TAS First XV rugby’s round 3 players of the week named
The TAS First XV rugby’s round 3 best included a Ormiston star centre, the St Columban’s flyhalf turned fullback and tireless St Paul’s backrowers. More here.
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The closest TAS First XV schoolboy rugby competition in years will reach a flashpoint on Saturday when Canterbury College host St Columban’s College.
Both teams are 2-0 this season but will be without some of their finest talent when they meet in a clash which will have premiership implications.
A spread of boom boys will be away in Townsville contesting the Representative School Sport Rugby State Championships.
It means both teams will have to rely on their depth and other key players to stand up in the absence of those missing.
What a match it promises to be.
While Canterbury College sat out with a bye in round 3, St Columban’s, Ormiston and John Paul College found the winner’s post.
The stars came out to play in round 3, with Cannon Hill Anglican College No. 8 Charlie Gardiner, Ormiston outside centre Eduard Welgemoed and WestMAC’s Charlie Pickering among the top performers.
TAS FIRST XV RUGBY PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Charlie Gardiner (CHAC)
The CHAC skipper has just been superb to start the season.
A great option in attack, Gardiner operated on the edge regularly in Saturday’s skirmish against JPC and had considerable success with his powerful running getting CHAC over the gain line.
The No. 8 enforcer did not take a backward step and generated plenty of momentum for the visitors.
Peter Elliot (CHAC)
Are we looking at the form halfback of the competition?
The CHAC scrumhalf backed up a brilliant round 2 showing with another solid game, playing through an early injury to see out the 70 minutes.
On a muddy surface in Daisy Hill, Elliot served up pinpoint service, took the line on here and there and was a supreme organiser of his forwards.
Elijah Baron (JPC)
The JPC fullback worked his backside off from the outset, covering fullback and wing and going from touchline to touchline to hold down the fort.
He ticked off his defensive assignments with distinction and looked dangerous when he had room to rove.
Rocco Boulter (JPC)
JPC have been dealt a blow this season not being able to unleash DJ Gray, who turns 19 at the end of the year.
In the absence of the school’s most devastating outside back, a young gun centre has emerged in Rocco Boulter.
On the weekend Butler had his best game yet for the First XV, running hard and fast into half gaps and tucking the ball under his wing to ensure he could play it back safely to his scrumhalf.
Jack Crameri (JPC)
JPC’s big improver was back at it again, raising the bar in what is proving to be a stunning debut season.
A young, raw prop with a thirst for contact, Crameri hit the ruck with venom and worked hard around the park trucking the ball forward.
Hamish Hutchinson (St Columban’s)
With Lachie North (knee) out, Hutchinson has taken on more responsibility and flourished.
The St Columban’s skipper last weekend, Hutchinson had his hands full hitting hard in defence and then running often in attack.
He was strong, mentally and physically, in a true captain’s knock against WestMAC.
Charlie Ogden (St Columban’s)
Ogden was a class act in 2024 and has continued to enhance his reputation at fullback this season.
His kicking game was on song in round 3, Ogden plugging the corners when needed and choosing his moments wisely about when to run or shift the ball.
A flyhalf in 2024, Ogden is improving with every experience at the back.
Luke Harvey (St Columban’s)
A kid who just gets rugby, Harvey was primed for battle at scrumhalf. He regularly got down and dirty to retrieve ruck ball and dished out good service for his forwards and backs.
Always quick to the breakdown, Harvey had the smarts to always find the right running option and steered his peers into position well.
Samson Noffke (WestMAC)
A damaging outside back, Noffke shifted gears into flyhalf for round three where he looked right at home.
A composed and controlled performance was just what the doctor ordered and his decision making, pressure-relieving kicks and poise were features.
Charlie Pickering (WestMAC)
For the third successive game, Pickering was a powerhouse.
He played as a prop and made several notable defensive efforts across the duration of the match.
Hard over the ball and always in the hunt, he snared a few turnovers and was key when WestMAC needed a big play.
Luke Gilbert (Ormiston)
Gilbert has been one of Ormiston’s early season finds. — someone who was always going to feature but has far exceeded expectations with his high level of play.
Just two years ago Gilbert was in the Year 9/10 Bs team. Fast forward 24 months and the unrelenting Year 11 student is a key member of the Ormiston pack.
“I can’t believe the level he is getting to,” praised Ormiston coach Kris Peterman.
“He has been amazing.”
Peterman is referencing GIlbert’s enormous leg drive and refusal to die in contact.
He has seen it before from Luke’s older brother Jayden, a three-season First XV forward with “crazy leg drive”.
Eduard Welgemoed (Ormiston)
Devastating at his best, midfielder Welgemoed made another terrific impact for Ormiston after a top notch round 2 performance against WestMAC.
An outside centre who can be seen playing inside centre and fullback at times throughout games, Welgemoed scored two tries, created a third and quickly unravelled a Pumas defensive line missing its greatest exponent — inside centre Oli Rauchle.
Jackson Schmidt (Ormiston)
Ormiston coach Kris Peterman was chomping at the bit to get this athletic second rower with the ball in his hands more and on Saturday, he got what he wished for.
The nimble lock made great inroads taking the ball forward and added another dimension to the Ormiston attack punching through the midfield.
He roared to life.
Ashton Snell (Ormiston)
The Ormiston skipper has been in the mix of everything this year — and last year too for that matter.
At the weekend he did his core role well. He fed the lineout with a straight throw, and was on point with everything he did as a tight five combatant.
Adam Edwards (St Paul’s)
The St Paul’s open side has put a down payment on the team of the season No. 7 jersey after another inspired performance in less than ideal conditions at Ormiston.
Edwards backed up a cracking display in round 2 which earned him the Ben Tune medal with a wholehearted performance built on dogged defence.
Charlie McIntosh (St Paul’s)
Speaking of defence, No. 8 Charlie McIntosh might as well change his middle name.
He was a defensive terrier that tackled anything that moved in Saturday’s game.
It took coach Andrew Thomas five different washes to remove the dirt from his jersey so involved was he in a forward-dominated game where the conditions demanded his best effort.
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