Replay: Watch the full replay of Iona v Padua in the AIC league

Iona College has held off Padua in a thriller at Curlew Park, with the son of a former Bronco scoring twice for the winenrs. Watch the full replay of the match here.

The son of former Broncos utility John Plath helped Iona College shake up the inaugural AIC rugby league competition with a Round 1 upset over Confraternity Carnival semi-finalists Padua College.

Iona’ 18-16 win included two tries by fullback Max Plath in the opening round at Curlew Park, Shorncliffe.

Max Plath in action for the Queensland Schoolboys. Picture: Paul Seiser, SPA Images

Plath’s second try early in the second half pushed Iona to an 18-4 lead but they had to withstand another comeback from the Padua escape artists.

At Confraternity Carnival three weeks ago, Padua stormed back from a 0-18 deficit against powerhouse St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon, to qualify for the semi-finals.

They looked set to escape again today when Iona was down to 12 men with six minutes remaining.

● REPLAY: Padua College v Iona College Grade 9

● REPLAY: Padua College v Iona College Grade 10

After some bone-rattling defence from Padua forward Poasi Manu, the brother of NRL forward Sika Manu, Padua had two prime opportunities in the final minutes only for the attack to break down on the last play.

Iona College coach Chris McKenna, a former Queensland State of Origin star, praised his players for their commitment in a fine opening to the competition.

“A credit to Padua College because they kept coming at us and we were never comfortable,” McKenna said.

“I was proud of our guys. We had some injuries today and some guys had to play more minutes than expected but they dug deep.”

Halfback Kynan Barlow was among Iona’s best in a result that will be considered an upset given Padua had finished fourth at Confraternity Carnival and Iona was 11th.

St Patrick’s College, a 10th place finisher at Confro, emerged from a close match with a 30-12 win over St Laurence’s College.

In today’s other match, Villanova College defeated St Edmund’s College 46-22 while Marist College Ashgrove had a bye.

St Patrick’s were well served by fullback William Boland, who was chosen in the Confraternity Carnival representative team.

He scored a try in the 53rd minute which broke a 12-all deadlock before the home team added tries in the 58th and 59th minutes.

St Edmund’s opened the scoring against Villanova with a try in the eighth minute before Villanova, which did not compete at the Confraternity Carnival, scored some excellent long-range tries.

FULL AIC RUGBY LEAGUE OPEN RESULTS

Iona College 18 d Padua College 16

St Patrick’s College 30 d St Laurence’s College 12

Villanova College 46 d St Edmund’s College 22