WATCH THE REPLAY: St Mary’s v Mabel Park in the Langer Trophy
Mabel Park were too good for St Mary’s to clinch the final available spot in this year’s Langer Trophy schoolboy footy competition. WATCH THE REPLAY!
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Sydney Roosters signing Alex Leapai lead Mabel Park SHS’s charge in today’s schoolboy Langer Trophy qualifying clash against St Mary’s College.
News Corp livestreamed the schoolboy game as part of it’s bumper commitment which will see more games broadcast on its streaming service across the Langer Trophy, Dolphins Cup and Payne Cups this season than ever before.
WATCH THE LIVE STREAM IN THE PLAYER ABOVE FROM 3PM
Mabel Park ran away from St Mary’s to clinch the eighth and final position in the Langer Trophy competition for 2022.
This was after Redcliffe qualified for position No.7 after defeating Caloundra SHS.
The six other teams automatically qualified for the Langer Trophy were Palm Beach Currumbin SHS, Marsden SHS, Ipswich SHS, Coombabah SHS, Wavell SHS and Keebra Park SHS.
MATCH REPORT
Mabel Park SHS were Langer Trophy bound after a 26-6 win over St Mary’s College in Ipswich today.
With pile driving running from prop Alex Leapai giving his team a platform, the athletic Mabel Park forward pack produced plenty of grunt and momentum.
Mabel Park SHS now join PBC SHS, Keebra Park SHS, Coombabah SHS, Ipswich SHS, Wavell Park SHS, Marsden SHS and Redcliffe SHS in the Langer Trophy competition starting on June 1.
Mabel Park SHS coach Ben Weston was delighted and relieved given the ball his team turned over. “I am very happy but there is more relief than anything else,’’ Weston said.
“I am excited for the season ahead. I think we can put a dent in the competition.’’
St Mary’s were not light years off despite the scoreline. Indeed they had three genuine chances to cross the line across the first 35 minutes, but a lost ball plagued them when they needed to super glue possession to their fingers.
Mabel Park SHS, on the other hand, held enough ball to generate pressure.
Behind their pack halves Julian Drinnan and Steven Walsh ran or passed their side into attack while the footwork and power of back rowers Melchizadek Laumatai, Louruce Brown and Marley Lupeomanu threatened.
Mabel Park SHS prop Leapai was enormous in thumping his team forward, and he displayed the fitness of a marathon man to push well into the second half before having a breather.
High praise also to St Mary’s utility forward Harry Schwenke who, playing prop, tried to spark his side with agility and effort.
The match was played in great spirit and St Mary’s were happy to mingle with their opponents after, wishing them good luck.
Scores: Mabel Park SHS 26 (A Pahulu 2,M Laumatai 2, A Leapai tries; T Reid 2 conv, E Mikaio conv) def St Mary’s College 6 (L Hilton try; Tate Cameron conv).
HALF-TIME MATCH REPORT
Two tries in two minutes by Melchizadek Laumatia handed Mabel Park SHS a 10-nil lead after 15 minutes, and another from winger Atumasia Pahulu made it 16-nil at half time.
Laumatia opened the scoring with a superb solo try on the fifth tackle when he took on the line after being isolated on the right edge.
Then 90 seconds later he passed and wrapped around his centre Kena Finau to score in the corner.
Mabel Park’s Te Hataterehapaerau Reid kicked one of the conversions and Mabel led 10-nil.
Mabel Park looked the more threatening of the teams early, although it was Botrus Dokshen who went closest to scoring for St Mary’s when he stepped and jinked to within centimetres of white chalk.
St Mary’s best player across the first half, mobile prop Harry Schwenke, then dropped the ball as he reached out to score, leading to a turnover which led to Mabel Park SHS scoring a 90m try.
From the scrum Mabel Park SHS’s Daytona Tupuhi-Taoho burst into the clear.
It looked for a moment as he might have gone all the way, but as he was tackled winger Atumasia Pahulu loomed in support to score under the posts.
