TAS rugby finals: Back-to-back brilliance as schoolboy goal kicker Charley Ogden wins it for St Columban’s
How did the TAS First XV schoolboy rugby grand final game unfold on Saturday? Find out here
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The TAS First XV schoolboy rugby premiership was won on Saturday following a grand final spectacle played between the grand finalists of the last two seasons - hosts Ormiston College and St Columban’s.
St Columban’s College were crowned premiers on the cusp of full time, with tireless fullback Seb Booth landing the equalising try, before birthday hero Charley Ogden, on his sweet 16th, sunk Ormiston with the match winning conversion.
To add to the excitement, Year 11 student Ogden hit the left upright, giving Ormiston supporters a split second of hope that a shared premiership would ensue.
The ball rebounded over, St Columban’s snatching a 7-5 lead on the cusp of time to claim back-to-back premierships and their seventh in the last decade.
“Look it was a good game,’ said Seb Booth as he gathered his breath after a huge second half.
“Kelly (Akili Filipo) really helped open up the space (on the last play).
“Yes Charlie. He hasn’t had many go in this season but thank god he got that.”
St Columban’s had added another feather to their cap, following premierships in 2013,2014,2015,2016, 2019, 2021, 2023 and now 2024.
But none would compare to Saturday’s success, after all hope looked lost when powerful St Columban’s lock Uri Torkington was yellow carded midway through the second half.
At that moment, down a man, the Saints trailed 5-0 and Ormiston had ascendancy.
When Torkington returned to the field he made an impact.
St Columban’s, with the wind against them, were on a mission and Ormiston showed with their incredible defence they were up for the fight.
Twice the home side rose to repel the Saints. With the game hanging in the balance, Angus Plastow and Luca Gardiner each won crucial line outs to keep the Saints hunting.
Alas, St Columban’s dangerous right edge attack of Seb Booth and the Filipo brothers Domsaviyo and Akili moved in, with a deadly step by Booth evading his defender as Filipo’s mere presence on the right wing had created an overlap.
Booth, strolling over with a smile on his, had done it.
Ogden, a Sunshine Coast Falcons Connell Cup squad member earlier this year, then added the extras to snatch victory by the skin of his teeth, 7-5.
Five minutes prior, Ormiston looked set to overcome a terrific first half performance by visitors St Columban’s, having scored the first try of the match in the second half
The inspired performance, spearheaded by captain Renier Welgemoed and vice-captain Harrison Dhu, was good enough to win any game this season and almost deserving of that 5-all draw which Ogden opened the door for.
A beaten and bruised Alby Lyons who tried to play through injury eclipsed how bad the Saints wanted it, as did the efforts of Lachlan North, captain Toby Parker, halfback Phoenix Hoareau and fullback Seb Booth.
What a win, to keep the St Columban’s schoolboy rugby juggernaut on top for yet another year.
“We matched them in heart. And we took them to the death and it took a knock out punch from them to beat us. So I am incredibly proud of that,” said Ormiston coach Kris Peterman.
“Went 12 rounds, two proud schools, they are a great opponent. We love them, we love playing them... Don’t always love the result,” Peterman joked.
“That was the most heartfelt performance of the year.”
FULLBACK LIVEWIRE
The big guns came to play on Saturday and one of the most exciting was headgear wearing Ormiston fullback Sam West.
The most dangerous player on the park, West rose from the ashes after an uncharacteristic mistake early in the game to be a first half wonder.
With the sharpest of footwork and great vision, West was Ormiston’s magic man who created almost every bit of Ormiston’s momentum.
With fast off the mark acceleration and a turn of speed, West not only evaded defenders but he also made not one but two tremendous cover tackles moving from centre field to the right touchline.
Twice in the first half when Columban’s winger Tom Mitchell moved in, West swooped with trysavers.
A courageous kid with x-factor, West captained the 9/10B side as a Year 9 student in 2021, before beginning a wonderful First XV schoolboy career in Year 11 last season.
“It’s an incredible story,” Peterman said of the biggest threat on finals day.
FRONT ROW TERROR
There was a gripping prop battle unfolding between Ormiston bulldozer Harrison Dhu and the Saints’ saviour on two occasions, Alby Lyons.
Harrison Dhu produced one of the best first half seen by a prop, a 35 minute barrage of barnstorming carries near and far from the Columban’s tryline.
‘Incredibly proud (of Dhu),” said Peterman.
“He has got leadership in him in spades.
“He plays with such heart and expresses his emotions.. That is admirable for a 17-year-old boy to show that side of his manhood.”
On one occasion, the powerful prop ran 20 metres to get Ormiston within one metre of the tryline.
Lyons, the representative prop who throws the ball into the line outs, also came to play.
Twice Lyons won timely penalties with pilfers at the breakdown.
BRILLIANT BREAKAWAY
In a physical grand final spectacle that exceeded expectations, the visitors were spearheaded by their forward pack, namely Lyons, captain Toby Parker and impressive open side Lachlan North.
North was excellent. In the first stanza, he was a ball carrying giant who powered through the line like an outside back.
With boundless energy, North maintained the rage on defence as well where once he made a thumping tackle on big man Harrison Dhu and another time made up for an error with an incredible legs tackle.
He was superb and won a breakdown penalty midway through the second half when Ormiston threatened to score their second try.
BROTHERS IN ARMS
Ormiston midfield magicians Renier Welgemoed (Year 11) and Eduard Welgemoed (Year 12) combined to produce a wonderful display which was key in Ormiston’s pursuit of the premiership.
On a windy day, the booming kicking game of inside centre and older brother Renier was everything for his side. But he also challenged the Columban’s defence with his straight crash runs.
Younger brother Eduard also did a great job defending St Columban’s centres Akeli Filipo and Riley Ohlsen before making an all-important raid down the left edge which laid the platform for his teammate Ashton Snell to score the first try.
Saints brothers Akili and Domsaviyo were brilliant in their own right despite being well contained.
They both had a hand in the try that won it for the Saints.
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