TAS rugby: Super 20 players of first round
TAS First XV schoolboy rugby: Who were the Super 20 Players of the Week following the opening round? Find out here.
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Last year’s grand finalists, Ormiston College and St Columban's College, got their seasons rolling on Saturday with wins in the first round of the TAS First XV rugby season.
John Paul College also got off the mark with a confidence boosting 29-5 win over St Paul’s School while Canterbury College sat out with a bye.
Here we present some of the top performing youngsters from the first round of the season, as part of our weekly coverage of the TAS competition.
On Saturday, April 27, St Paul’s will host St Columban's in what looms as the match of the round.
ROUND 1 SCORES
Ormiston 46 def WestMAC nil
John Paul College 29 def St Paul’s 5
St Columban's 35 def CHAC nil
Round one Players of the Week
Sam West (Ormiston)
Electric and outstanding.
He is small in size, but imagine a Cheslin Kolbe. West is the TAS doppleganger of the pacy Springbok legend.
The diminutive fullback scored two tries and was threatening whenever he had the ball in hand.
William Park (Ormiston)
A Year 11 student on debut, William Park, a blindside flanker, scored tries as a reward for the inroads he made on the edge.
Like a centre or edge forward in league, he caused havoc looming in support or busting through the line.
What a debut.
Angus Toovey (St Paul’s)
It was a tough day in the office for the Pumas but you couldn’t fault the effort of inside centre Toovey who played very well in a losing side.
The JPC defence was organised, and Toovey tried hard time and time again to break through.
Oliver Rauchle (St Paul’s)
Another strong performer from St Paul’s, No.8 Rauchle did the dirty work in defence and ran the ball with intent.
Luca Gardiner (Ormiston)
Lock Luca Gardiner was one of the most damaging Ormiston attackers through the middle field, punching holes through the defence like a stapler.
Uri Torkington (St Columban's)
The Year 11 youngster had a cracker to kickstart his First XV career.
In the back row, Torkington was a man on a mission.
While he scored a try, it was his defensive efforts, mainly at the breakdown, which showed his class.
Churned out a great game in limited minutes.
Luke Harvey (St Columban’s)
Another Year 11 student on debut, Harvey played hooker and tackled blokes much bigger than him.
Fearless.
Toby Parker (St Columban’s)
Parker’s workrate was something to behold and had to get recognition here.
His V8 engine shone through to get Columban's’s in the winner’s column to begin season 2024.
Alby Lyons (St Columban’s)
Young veteran Lyons was a class act, leading his side into the fray from No.8 where his experience at this level was a big plus for his side.
A smart customer.
Kobe Lawrence (John Paul College)
Are we looking at the player of the game from JPC versus St Paul’s?
His defence was sound, he let the attacking shape, his attack was threatening and he communicated brilliantly as captain.
Need we say any more?
Elijah Baron (John Paul College)
In his First XV debut, fullback Elijah Baron was brilliant.
In attack he pounded the line, in defence his cover tackling was head turning and for a Year 11 in his first crack, there looked to be no nerves.
Take a bow.
Kingbenjamin Swirling (John Paul College)
A defensive monster, Swirling surprised none with his efforts on Saturday.
Denying the Pumas forward pack any reward, Swirling threw his hand up and made countless try savers near the JPC goal line.
When his side needed it, Swirling flew in with his cape on to repel his rivals.
Harry Makinson (John Paul College)
Makinson played out a strong performance at inside centre, carrying the ball hard and fast into the teeth of the defence.
The Year 11 student started the season on a high note that is for sure.
Dj Gray (John Paul College)
Post contact metres tick. Line breaks tick. Countless highlights tick.
This Year 12 student just has it.
At the weekend, he showed it - especially with ball in hand.
Josh Hines (WestMAC)
Any ordinary onlooker that saw Hines play on Saturday would be surprised to know it was his first competition game of rugby.
A representative goalkeeper, Hines played fullback and was solid under the high ball, excellent with his clearance kicks and effective with his tackles.
His boot was massive as you can imagine, and his low tackling was a bonus.
Charles Pickering (WestMAC)
Hooker Charles Pickering played a big part in WestMAC’s scrum dominance, but the rangy, versatile hooker was equally impressive across the park with his tackling and breakdown wins keeping WestMAC in the hunt.
Joey Hona (CHAC)
The Easts Tiger roared to life in CHAC’s defeat at the hands of St Columban's, announcing himself as a premier defender in the competition.
The flanker and captain was enormous defensively, rushing off the line with running mate Ryan Williamson.
His breakdown presence and work rate was felt near and wide.
Ryan Williamson (CHAC)
The ferocious CHAC outside centre had his line speed dialled up to 100 and his shoulders warm.
After making tackles, he was the first to dig into the breakdown and win ball.
Spare a thought for fullback Carter Mangan who returned the ball well for CHAC.
Will Heaton (CHAC)
The Year 12 front rower had his work cut out for him against St Columban’s and did not let up. Despite defending for much of the contest, Heaton hit as hard in the 60th minute as he did in the first.
ROUND 2 FIXTURES
WestMAC v Canterbury College
Ormiston College v CHAC
St Paul’s v St Columban's
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