Blackhawks Trophy round 2: Charters Towers schools stunned in Townsville

Ryan Catholic College and Gilroy Santa Maria both pulled off impressive upsets as the parity of the Blackhawks Trophy continues to grow. See our Team of the Week for round 2.

Gilroy Santa Maria College notched their first ever win in the Townsville Blackhawks Schoolboys Trophy during round 2. Picture: Evan Morgan

Ryan Catholic College continued its fantastic start to the Blackhawks Trophy with 16-14 victory against 2023 runners-up All Souls St Gabriel’s School.

A tryscoring double and 12-point haul from Ryan five-eighth Bradely Pilchowski ensured the Townsville school would remain at the top of the standings following a tough game hampered by difficult windy conditions.

Both teams started scrappily and struggled to complete sets, forcing the boys in the middle to earn their keep in defence.

The All Souls goal line defence was particularly inspiring until Pilchowski took on the line during a short-side raid and came up trumps with the game’s opening try, duly converted by the No.6.

Five minutes later Ryan were in again, this time through classy centre Cooper Treveton, but the visitors were able to hit back with two tries of their own in the closing stages of the half to fight their way back into the contest.

Ball control was far better after the break and All Souls hit the lead with 15 minutes to go when replacement dummy half Sam Cowan scored in his debut game for the school.

Once more Pilchowski shouldered the responsibility for his team, taking it upon himself to break the game open and score the matchwinner with less than two minutes to play.

Bradley Pilchowski was a standout for Ryan. Ryan Catholic College will contest the NQISSRL Blackhawks Schoolboy Trophy in the u15 Grand Final on Wednesday, June 7. Picture: Supplied.

Ryan Catholic College coach Annan Whittington said he spoke to his team about avoiding complacency following their 30-0 triumph in Anzac Round.

“We needed to start again and earn the right against ASSG (All Souls), but the lads were most definitely in second gear throughout the first half,” Whittington said.

“When Souls hit the lead, the message was to continue to get to shape and double up to test their short sides.

“We finally capitalised on this with five-eighth Bradley Pilchowski breaking the game open with two minutes remaining to put us in the lead.”

GILROY SANTA MARIA COLLEGE def. BLACKHEATH AND THORNBURGH COLLEGE 22-14

Gilroy Santa Maria College claimed its first win in the Townsville Blackhawks Schoolboy Trophy after taking down Charters Towers school Blackheath and Thornburgh College (BTC) 22-14 on Tuesday afternoon.

BTC hit first but then it was one-way traffic going the other way as Gilroy scored 22 unanswered points to take control of the match.

Gilroy’s winger Nathan Venturato and backrower Jaia Poppi each scored twice on the way to victory while halfback Josh Venables was once again one of his school’s best in the pivotal role.

Multiple linebreaks from Shaun Devietti in the opening stages were finished off by Venturato, while quick hands from fullback Matthew Spina put Pierce Carrara over for his first try of the year.

Blackheath and Thornburgh had to claw its way back into the contest with a couple of second half four-pointers but it was too little too late.

Gilroy Santa Maria coach Matthew Spina credited his team for showing up after they had to battle adversity on the training paddock with perpetual rainfall forcing the boys to train on just one third of a football field in the lead-up to Tuesday’s match.

“I was very happy with how the boys played today,” Spina said.

“Josh Venables led us around the park from halfback, with Dallas Brown’s strong defence and Jack Butcher’s attack out of dummy half being notable plays.”

Originally published as Blackhawks Trophy round 2: Charters Towers schools stunned in Townsville