TAS First XV rugby finals: Columban’s, Canterbury prevail
Canterbury College came up against St Paul’s before Ormiston College met rivals St Columban’s College in the TAS First XV grand final on Saturday. READ THE MATCH REPORTS.
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The St Columban’s College First XV reached another historic milestone in the College’s history with a TAS rugby premiership winning effort over rivals Ormiston College on Saturday.
TAS RUGBY FULL PICTURE GALLERY
Jubilations from Columban’s old boys, students and parents invaded the Ormiston turf, joining their playing heroes who were struck with a wave of emotion as the powerhouse rugby school celebrated a 39-14 victory.
They were enjoying another premiership, with the efforts of the players this season matching the efforts of those before them.
St Columban’s had won in 2012,2013,2014,2015,2019 and 2021 before adding another trophy to the cabinet with this win.
Next to the smiling Columban’s boys were exhausted Ormiston players who had been the best team in the competition all year.
Ormiston were brave to the core but a 17 point first half deficit and a yellow card followed by a Sebastian Booth try early in the second proved too much to come back from.
They didn’t give up.
But Columban’s, with a strong breakdown presence and an even stronger kicking game from fullback Eli Ortiz, got the job done, courtesy of some gutsy defence.
“I’m so proud. Everything came together,” said Columban’s head of rugby Riley Brown.
“That’s probably six years of work there with these boys. There’s plenty of great young men we’ve developed. “We’re super proud of the way they played today.”
Three try hero Myron Taupati-Campbell (Sunshine Coast schools representative) sustained a shoulder injury in the off season, and was cleared on Thursday to play in the grand final.
What an inclusion he turned out to be.
“He played seconds and came through off the bench,” said Brown.
“All our stars aligned today. They had to play as a pack really well and they went out and did the job.
“It tastes sweet to be doing it here at Ormiston.”
Saturday’s First XV clash was a showdown between the competition’s two best teams and to begin, it was all one way traffic.
Columban’s, holding a 17-0 advantage at the half after Alby Lyons and Myron Taupati-Campbell crossed.
Entering 2022, the Angus Melville captained Ormiston outfit were expected to push hard to retain the title they claimed in 2022.
But getting past Columban’s was always going to be tough.
Ormiston assistant coach Kris Peterman praised the way Columban’s shot out the gates to begin the game.
He noted that the first shot fired in the game was a crucial one and once Columban’s rocketed out to an early lead, coming back was as hard as it gets.
Peterman said looking behind him and seeing the support from the Redbacks faithful was simply amazing.
His side will be back even hungrier in 2024.
FAST FACT
+ Columbans went down at home in Caboolture for the first time in 10 years two weeks ago, 24-19.
Brown said his side had to play together, get on the upper foot and take the crowd out of it.
“There was an emphasis on territory, possession and pressure.
“Our hard work paid off at the start,” Brown said about his side bouncing back from an uncharacteristic defeat at home in round seven.
Ormiston fought long into the second half but it was an uphill battle after Taupati-Campbell scored his second – and then after he scored his third it was game over.
Columban’s began the proceedings with a Caleb Ritchie penalty goal.
The tries that followed looked like a little like this:
+ Columban’s hooker Alby Lyons for 10-0 after an Ortiz touch finder could not have been executed better.
+Taupati-Campbell for 17-0 when pouncing on a loose ball. A Caleb Ritchie bone rattler made it possible.
+Winger Sebastian Booth for 22-0 with an excellent finish in the right corner.
+ Ormiston skipper Angus Melville hit back with a strong carry, 22-7 was the closest his team would come.
+Taupati-Campbell scored two more to bring up his hat-trick, the headgeared smooth mover gliding down the left touchline to move Columban’s ahead 32-7.
+Prop Lachlan Grace wriggled over with 10 minutes left to make it 39-7.
+Ormiston winger Dylan Penniket with a consolation try settling the scores at 39-12.
There were some big performances on the day too. These included:
+ Columban’s halfback Phoenix Hoareau who had his best game of the season.
+ Columban’s fullback Ortiz, centre Sam Hoolihan, defensive menace Caleb Ritchie and who could forget the wing finishers Booth and Taupati-Campbell.
+ Ormiston inside centre Daniel Body who used his imposing figure to bend the defensive line.
+ Ormiston fullback Sam West who returned the ball with vigour and purpose.
+ Ormiston No. 8 Angus Melville who led from the front in his last game.
+ Flanker Noah McLachlan was a defensive hero for Columban’s
Earlier, Canterbury College secured a 39-15 win over a valiant St Paul’s to finish the season in third place.
It was a three seed versus four seed matchup where Canterbury, spearheaded by ball-running lock Stephen Brown, finished a successful season off in style.
The score did not reflect the closeness of the game, with winger Josh Williams and fullback Charlie Rowe scoring fantastic tries late in the piece to inflate Canterbury’s lead.
Footnote: Canterbury College’s netball program was also celebrating a successful finals day with their Firsts, 10As, 9As and 7As claiming premierships.
Canterbury coach Josh Afu said his side turned up and a heartfelt pre-game jersey presentation was the reason.
The Year 12 students were given their jerseys from their mothers and that was fuel to the fire for the Canterbury side looking to end on a high note.
And with two late omissions from the side Harrison Franklin stepped up to the plate, Afu giving the blindside flanker a start after hard work and dedication saw him return to full fitness after an injury in round 2.
Bailey Murphy was excellent for the last time in Canterbury blue, the No. 12 an effortless player who oozes class.
Canterbury started in hard and fast fashion to finish the 2023 season, the Taipans executing their chances very well.
On the pristine Ormiston turf, flanker Josh Noble scored a first half double, crashing over down the blind side on both occasions.
Strong early again was No. 8 Jack Henry who was relentless in contact.
Henry looked like a tall outside back because when he got the ball on the edges he would create overlaps and break the line.
That’s exactly what he did for Canterbury’s third try when he pinned the ears back and found Murphy on his hip.
Murphy, who slotted a brilliant right touchline conversion minutes prior, dived over under the sticks for a 19-10 lead.
Both of St Paul’s first half five pointers were straight out of coach Andrew Thomas’ playbook – Two rolling maul tries which were seemingly impossible to stop.
Towering prop Reinhard Fick scored the first after bruising the defensive line with his strong ball running.
No. 8 Tanner Baker followed suit for the Pumas and like Fick, he continued to impact the game.
When Canterbury had momentum and field position, Baker came alive at the breakdown and stole the ball.
It was a great way to close out the half and to open the half, his rangy lock Clancy J Burns burst through the last line of defence and scored in a rampaging 25 metre dash.
St Paul’s were in hot pursuit down just four points.
Burns backed his individual brilliance with a try-saver, but Murphy, who never stops moving, was too determined when muscling his way over for try No. 2 of the day.
From there, Canterbury ran away with it.
Lock Stephen Brown refused to take a backward step, getting Canterbury on the front foot with every carry.
Fullback Charlie Rowe (two tries) and winger Williams were the beneficiaries when propelling Canterbury past the winners post 39-15.
Despite the scoreline, St Paul’s coach Andrew Thomas was in safe hands with 11 players of the starting 15, back for seconds next year.
With a young core of Year 11 boys, the St Paul’s team will be better for it in 2024 when their match hardened Year 12s lead the charge.
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