WATCH THE REPLAYS: Langer Trophy quarter finals in race for NRL Schoolboy Cup
The national NRL Schoolboys picture just got a little clearer after the four Langer Trophy quarterfinals were played on Tuesday. RELIVE all the action from our LIVESTREAM.
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The best four teams all season have qualified for the NRL Schoolboys Cup (Langer Trophy) semi-finals after four quarterfinal clashes today at Bishop Park.
Ipswich SHS, Keebra Park SHS, PBC SHS and Marsden SHS will play in the semi-finals next Wednesday, streamed by www.couriermail.com.au, the Gold Coast Bulletin and News Corp affiliates.
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THE MATCHES
Ipswich SHS vs Coombabah SHS
Ipswich SHS have moved on to the semi-finals in style, defeating Coombabah SHS 56-12 at Albert Bishop Park.
A first half hattrick by strapping centre Caleb Jackson highlighted Ipswich’s 44-0 first half spectacle.
It took a possession starved Coombabah 10 minutes to get their first attacking set and in that time, star centre Caleb Jackson went over twice.
Ipswich’s first came on the back of simple through the hands play by James Frazer, Tyler Peckham-Harris and Caleb Jackson, making it 4-0.
These three, like they have been all season, started today’s game on fire.
Ahmani Leilua was next to inject himself, squaring up the attack with a cracking run, giving his team an overlap on the right side.
From there, it was quick hands by lock Jack Laing, a tackle bust from second rower Oliva Iaulualo and a nice inside step by Jackson for his double.
Frazer converted from the corner. 10-0.
Coombabah finally had an attacking set, but it wasn’t long before Ipswich regained possession and scored four in rapid succession.
Sneaky fullback Peckham-Harris put on some fancy footwork to beat his first defender, and then with the momentum from the contact, he propelled towards the line on a spectacular 25 metre dash to score. 14-0.
Ferocious centre Tre Fotu was the next to join the party, setting up gun hooker Tommy Luhrman twice in three minutes.
Textbook Fotu fending was in full effect for Luhrmans double. On the first occasion he extended his right arm and that was game over. Luhrman scooting through on the inside was there to receive a nice draw and pass to score his first. 20-0.
It was the deja-vu for the dummy-half’s second consecutive try with Fotu doing the dirty work and Luhrman diving over due to his super support play. 26-0.
The Ipswich boys continued on their rampage to end the half up 44-0.
Jackson juked his way through to score a first half hat trick and Iaulualo, on an unstoppable close range charge, got himself on the scoresheet.
At 38-0, you thought that would be Ipswich magic done for the half with one minute to play.
But, towering prop Loko Tonga had his own say before the siren. With a barnstorming out of Ipswich’s half, Tonga tore up the middle and linked with dynamic impact player and Australian Schoolboy Gabriel Satrick on his inside. Satrick speared away to make it 44-0 at the break.
Coombabah, without their best player Lewis Symonds, came out a new team in the second half, attacking with their defence and altering the momentum of the match.
Off the back of that, they opened the scoring after 12 minutes of back and forth action.
Coombabah, moving up in defence and trying hard earned their first of the day.
Coombabah then made it two in a row when their best of the day, halfback Jaxon Denny put in a beautiful chip kick to himself, sneakily over the Ipswich defence.
Denny regained possession and found hooker Braydan Wong in support on his inside. Wong finished it off with a dive under the posts, putting the exclamation point on some sorcery by Denny.
Coombabah fullback Shannon Donaldson converted both four pointers with top tier precision off the boot.
Ipswich had the final say of the affair with Frazer and halfback Jalen Afamasaga settling the scores at 56-12.
Jackson set up Frazer in the corner with a crafty in-and-away, while Afamasaga did it all himself, weaving his way through the last line of defence to score.
PBC SHS v MABEL PARK SHS
Magic man Keano Kini and his sidekick winger Jett Forbes fired early, late and everywhere inbetween as PBC SHS got rolling toward the winners post 68-6 against Mabel Park SHS.
Could PBC SHS - or right winger Forbes - have started better? No.
Forbes had a ball, scoring three tries as PBC SHS’s uptempo performance took the match away from Mabel Park SHS.
Off the back of momentum Kini also impacted the match, scoring from a Forbes break, twoce bursting through to create half chances and once delivering a perfect ball to a surging Will Taylor who strode over from 30m out.