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MATCH PREVIEW
In a boost for Mabel Park SHS’s Langer seniors entering the clash with St Mary’s, the school’s year 7, 8, 9 and 10A teams have all qualified for their respective Broncos Cup competitions.
Leapai, the son of former world heavyweight boxing contender Alex “Lionheart’’ Leapai, said it was inspiring to know the younger age group teams were confirmed in the top division competitions this season.
“To hear the juniors have qualified for the Broncos competitions is not only inspirational for the (junior) boys, but also for me,’’ Leapai said.
“It says a lot about the school and the resilience the school has and shows our school is a school that never gives.’’
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LANGER QUALIFYING ROUND PLAYERS TO WATCH
SPEED DEMONS OF THE MENINGA, CONNELL AND HARVEY 19s
Standing 193cm tall and weighing 119kg, Leapai is both an on-field and spiritual leader of a group who are in awe of his early career achievements in snaring a contract with NRL glamour side the Roosters.
“I look up to Alex. A lot of the older boys do,’’ said fellow student Benji Quinlan.
Mabel Park SHS lower secondary players Jordan Tuuga-Stevenson, Riley Baker, Benji Quinlan and Daniel Ratuere said it was exciting to have the Year 7, 8, 9 and 10 teams qualify for the top tier schoolboy competitions, and hoped the Langer squad did the same.
Riley Baker said having teams in all top tier competitions this season was “a big stepping stone for the school’’.
“We are on the up at the moment and being in all four of our grades of the Broncos Cup improves our whole school all together. Playing Langer last year also gave everyone a boost.’’
Quinlan added that “making the Langer last season was a confidence boost and showed we can achieve more this year.’’
RELATED LINKS
NRL QLD SIGNINGS SET FOR TAKE-OFF IN 2022
SPEED DEMON TEENS SIGNED BY THE NRL
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St Mary’s first qualified for Langer in 2019 and has some greats as old boys – from Kangaroos’ captain of the 1920s Tom Gorman through to Johnathan Thurston.
But the Walker brothers, Jaiman and Ben Lowe, Ethan Lowe, Corey Paix (Broncos), Jake Simpkin (West Tigers), Xavier Va’a (Roosters) and Jordan Lipp (Cowboys) are also all old boys, highlighting more elite talent.
“It would mean a lot to our community both past and present (to remain in the Langer),’’ said coach and teacher Louis Reen.
“St Mary’s has a strong connection to the regions rugby league identity and the competition gives us the chance to access the strongest competition in the South East corner.
“We also recognise that to qualify in 2022 we need to be at our best. Mabel Park are a quickly developing powerhouse as seen in our junior competitions and they will be stronger in 2022 with the added maturity of their squad.’’
THE TEAMS
St Mary’s College
1. Cruz Williamson, 2. Tarrant Whittingham, 3. Klayton Pickering, 4. Harry Eyers, 5. Tate Cameron, 6. Bailey Nash, 7. Jack Durrie, 8. TBC, 9. Koby Timms, 10. Harrison Schwenke, 11. Jai Purser, 12. Zac Brown, 13. Lachlan Hilton, 14. Manson Caromody, 15. Botrus Dokshen, 17. Noah Rogers, 18. Matt Simpkin.
Mabel Park SHS
1. Te Hataterehapaerau Reid, 2. Atunaisa Pahulu, 3. Elijah Mikaio, 4. Kena Finau, 5. Elijah Tagiilima, 6. Steven Walsh, 7. Julian Drinnan, 8. Deniro Seumanutafa, 9. Daytona Tupuhi-Taoho, 10. Alex Leapai, 11. Marley Lupeomanu, 12. Melchizadek Laumatia, 13. Louruce Brown, 14. Tevita Holaafolau, 15. Hamuera Kingi, 16. Tarawa Latu, 17. Danny Ierome, 18th man: Fiva Taumaletila, 19th man: Sylus I’liga
Livestream schedule
Wednesday, 3pm:
Mabel Park SHS v St Mary’s College
June 1: Start of Langer Trophy, Walters Cup
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