TAS First XV rugby grand final: Ormiston College v St Columban’s
A fairytale season has finished with a grand final victory in the TAS First XV schoolboy rugby union. Read the wrap of all four TAS games here.
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This decade’s most successful rugby school in TAS has been conquered, with Ormiston College holding on in a nailbiter over St Columban’s.
The 18-12 tear-jerker delivered Ormiston the TAS First XV schoolboy rugby premiership, and put the cherry on top of a season where they were unbeatable.
Ormiston head of rugby Kris Peterman said: “Moments like these are so special because we don’t get them every year. It takes a lot of hard work to get to St Columban’s level, so to topple them makes it even more special.
“Last time we won was 2018 and before that 2008. It doesn’t happen very often for our program. It gives the younger players belief that they can have this dream one day. Things like this really make the kids of the college believe.”
Ormiston’s trusty lock Angus Melville scored with a pick-and-drive to lead 7-0 early. Next to pounce was towering No.8 Daniel Body who barged his way over for Ormiston’s second.
Peterman said: “I thought Daniel Body was unreal. Immense in everything he did. The Columban’s pack is big and brutal but he stood up to them.”
St Columban’s No.8 Oscar Torrens was up to the contest when muscling his way over a minute later to edge closer at 12-5.
The stakes were clear when Columban’s wing Eli Ortiz put a crunching tackle on Ormiston halfback Lucas Wood after he had passed the ball. Wood and his captain Laif Williams were game.
Peterman said: “Williams kicked them out of the game. Wood was unbelievable. Next level.”
Every player in this final gave their all, but the stars of each side were clashing.
Williams, Wood and Body had to handle the Columban’s firepower of flyhalf Cooper Clark, No.8 Oscar Torrens, freakish fullback Peter McGrath and a rampaging Myron Taupati-Campbell.
Williams extended Ormiston’s lead at 15-5 when opting to take the points.
The try of the day came when wing Ethan Demmel dove in to score in front of the Columban’s supporters.
McGrath had his prints all over this one. With a cracking step inside and a beautiful pass across his body, he got the Columban’s army on their feet.
McGrath slotted the conversion from the corner. Moments before this, McGrath told his mother to get the crowd loud. He gave them a good reason to after getting them within three.
However, it was one of TAS’ best players of the season who sealed-the-deal. Centre Laif Williams slotted a penalty on the siren, etching Ormiston onto the TAS shield as the premiers of 2022.
St Columban’s head of rugby Riley Brown said: “ We couldn’t do the simple things right. It was 10 steps forward, five steps back.”
“The boys will be hurting after this. They were up for it after their 17-10 loss during the season.”
Brown said “We have a strong Year 11 group so they will be up for it next year. The core of the forward pack are Year 11’s, and we have lots of talented hard workers who will be back bigger and better next year.”
John Paul College v St Paul’s:
In a gritty match-up between JPC and a well-structured St Paul’s team, the home side was able to put on a great showcase in their Indigenous round, and come away 34-19 winners.
St Paul’s head coach Andrew Thomas said: “ we reacted rather than played how we wanted to play. JPC were awesome today and it is the Indigenous round which meant a lot to them.”
In what was a JPC home game and their Grade 12’s last game, Thomas said he thought they played really well.”
Broncos signed young-gun Beni Allen had one of his best games of the season. Whenever he touched the ball, you knew something was going to happen.
“We wanted to do better than last year. Last year we came fourth, and to come third this year is great.”
“We keep improving at JPC. I love it here. Hopefully next year I can come coach and give back to the school.”
Allen starts pre-season with the Broncos at the end of this year. He said: “The goal is to keep developing, get better at my game, work on my weaknesses and see where footy takes me.”
From fullback, Allen found No.8 Lachlan Russell who opened JPC’s scoring account.
Moments later St Paul’s fullback Casey Camilleri spotted space and dashed away to give his team a 7-5 lead.
Allen caught the Pumas napping when scooting from the ruck and going over untouched on the blindside to regain the lead at 10-7.
St. Paul’s had no match for Allen, with the hungry talent scoring a scintillating solo try from 50m out. When Allen has space, it takes more than just one defender to bring him down.
St. Paul’s wouldn’t go away. Every time JPC pounced, the boys in red had a response for them. On this occasion, it was Dylan McCloy diving over from scrum half.
