TAS First XV rugby union - how round 1 unfolded
TAS First XV schoolboy rugby - everything you need to know following round 1 action including our Team of the Week.
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The TAS competition is up and running for season 2023, with St Columban’s, Canterbury College and John Paul College first round victors.
Here we provide coverage of all three games, including the Team of the Week following round 1.
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In Caboolture the Saints, St Columban’s College that is, marched during a first half blitz which set up a 62-nil win over a wet behind the ears St Paul’s College.
St Columban’s got rolling to lead 38-nil at halftime before a spirited St Paul’s regrouped to thwart St Columban’s in the second half.
Featuring a wonderfully mobile forward pack, St Columban’s backed their skills, shifting play wide through the backs.
It was an awesome start by the home side.
Giant No. 8 Lathaniel Timaloa crashed over early, lock Toby Vinton produced a first half double, flanker Devlyn Nel crossed, then wingers Sebastian Booth and Diesel Hadlow benefited from the work done inside them.
“It was our first hit out of the season,’’ said coach Riley Brown who waved several replacements onto the field during the second half. “We still have some work to do.’’
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Spearheading St Columban’s was flanker Bailey Atkins, a second XV player from last season who has had a “massive off-season’’.
Fellow breakaway Delvyn Nel, hooker Alby Lyons and halfback Phoenix Hoareau shone, with Hoareau’s service divine along with his work rate mopping up anything untidy.
St Pauls, featuring nine debut players and minus several tight forwards who were injured during trial matches, seemed shell-shocked early.
But after gathering themselves at halftime, and despite running into the wind, St Paul’s fought back.
It took St Columban’s a long time to breakdown St Paul’s in the second half and the squad will have a foundation going forward.
“It was much better in the second half. We were actually down to 14 men at one stage and they came together a lot better,’’ said a bemused St Paul’s coach Andrew Thomas.
“We started communicating in defence and moving off the line. They now actually have some markers to work off.
“The boys understand what the challenges are and what is in front of them.
“Obviously as a team we need to get better and it was good to give the new boys a run again today.’’
Best for St Paul’s were flanker Callum Campbell, debut prop Tom Clay and Year 12 students Tanner Backer (No. 8) and Clancy Johnstone-Burns (lock).
At Canterbury College, the home side enjoyed a 28-nil win over a spirited WestMAC.
“The team did well and most of it went to the game plan,’’ said coach Josh Afu.
“But we were a little bit off in our shape.
“We were slow to different areas but all in all very happy.’’
He said defensively the side achieved high marks by putting pressure on the opposition.
“We just have to tidy up a few things like playing in the right zones.
“Next week is JPC (John Paul College) so there are a lot of similarities in the team, and we will work on the same things and build from this week.
“Defensively we want to continue to build pressure, make our tackles and force them to kick which will give us a chance to attack where we want to use our structures.’’
Canterbury skipper Jack Henry did well at the breakdown and produced some decisive runs, while the midfield pairing of Bailey Murphy and Jack Addley got the job done.
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OUR TAS FIRST XV 2022 TEAM OF THE SEASON
WestMAC coach Ben O’Connell said his team showed promise but needed to do things more consistently and for longer periods across the game, whether that was controlling possession or making effective low tackles.
He said the rugby program was building nicely at WestMAC across the junior sides, and 2023 will be a “year of consolidation’’ in the Firsts before the best juniors start filtering into the side.
“This year is more about building confidence in our players,’’ O’Connell said.
Best players were the versatile Bruce Joiner who, while playing halfback in general play, also jumps in the lineout because of his excellent vertical leap.
Open side flanker Connor Purvy also excelled around the park. “He was hard on the ball and won some penalties,’’ O’Connell said.
At John Paul College a spirited CHAC outfit were up for the fight, but in the end a 12-point first half deficit proved too much to come back from when falling short 33-12.
The home side JPC led 19-5 at the break after scoring three tries in their first thirty-five minutes of the season.
The second half saw CHAC level up on both sides of the ball to concede just two tries while scoring a fantastic one of their own thanks to a pinpoint cross field kick from flyhalf Angus McConville.
Fullback DJ Gray, centre Jamie Critchley and No.5 Nate Levitt crossed early for last year’s third place finishers. For CHAC, hooker Isaac Mellish found the tryline in both halves.
And in the second half, Critchley and wrecking ball No.8 Kingbenjamin Swirling went over to seal the deal.
JPC head coach Joshua Kron had high praise for CHAC saying in a “tough win” they “had a good game plan and knew about our style. Much improved.
“Jamie Critchley just came back and had a solid game. He had to fill in at No.10 due to injury, leading the team from the front.
“Losing Coby Lawrence is a big loss (broken arm- out for the season), Jamie stepped up, his defence led the way, set the platform and allowed the boys to rally.
“And DJ Grey is one of those top level athletes that excels in any sport. ON the rugby field he knows where he needs to be. He has good feet, good hands, good defence, reads the game well and played really well today,” Kron said about the Year 10 student who may well take the competition by storm this year.
Just as exciting as Grey was Year 11 No.8 Kingbenjamin Swirling, who Kron said “offers a lot.”
“He steers our forward pack. When we need him there’s a tackle and a hit up. On and off the ball, he can shift the game in one play. He gives us confidence and lets others grow.”
Lock Nate Levitt, blindside flanker Caden Careswell and outside centre Jayden Ward were standouts for JPC, with Levitt and Careswell lineout weapons and Ward breaking the line and rushing up in defence.
CHAC assistant coach Billy Fry said he saw a definite improvement in their first game compared to last year.
“We worked really hard on our no talent required stuff. Effort at the breakdowns and getting back on defence.
“I was happy with how we went in those areas today- super happy. I think we just needed to be smarter.
“I think the last 10 we gave it away and in the first 10 minutes we gave it to them easily and we went down 12-0 early.
“But we hung onto the ball a lot better, especially at the breakdown.”
Fry said outside centre Toby Butler had a defensive masterclass while flyhalf McConville kicked really well to find space.
He couldn’t have been more correct with Butler a huge presence on both sides of the ball and McConville the officiator of CHAC’s superb second try which had a bit of everything.
A Crossfield kick, offload in contact, and a step and fend to the try line by Mellish.
In the forwards, flanker Joey Hona was a metre eater while hooker Mellish was a scrum hero.
Around the ball-carrying Hona and Mr. Everywhere man Mellish, halfback Jake Leaderhose had himself a game with crisp delivery from the ruck, allowing McConville to locate the tackle busting Butler in space.
Front rower Hudson Broadhead also added a big boost in the No.23 jersey.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
15. DJ Gray (John Paul College)
14. Toby Butler (CHAC)
13. Jack Addley (Canterbury) and Jayden Ward (John Paul College)
12. Bailey Murphy (Canterbury) and Jamie Critchley (John Paul College)
11. Deisel Hadlow (St Columban’s)
10. Angus McConville (CHAC)
9. Phoenix Hoareau (St Columban’s)
8. Jack Henry (Canterbury)
7. Bailey Atkins (St Columban’s) and Joey Hona (CHAC)
6. Connor Purvy (WestMAC)
5. Clancy Johnstone-Burns (St Paul’s)
4. Toby Vinton (ST Columban’s)
3. Isaac Mellish (CHAC)
2. Alby Lyons (St Columban’s)
1. Tom Clay (St Paul’s)
Reserves: Delvyn Nel (St Columban’s), Bruce Joiner (WestMac), Callum Campbell (St Paul’s), Tanner Backer (St Paul’s),
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