TAS First XV schoolboy rugby Team of the Week after round 7

Who has made our TAS First XV schoolboy rugby Team of the Week following a round which saw St Columban’s secure a grand final spot against Ormiston? Story here

Ormiston College and St Columban’s College will face off on Saturday afternoon in the TAS First XV schoolboy rugby grand final at John Paul College.

JPC had the chance to secure their spot in a home grand final had they beaten Canterbury by 30 points in round 7. JPC were 45-27 victors, however a slow-first half proved costly.

JPC head coach Joshua Kron said: “At the end of the day you have to leave it all on the field. We left too many tackles out there that should have been made.

“We were down 27-26 at the break, and came back in the second 40. It was a good performance from the boys to rally off the back of our fly half Mark Moran getting concussed.”

Although they fell just short, Kron said the boys galvanised after that and put on four quick tries in what was a great effort.

It was St Columban’s Pink Round for breast cancer fundraising on Saturday. The First XV team wore pink in support of those in the school community affected.

They came away 59-0 winners, while Ormiston overcame St John’s 70-5 and St Paul’s defeated CHAC 53-5.

Grand final preview: St Columban's College and Ormiston College.

So who made our Team of the week?

Fullback: Elijah Keung (Canterbury)

Keung played great at outside centre. He carried well and got Canterbury over the game-line. Coach Josh Afu said: “He created opportunities for us to punch in behind the line. He was really good for us. He gives us that go-forward off the set-piece.” Keung was named at fullback to have the best 15 players in the Team of the Week.

St Paul's hat-trick hero Lachlan Creswell.

Wing: Lachlan Creswell (St Paul’s)

Creswell continued his hot streak of try-scoring when getting himself a hat-trick in Saturday’s 53-5 victory over CHAC. The young-gun took his tally to 61 points in just four games, and stood out in Puma Red.

St Paul's lock Clancy Johnston-Burns winning the lineout.

Centre: Cameron Douglas (Ormiston)

Douglas was so deceiving the opposition couldn’t get their hands on him. The centre was stepping, jinking, weaving and playing fast then playing slow to toy with his defenders and create scoring opportunities. Assistant coach Kris Peterman said: “He would know when to step, and when to cut in. He scored off a set-piece backline move. He hit the hole and went over.”

Centre: Myron Taupati-Campbell (St Columban’s)

Taupati-Campbell was destructive at No.12 to give his team a 59-0 in over CHAC. Head of Rugby Riley Brown said: “He did a lot of work off the ball and was really strong at the breakdowns.”

St Columban's College beginning the TAS First XV proceedings on Saturday afternoon.

Fly half: Finn Laffey (JPC)

Laffey stood in at No.10 to replace Jamie Critchley who was on suspension. He had a fantastic game. Head coach Joshua Kron said: “He was rock solid on defence. He did really well at leading the boys around the park and organising the width of his team’s attack.”

“He had some excellent clearance kicks as well,” Kron said.

Fly half: Nico Buckley (Canterbury)

Again Buckley put on a show. Coach Josh Afu said: “individually he would just do something out of nowhere to get us back into the game.

Wing: George Rowell (Ormiston)

Rowell got himself a hat trick on Saturday. It could have gone over a few more times if he had played the whole game. Rowell showcased his hidden pace when scoring two beautiful solo tries on Ormiston’s way to a 70-5 thumping over St John’s.

Halfback: Bailey Sawtell (St Columban’s)

Sawtell led the boys really well around the park, and his service all afternoon was outstanding. Head of Rugby Riley Brown said: “His communication is second-to-none. We are looking forward to it leading into next week’s final.

St Columban's First XV rugby star in pink.

No.8: Beni Allen (JPC)

He had two tries in another great performance. One of his five-pointers included a cracking try off the back of a scrum 50m out. No one could catch Allen tearing down the sideline.

Flanker: Lachlan Russell (JPC)

In what was Russell’s return from a shoulder injury, he didn’t miss a beat. He was dominant when running the ball and cleaning up loose tackles. He shut down holes and played really well after being out since the beginning of the season.

Flanker: Hudson Broadhead (CHAC)

Lock: Toby Vinton (St Columban’s)

Hinton was strong when doing lots of the hard yards in the breakdowns. He had lots of strong carries and was a workhorse all afternoon. Head of Rugby Riley Brown had high praise for Hinton as he played another great game.

St Paul's inside centre Logan Stansfield in action.

Lock: Riley O’Brien (Ormiston)

O’Brien was really good again with a couple of exhilarating runs. He scored one long range try and was held up just short on another occasion after fending off about four defenders. Assistant coach Kris Peterman said: “ He did all the stuff he normally does. He had room to run and he was great.”

Lock: Harrison Dhu (Ormiston)

The Second-rower came off the bench and played handily. He did some really good things and scored himself a great try.

Prop: Oscar Neuendorf-King (CHAC)

Neuendorf-King knows know fear and took it to the opposition no matter the circumstances.

He is a tough as nails prop who must be a dream to play alongside.

Hooker: Luca De Abreu (Ormiston)

He has been rock solid all year. On Saturday he had some nice runs and tip-on-passes. Assistant coach Kris Peterman said: “He was effective doing his job. HIs lineout throwing has been immaculate throughout the season.”

St Paul's Nathan Westaway and Cohen Walker in action against CHAC.

Prop: Declan Avkideff (JPC)

The JPC captain led from the front on Saturday scoring four tries. With his powerful running and patience in the forward structures, he earned his team 20 points to defeat Canterbury. Head coach Joshua Kron said: “He made heaps of tackles, he was in the set-piece, in the lineouts. He was brilliant.”

Honourable Mentions:

Hooker Cohen Walker (St Paul’s)

Flanker: Tanner Baker (St Paul’s)

No.8: Dan Johnstone (St Paul’s)