WATCH THE REPLAYS: Wavell SHS v PBC in the Langer Cup and Walters Cup
In a gripping Langer Cup match, Wavell SHS and Palm Beach played out a draw tonight in Wavell Heights. Read our full match report of this absolute cliffhanger. WATCH THE REPLAYS OF BOTH LANGER AND WALTERS CUP MATCHES HERE.
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Palm Beach Currumbin and Wavell State High School produced an old fashioned rugby league cliffhanger in a drawn Langer Cup thriller tonight at Wavell Heights.
Reigning champions PBC and emerging young guns Wavell left nothing in the tank in a seesawing encounter worthy of an elimination final.
SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH THE WALTERS CUP REPLAY
With the scores locked at 18-all, both teams tried to position themselves for the winning play, but to no avail.
WATCH REPLAY: Titans rookie shines in Palm Beach Currumbin win
RELATED LINK: Can Wavell SHS produce another upset win?
REPLAY: School Footy Show
Wavell can thank fullback Corey Thomas for his two try-saving tackles while Kallum Stacey’s blazing individual try from nowhere was instrumental in Wavell breaking even on the scoreboard.
PBC, composed for so much of the game, lost their way slightly in possession in the championship minutes as full time loomed but there was no lack of effort from the PBC boys.
PBC coach Brad Davis said a draw was probably a fair result and praised his team’s defence.
“Proud of the defensive effort and a lot of boys did not play last week so for them that was their first game,’’ he said, lamenting the attack for not being able to finish a couple of chances.
What a great game it was.
Twice PBC interchange forward Oskar Bryant crossed to score, with his second try coming after PBC had been gift-wrapped possession with a penalty.
Bryant’s swivelling try allowed the coast side to lead 16-12 with 20 minutes remaining and the stage was a set for a thriller.
Advantaged by yet another penalty, PBC almost second from the next set from the restart, but Wavell fullback Thomas came up with his second try saving tackle.
Then came Stacey’s withering sideline run from 60m out to score, and with his sideline goal it was 18-16 with 10 minutes to play.
It was another grand effort by a rookie Wavell team who are now unbeaten after playing heavyweights PBC and Keebra Park, while PBC will only get better for the run.
There is still plenty to play out in this competition.
The first half sin-binning of PBC second rower Ezra Ubaldino proved decisive earlier in the game after PBC had started well in the first half.
PBC five-eighth Ryan Rivett was like a puppeteer with his kicking game, deftly placing the ball to the corners and occasionally attacking with a short kick.
PBC lead 6-nil and although far from dominant, did deserve the advantage.
But Ubaldino’s critical tackle on threatening Wavell fullback Thomas and subsequent sin-binning aided Wavell.
In Ubaldino’s absence Wavell, having earnt the right to challenge PBC through composure and excellent ball control, scored twice to lead 12-6.
However 90 seconds before PBC halftime replacement Bryant used his fresh legs to advantage to score and narrow the gap to Wavell 12, PBC 10.
After a nervous start to the match Wavell SHS settled to almost score first when dummy half and captain Josh Pese scurried down the blindside.
But it was PBC who got on the scoreboard, with the probing kicking game of five-eighth Rivett paying dividends.
Rivett lobbed a beautifully placed chip kick over Wavell’s heads and into space where his winger Xavier Savage flashed onto the ball to score.
A sprint champion, Savage moved like lightning to grasp the ball and plunge over.
Wavell then settled again and with improved ball control they gained parity in the battle for territory, but the PBC defence was well organised and making telling first contact.
With Rivett’s kicking game steering his team, PBC were on top and almost scored when fullback Jack Smith sliced through out wide.
But across came his counterpart Thomas bundled him into touch as a try beckoned.
Momentum shifted when Wavell’s Jayden Smith made a break and found support from Thomas.
Thomas was brought down by Ubaldino but he lay on the tackled player, leading to the important sin binning.
Wavell then took advantage of a man down to score a converted try and it was 6-all with halftime looming.
Revitalised, and playing against 12 men, Wavell maintained momentum and after being blown a penalty, the side was on the attack again.
After a series of crash balls, Wavell half Jalen Afamasaga shifted the ball left to powerful centre Prinston Esera who crashed over.
REPLAY: WAVELL V PBC IN THE WALTER’S CUP
TODAY’S GAMES
4pm St Mary’s v Ipswich Langer Cup at Clive Berghofer
4pm Keebra Park v Marsden Yr 10
4pm Wavell v PBC Yr 10 at Wavell SHS