However, a double from Russell pushed JPC further in front at 24-14 with another strong pick and drive.
In end-to-end footy, just how these two teams like it, St. Paul’s hooker Liam McGregor scored to niggle his team uncomfortably close to JPC.
Declan Arkadieff used his braided mullet and sheer strength to put the pumas on the back foot once again when scoring a cracking pick and drive try.
Allen was denied a hat-trick when going over in the left corner. However flanker Dontae Scott made up for it and scored moments later in the same corner to settle the scores at 34-19, and leave themselves and supporters with something to smile about.
Thomas said: “Credit to our boys they hung in there and kept having a go. Tanner Baker was outstanding yet again. Our halfback Dylan M played well under a pack going backwards. And our No.8 Dan had a great game.”
“We blooded a few young fellas this year. We have about eight Year 11’s coming back, and four Year 10s coming back so we have a good base for next year.”
CHAC v Canterbury:
In a fight for fifth place on the ladder, Canterbury College came out firing and came away big winners in a 74-17 carnage.
Canterbury flyhalf Nico Buckley had a hot start, involving himself several times in phase play which led to a try of his own in the second minute.
Canterbury’s second try came through centre Jack Addley. It started with a great run returning the ball from fullback by Jalen Harrison.
Galloping runs up the middle from flanker Alex Mutimuti and No.8 Jack Henry saw Addley dive into the corner.
Centre Bailey Murphy left supporters with their jaws on the ground when burning through countless CHAC defenders to run 55m and score an incredible individual try.
Winger Jackson King was finally rewarded for his brilliant support on the wing when scoring his team’s fourth try following a crisp cut-out from Murphy.
King wasn’t content with one, so he broke through two defenders to score his second minutes later. This time, Buckley was the one to set him up with a brilliant step and offload.
Prop Dylan You was the next to get in on the fun, making it 6 in the first half for Canterbury.
Magic by Mutimuti gave Canterbury their first five-pointer of the second half, ducking-and-weaving through traffic to score.
No.8 Oliver Gough got CHAC on the scoreboard with a cracking try following his team’s best attacking set of the game.
This blemish to the scoresheet didn’t sit right with Murphy who immediately scored a 40m try in reply.
It was Murphy madness that gave Canterbury another spectacular try. The sensational centre sliced through the line and found Harrison in support to score.
Some Buckley brilliance saw Canterbury extend their lead even further, when darting to the line from flyhalf and scoring under the posts.
King added to the scoreboard, but the damage was done. Canterbury finished their season on a 74-17 high.
WestMAC v St John’s:
5 things we learned from St John’s 24-22 win over WestMAC:
Thumping Theron:
WestMAC No.8 Liam Theron is unstoppable. With a head of steam Theron can barge his way through any defence. He scored his teams first try of the day, and showed through his strong ball-running why he has made the Team of the Week several times this season.
Hayes is a fly half in disguise:
WestMAC loose forward Matt Hayes has some of the best instinctual playmaking ability in the whole TAS competition. Hayes straightens up the attack, creates overlaps and puts his teammates into space to create some magic. Hayes is an unselfish talent who works hard as a forward, but slips into the backline to give his team great go-forward.
Mitchell Hewitt—St. John’s backline pocket-rocket:
Centre Mitchell Hewitt was the best on the field for St. John’s. He’s a decisive centre who slices his way through the defensive line. WestMAC at times found it very hard to catch him, with his superb speed and quick off the mark acceleration. This was until Liam Theron had enough and seated him with a crunching tackle.
St John’s improvement:
There were plenty of positives to take from how the St John’s team played in their last game of the year. For the most part of the season, St. John’s struggled to put in a full game and would slack off somewhere in the second half. They fought hard and continued to work, earning a two-point victory. Their best try of the day came through number wing Mason Davidson following slick through the hands play from Hewitt, Cody Rosazza and Will Holland.
Play of the day:
St John’s flyhalf Cody Rosazza gave the crowd a laugh when nearly streaking away for his second try. He read WestMAC’s attack, caught an intercept, and ran 25 metres before the ball popped out of his hands. The young flyhalf was away for a potential double but the ball had different ideas.
St. John’s biggest improver throughout the season was Cooper Radford.
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