TAS First XV rugby: Team of the Week; premiership match-up looms
Who made our TAS First XV rugby Team of the Week? Revealed here along with the kingmakers capable of breaking open Saturday’s grand final preview between Ormiston and St Columban’s.
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Who made our TAS First XV rugby Team of the Week? Find out here but first, meet the kingmakers capable of breaking open Saturday’s blockbuster clash between last year’s grand finalists.
Ormiston College and Ormiston, front runners to meet again in the big dance, will butt horns on Saturday and will preview a potential finals match up to be played out on June 10.
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When asked for an assessment of his team’s season thus far, Ormiston coach Kris Peterman said they were on “track for everything we have planned”.
He said this weekend was the big one in the grand final preview, with history showing Ormiston strong at home and Columban’s the same when playing on their turf.
“It’s really hard to win up there.
“We haven’t won there since 2010. We had a draw in 2017.
“Just the long drive, it depletes your energy … They are just really good at home. They always turn up for home games,” Peterman said about Columban’s being “tough to beat” at home.
But, Peterman will have kingmakers Lucas Wood, No. 9, and Angus Melville, No. 8, to weather the storm in Caboolture.
Footnote: Canterbury College can still make the final as they have St Columban’s in round 7.
KINGMAKERS OF THE GRAND FINAL PREVIEW
Lucas Wood (Ormiston)
His control on the game is out of this world. He makes the game run at his tempo, a skill the cheeky second year player has mastered at the position of scrumhalf.
Angus Melville (Ormiston)
Ormiston’s captain Melville has been enormous. He’s scored seven times this season and he’s been dominant in every meaning of the word. Expect another strong showing on Saturday.
“We rely heavily on these boys,” Peterman said about his kingmakers.
Devlyn Nel (St Columban’s)
The team captain will swing things in his team’s favour through his leadership and work rate. He does a lot of the grunt work, but he also has the smarts.
Lachlan Grace (St Columban’s)
The third year First XV tight-head is the last existing member of the Columban’s undefeated team of 2021.
He’s not your traditional front rower, he can get the dirty work done but can also play wide. He has a unique skill set, Grace a strong defender and great attacker who can link things well with the backs.
A follow me type of character.
Elis Ortiz (St Columban’s)
Ortiz is a gun injection in the backline and don’t think for a second he doesn’t have wheels.
His communication at the back is superb as well, providing everything his team needs from the crucial position of fullback.
In other news, CHAC, St Paul’s and St John’s have all made strides this season, with ST Paul’s claiming a big scalp (John Paul College) with a tremendous team performance.
Fullback Liam Payne garnished the performance with more runaway tries while the move of Kasey Camilleri from five-eight to inside worked a treat.
But again loose forwards Tanner Baker and Hamish Campbell shone and were rewarded with Team of the Week berths - see below.
St John’s also scored the most points they have in a match in five seasons - 17 - in a fine effort against an improved CHAC spearheaded by captain and No.10 Angus McConville and his halfback Jake Loderhouse.
We named McConville at No.12 for the purposes of recognising the weekend’s best, but he is a fine five-eight.
St John’s have unearthed some good ones in recent weeks, including No.8 Howie, five-eight Hewitt and prop Chan-Foon.
But more than those fine efforts and the scoring of 17 points, St John’s looked a rugby side and full marks them the players and the coaching staff.
WestMAC director of rugby Ben O’Connell said his community should be very pleased with the continued progress of the program this season, including last Saturday’s gallant loss.
“We have worked really hard the last few weeks on our defensive shape and structure and this was clearly evident in keeping the St Columbans powerhouse to only 27 points after Ormiston put on 45 points the week before,’’ he said.”
“Our boys continued to turn up in defense and we controlled our emotions in pressure situations which saw us give away minimal penalties”
“We are proud of the students’ never-say-die attitude and resilience, they showed a strong team commitment today”
Best players for WestMAC against quality opposition were:
Bryce Joiner, halfback: He worked hard at controlling the breakdown, tackled with aggression all game
Jake Isarasena, inside centre: strong ball carries in the centre needing multiple numbers to bring him down each time.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Fullback: Liam Payne (St Paul’s)
Wing: Jeremy Lamb (JPC)
Centre: Will Harper (CHAC)
Centre: Angus McConville (CHAC)
Wing: Johan Goossen (CHAC)
Five-eight: Lucas Wood (Ormiston)
Halfback: Jake Loderhouse (CHAC)
No. 8: Jack Henry (Canterbury)
Flanker: Bailey Atkins (St Columban’s)
Flanker: Callum Campbell (St Paul’s)
Lock: Toby Vinton (St Columban’s)
Lock: Tanner Baker (St Paul’s)
Prop: Harrison Dhu (Ormiston)
Hooker: Isaac Mellish (CHAC)
Prop: Lachlan Grace (St Columban’s)
Reserves:
Jake Isarasena (WestMAC), Renier Welgemoed (Ormiston), Jack Florido (CHAC), Isaiah Chan-Foon (St John’s), Sam Hewitt (St John’s), Lachie Timms (CHAC), Leo Price (JPC), Joey Hona (CHAC), Cooper Howie (St John’s), Bryce Joiner (WestMAC), Ryan Williamson (CHAC).
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