It was great gap running by Taylor, but a terrific ball by Kini.
Down 22-nil, Mabel Park were needing to rally, delete penalties and control possession and they did - for a time.
Three times Mabel Park crossed the line within six tackles, only for PBC SHS to scramble and keep an unblemished defensive line. That was until the 51st minute when big prop Alex Leapai crashed over.
While Forbes scored three first half tries, he had help from lovely cross kicks by his halves, including a lovely touch chip by young Zane Harrison.
Possibly the highlight of the match came late in the first half when PBC SHS centre Cooper Cambey snared a chip Aussie rules style above his head, creating another try.
Taylor’s second try into the second half was a ripper and spoke volumes about the bloke.
While the try was simple - Taylor scooped up a loose ball and dived over - it was a second effort play after he had chased hard just in case he was needed.
Behind elite starting dummy half Tanu Nona, interchange No.9 Bailey McConnell produced a dazzling performance to capitalise on PBC SHS’ speed of the play-the-ball.
Mabel Park SHS were shock winners last week against Keebra Park SHS and clearly played their grand final that night.
They could have played better, but PBC SHS were very, very good.
Into the second half Kini brought up the half century for PBC with an impossible put down.
With three blue jerseys smothering him, somehow Kini found a way to sneak the Steden against a blade of grass. 52-0.
Leapai came on for a second stint off the bench and immediately made an impact.
The towering prop with unmatched size and power was never going to be stopped from close.
Leapai made it 52-6
Keebra Park SHS vs Marymount College
Keebra centre Dorian Lotaki will sleep well tonight after putting in a mammoth shift to steer his team to a 40-6 victory over Marymount.
Keebra scored the last few in a hurrry,so the clash was much closer than the scoreline reads. Marymount were very competitive and took it to Keebra in every aspect of the game, even with an evident size disadvantage.
Keebra prop Jared Johnson was the first to strike in the Gold Coast derby, courtesy of a deceiving across the body pop pass by hooker Tyrell Waaka Rhind.
Five eighth Jodeci Letalu was instrumental in Keebra’s next two tries, sending them up 16-0 after fifteen minutes.
Letalu opened up the Marymount defence to with a flashy run and found wing Munga Baruani who returned the favour with a deft grubber kick under the posts. Letalu scored this one but set up the next with a kick of his own.
A smart chip kick over the Marymount defense was just what wing Jeremaiah Tamepo was after, scooping it up and scoring in the right corner.
Marymount halfback Joey Sankey struck to draw closer at 16-6. He sliced open Keebra’s brick wall of defence with his dazzling footwork, before slamming the ball down emphatically.
A double from Tamepo sent Keebra into the sheds with a comfortable 14 point lead. A lovely swing of the steden through the backline saw Letalu, halfback Jaxen Yow, and centre Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki all touch the ball before Tamepo was given the finishing duties.
Keebra centre Dorian Lotaki extended the lead at 26-6 with a powerful dummy half scoot.
After some intense end-to-end footy, Lotaki picked up his second, receiving a bullet pass from Yow.
Yow set up the next moments later, with second rower Seth Nikotemo the benefactor.
Baruani scored the final try of the day to give Keebra a convincing 34 point victory.
Letalu found Lotaki in the air with a cross field kick and an impossivle offload from there saw Keebra cap off a strong win to avenge last week’s upset loss at the hands of Mabel Park.
WAVELL SHS v MARSDEN SHS
The best match was saved until last as Marsden SHS clinched victory over Wavell SHS in a thriller sudden death thriller.
Queensland winger Haizyn Mellars crossed six minutes from the end to complete Marsden’s recovery from a 12-nil deficit to win 16-12.
Wavell had inched their way ahead in the momentum battle midway through the second half, twice almost breaking a 12-all deadline.
Warriors hooker Jai Camilleri produced a trademark dummy half dart to almost score, and another time when big centre Amos Tuialli charged for all he was worth at the line.
But Marsden, having defended stoutly, made the most of their visit into the attacking zone with a wide right shift to Mellars who scored.
Wavell then had one more tilt at the line, but a dropped ball quelled their push for victory in a ripping final.
In the first quarter of the match Wavell made thr running.
