after some early errors from both sides.

Russel asked plenty of questions with his crossfield kicks. His best one came early in the second half when right centre Parker Kemister leapt into the air and came down with the ball and scored.

It was a beauty which was trumped only by his deft grubber which Jada Rahiri was quick to reward nearing full time.

London Proctor-Sargent (PBC SHS)

Reds coach Geoff Eggert would be smiling ear to ear reminiscing about Proctor-Sargent’s knock on Tuesday.

Eggert earmarked the young giant as a player of the future before the season started and he is already seeing his prediction play out following his brilliant stint against Ipswich.

The Reds won 16-4 and Proctor-Sargent looked at his confident, damaging best with his carries through the middle third and quick play the balls giving Jada Rahiri prime real estate to pounce.

Jada Rahiri (PBC SHS)

If there was a medal for player of the match awarded it would be in Rahiri’s room right now, because the dynamite dummyhalf delivered in spades.

As the lights came on at the reserve, Rahiri let rip with an inspired performance. His passing was sharp but it was his scheming running game that his teammates loved most.

In the first half Rahiri ran rampant and almost created a try but it wasn’t to be. To nail the coffin shut at 16-4 late in the match, Rahiri dove onto a Dallas Russel grubber to put the finishing touches on a titanic performance.

Wavell drew Keebra Park 24-all

Ali Tupoiniua (Wavell SHS)

Wavell State High School’s five-eighth has the full package of size, speed and elusiveness that make him a nightmare to defend at Walters Cup level.

The young Bulldogs development prospect kicked three of four goals and scored a try that saw him beat multiple defenders with the game on the line.

Tupouniua’s kicking game got Wavell out of trouble on multiple occasions and he was denied a rare 40/20 by an unlucky bounce.

Alex Ruiz (Keebra Park SHS)

The Keebra Park dummyhalf’s strapping tape was put to plenty of work as Ruiz stuck his head into dark places in attack and defence.

An early try-saving tackle was just the start for a big day for the tough-tackling playmaker.

His solo try late in the first half was special stuff.

Accelerating through a gap in the defence from dummyhalf and then finishing with an outstanding sidestep to beat the fullback and score untouched.

The junior Brisbane Bronco played plenty of minutes but any minute on the sideline looks wasted, such is his ability.

Cruz Molo (Wavell)

A gangly lock signed by the Dolphins, Molo’s ability to evade tacklers was something to behold as a middle forward.

Twisted and turned at the defensive line to deny defenders a clean shot at every opportunity, Molo could also drop the hammer in defence.

His range impressed, with the Wavell lock often the first man to win the race to tackle the fullback on kick chase.

Elijah Gelling (PBC SHS)

The Keebra Park backrower gave up plenty of size to his Walters Cup peers but never seemed to notice.

Gelling got through work in the middle of the field and the edge, and when an attacker was being driven backwards into the dust, invariably it was the No.15 who had worked his way under a ribcage.

Smooth skills completed a compelling package for the headgeared edge-man.

When he adds size to his frame the Western Australia dual-code prospect looks a player of great promise.

Sonny Hewitt (Keebra Park SHS)

Keebra Park’s fullback never looked like getting caught when he ran 90m early in the second half, turning a skidding grubber into a big play for his school.

Signed on a three-year deal by the Dolphins, Hewitt’s long strides are going to cause plenty of havoc in the Walters Cup and beyond.

Wavell did well to contain Hewitt for most of the match but it was clear how close he came to breaking the game open on multiple occasions.