Warriors five-eight Karl Oloapu can be shock and awe with his dynamic running, but he has plenty of deft touches in his game which was on show early.
He had a hand in the first two tries - both superbly finished by his wingers, a leaping Mark Tuialli and a sprinting Tyreece Tait who put the afterburners on in a 50m dash to the line.
Oloapu also created two other half chances, one of which was saved when Marsden winger Teapo Stoltman dragged in Tait as he looked trybound.
Wavell SHS’s left edge Loto Salei, now a goal kicking forward, also had a big start alongside centre Po Hotere-Papalii and it was all systems go for the Warriors across the opening 20 minutes.
Down 12-nil, momentum was against Marsden and they just had to be the next to score.
A turnover on halfway, after Wavell had again attacked a wide blindside on the edge, resulted in some bash and bash by Marsden which gave hooker Jacob Tinsley field position to scurry over and score.
It was 12-6 and then 12-10 when Marsden SHS winger Haizyn Mellars got a try back, grasping a super long ball from Coby Black to hug the sideline in a sprint to the corner and score.
Then came the gripping tug-of-war second half, ending with Mellars crossing for his second try.
Although they scored 16 points, it was Marsden defence which won the game for them.
THE PREVIEW
Ipswich SHS
Unbeaten Ipswich SHS can’t fly under the radar. Seven games don’t lie and through it all they have found a way to win, including last week against Marsden SHS They deserve favouritism.
Keebra Park SHS
Failed to finish on in round 7 and faded to be the victim of the upset of the season by ninja like Mabel Park SHS. Since beating Marsden SHS in round 3 Keebra had assumed second favouritism and that does not change despite last week’s stumble. We are prepared to forgive one bad run.
PBC SHS
The old pro, coach Tim Maccan, has his group primed and ready to go. He and several key players have been to the big dance before and know their way to the winners post. They have the equal best player in the competition in Keano Kini, but also watch for under rated halve Josh Lynn and dummy half Tanu Nona to shine a lantern down the home stretch.
Marsden Park SHS
They have recovered from a round 1 thrashing at the hands of PBC SHS to work their way through the field after settling on a line-up post school holidays. Although they lost to Ipswich SHS, Marsden’s reputation was enhanced, not blemished.
RELATED LINKS
IPSWICH SHS’S STUNNING LATE WIN REPLAY
Wavell SHS
Hands up who wants to play a Karl Oloapu-led Wavell in a final? No one. Oloapu is that good, all the home work and tip sheets mean little. It is one thing knowing what he might do, it is another stopping him. His individual, grubber kick try last weekend was out of this world.
Mabel Park SHS
Goodness, who saw last weekend’s upset against Keebra Park coming? Timing is everything in sport and the Mabel Park boys will stride onto Bishop Park today brimming with confidence. They simply cannot be discounted against PBC SHS.
Marymount College
New chums Marymount have the task of toppling Gold Coast cousins Keebra Park SHS. It is no easy task, but we liked their ball control and defence in last weekend’s qualifying win over Stretton State College. They played good, steady finals football – a style that gets results when the whips are cracking.
THE TEAMS
IPSWICH SHS v COOMBABAH SHS
Ipswich: Ipswich SHS: 1. Tyler Peckham-Harris 2. Kulu Baruani 3. Caleb Jackson 4. Tre Fotu 5. Anton Naiyep, 6. James Frazer 7. Jalen Afamasaga 8. Ahmani Leilua 9. Tommy Luhrman 15. Josiah Pahulu, 11. Xavier Sofeni, 12. Oliva Iaulualo 13. Jack Laing 14. Gabriel Satrick 16. Rene Bagon 10. Loko Tonga 17. Joven Gyemore
Coombabah SHS: 1. Shannon Donaldson, 2. Ryan McCann, 3. Kane Garland, 4. Izayah Petricevich, 5. Hunter Innes, 6. Jhett Pilcher, 7. Jaxon Denny, 8. Boston Riggs-Albert, 9. Braydan Wong, 10. K-ci Whare, 11. Kyen Murphy, 12. Dwayne Ckwan-Fuimaono, 13. Junior Filimaua, 14. Mokena Marsh, 15. Tyreese Gould-Waiariki,16. Jason Firth, 17. Neziah Patuua, 18. Tom McKenna.
PALM BEACH CURRUMBIN SHS v MABEL PARK SHS
Mabel Park SHS: 1. Tevita Holaafolau, 2. Luke Bossons, 3. Elijah Mikaio, 4. Melchizadek Laumatia, 5. Elijah Tagiilima, 6. Kena Finau, 7. Julian Drinnan, 8. Hamuera Kingi, 9. Daytona Tupuhi-Taoho, 10. Alex Leapai, 11. Marley Lupeomanu, 12. Tarawa Latu, 13. Louruce Brown, 14. Jordan Kake, 15. Sylus I’liga, 16. Fiva Taumaletila, 17. Te Hataterehapaerau Reid, 19. Deniro Seumanutafa.
PBC SHS: 1 Keano Kini, 2 Blake Forder, 3 Barney Litidamu, 4 Cooper Cambey, 5 Jett Forbes, 6 Josh Lynn, 7 Zane Harrison, 8 Isaiah Scanlan, 9 Tanu Nona, 10 Jett Jackson, 11 Jac Finnigan, 12 Will Taylor, 13 Reico Ratana, 14 Bailey McConnell, 15 Jackson Le Pou, 16 Jaylen Taewa, 17 Cooper Wolf, 18. Caleb Te Mono, 19. Jakeem Thompson, 20. Baylen Donald
KEEBRA SHS v MARYMOUNT COLLEGE
Marymount College: 1. Marc Thompson, 2. Ben Radler, 3. Cooper Bai 3, 4. Philip Coates, 5. Ryder Damro, 6. Jimi Pedlow, 7. Joey Sankey, 8. Kyden Ring, 9. Jaykob Brown, 10. Trei Tobin, 11. Sam McAllister, 12. Tallas Abell, 13. Taj Harris, 14. Zac Hughes, 15. Jye Watton, 16. Michael Browne, 17. Paddy Gilbert
Keebra Park: 1. Karauria Stokes, 2. Munga Baruani, 3. Dorian Lotaki, 4. Taniela Mapusua-Lotaki, 5. Jeremaiah Tamepo, 6. Jodeci Letalu, 7. Jaxen Yow, 8. Jared Johnson, 9. Tyrell Waaka Rhind, 10. Eli Tuli, 11. Seth Nikotemo, 12. EJ Finau, 13. Arama Hau (C), 14. Xavier Asi, 15. Lokea Motufoua, 16. Carlos Pauli, 17. Wailer Whaiapu, 18. Kobie Mackey-Taylor, 19. Immanuel Kalekale, 20. PJ Poutasi
MARSDEN SHS v WAVELL SHS
Wavell SHS: 1. Josh Callaghan, 2. Mark Tuialli, 3. Amos Tuialli, 4. Po Hotere-Papalii, 5. Tyreece Tait, 6. Karl Oloapu, 7. Jayden Ambichi, 8. Ben Uini, 9. Jai Camilleri, 10. Damascus Neemia, 11. Loto Salei, 12. Naz Taua, 13. Jayden Butt, 14. Abel Lote, 15. Bristowe Murray, 16. Ethan Jones, 17. Christian Tuala
Marsden SHS: 1. Apa Twidle, 2. Haizyn Mellars, 3. Devonte Vaivela, 4. Will Semu, 5 Teapo Stoltman, 6. Cody Hamilton, 7. Coby Black, 8. Harry Durbin, 9. Jacob Tinsley, 10. Mou Taumaletila-Maulolo, 11. Braden Teuila, 12. Te Anau Graham Papalii, 13. Chris Faagutu (c), 14 KylemVunipola, 15. Mana Whakatau, 17. Cairo Rangihuni-Ruri, 16. 18. Bailey Trew 19. Taelon Te Whiu Hopa
TODAY’S LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE
NRL Schoolboys Cup quarterfinals
11am: Ipswich SHS vs Coombabah SHS
12.30pm: Palm Beach Currumbin SHS vs Mabel Park SHS
2pm: Keebra Park SHS vs Marymount College
3.30pm: Marsden SHS vs Wavell SHS
Then on August 17-18, stay tuned for the www.couriermail.com.au, the Gold Coast Bulletin and News’ affiliates streaming the Langer reserve and Walters Cup semi-finals, and then the grand finals on August 14.
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