Iona College now one match from winning the premiership
The AIC First XIII rugby league round 6 Players of the Day revealed as Iona College moved closer to the outright premiership after a local derby win.
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Powerhouse Iona College have one hand and three fingers on the AIC First XIII rugby league outright premiership cup after a local derby win over arch rivals Villanova on Saturday at Runcorn.
Unbeaten Iona College won 34-6, and will claim the outright title if the players beat St Patrick’s this Saturday. At worst they will share the premiership with second placed Ashgrove, but Iona were the hottest of favourites.
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Iona have been the pace setters all season with a side that would not be out of place competing in the esteemed Meninga Cup under-19 club rugby league competition.
St Patrick’s College, with the likes of Maddocks, Leis and Taylor leading the way, will not go down without a fight but Iona will be odds on favourites to ensure they did not share the title.
In other matches yesterday, St Edmund’s College and St Patrick’s played out a thrilling 22-all draw, while Marist College Ashgrove defeated St Laurence’s 36-6.
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Iona warmed up for the final match with a compelling win against stoic rivals Villanova.
Iona scored in the opening minute when Fonoga Tuitahi raced away to score after his hooker Ezekiel Jones had scampered from the ruck to give his side momentum.
The impressive Cooper Benvenuti then provided the front foot ball for his team’s second try which enabled Levi Hawea to find interchange king Hopa Leota who scored with his first touch.
Iona led 16-nil at halftime and scored straight after the break to make it 22-nil after a sublime chip kick by Hawea bounced favourably for Ewan Fisher which led to a snappy interchange of passing between Mu Quai and Campbell Rolfe.
Fast developing centre Connor Quinn then produced some magic, but Villa kept plugging away and deservedly fullback Nate Wallin scored.
Villanova coach Michael Cahill was rightly proud of his young team’s endeavour against the competition’s best played in summer heat. But he also doffed his hat to the quality of the Iona side.
Marist College Ashgrove, a meritorious second to Iona this season, defeated St Laurence’s College 36-6.
“I liked how everyone stuck to the process and did their job,’’ said Ashgrove co-coach Dallas Williams.
“We were down 6-nil early and did really well in tough conditions.”
There was so much to talk about in the Paddies-Eddies’ fixture, a game which saw St Pat’s soar to a 22-4 lead before a ATC’s recovery.
Eddies actually started the better of the teams, but St Pat’s found some groove on the back of a high competition rate which contributed to the healthy lead.
However, St Pat’s ball control deserted them and when Eddies’ generated a 60m intercept try, momentum shifted.
Eddies’finished the game full of running in the final 10 minutes.
“We would like to acknowledge the way Eddies’ refused to go away and some of their players were outstanding,’’ said St Pat’s coach Brian Pollich.
St Edmund’s coach Lachlan Trenerry said after putting themselves under pressure, the side was always confident of scoring points if they controlled the ball. “I am glad we were resilient enough to turn the momentum and get ourselves back in the game after starting the second half poorly.
Players of the Round
Iona v Villanova
Fononga Tuitahi (Iona)
The mobile middle was on song yesterday in blinding heat with his energy, agility and persistence winning his side the battle during his two stints.
Levi Hawea (Iona College)
Halfback Hawea has been one of the players of the competition with his ability to execute given the advantage handed to him by his forwards. He is a running and passing threat, particularly when combining with the equally impressive Tyler Periera.
Nate Wallin (Villanova)
He was a mighty mite in the last line of defence making three try saving tackles when all seemed lost. Wallin Meredith also found the energy in the second half to sniff out his team’s only try.
Tristian Macdonald (Iona)
Macdonald has impressed all season, using his big body as a back field battering ram, while expertly finishing when he turns half chances into tries.
Campbell Rolfe (Iona)
Rolfe is a perfect foil to Hawea, a calming influence who decides best how to capitalise on the Hawea’s quick movements either with his own run, draw and pass at the line or early of load.
Christian Porreca (Villnova)
The tall prop gave Villa a big lift when he entered the fray and matched it physically with the imposing Iona pack. In demanding heat his fitness shone through.
Ezekiel Jones and Hayden Castner (Iona)
Iona have a good one here in dummy half Jones whose footy smarts and service from the ruck gives Iona an early advantage, while Castner adds to Iona’s performance whenever he comes onto the field. Castner was close to Iona’s very best yesterday.
Sam Binney (Villanova)
The big blokes radiator would have been overheating but he produced his normal, big hearted, second effort performance. He has been close to Villa’s player of the season across the league and First XV rugby this season.
Ashgrove v St Laurence’s
Jasper Barry (Marist)
The big bloke cut an inspiring figure on Saturday when he played big minutes in the middle. He help Ash recover from an early front.
Justin Wilson (St Laurence’s)
Wilson raised the tempo for his side with two wonderful stints when he aggressively took on the Ashgrove pack and tried to sway the match with momentum swinging runs.
Lachie McCall (Marist)
Another of the competition’s best players, McCall threatened with his running game and decision making around the ruck, while being a workhorse in defence.
Liam O’Callaghan (St Laurence’s)
Some people count sheep to try and get to sleep. We are sure O’Callaghan counts tackles. The bloke is an absolute defensive warrior who never backs down.
Liam Rice and Xavier Howard (Marist)
Rice and Howard proved a double threat coming out of their defensive end of the field and both big hearted boys deserve high praise.
St Patrick’s v St Edmund’s
Riley Horn and Jyhe Leis (St Patrick’s)
Paddies had plenty of players who did well in fits and starts with bright matches, but the outstanding Leis and half Horn went the distance of the marathon.
Patrick Albion (St Edmund’s)
The five-eight played tough and direct, going deep into the line where he’d take a hit to get his team going forward. His courage and ball playing created two tries.
Harry Vidler (St Edmund’s)
Playing on the edge, second rower Vidler ran good lines in support of Albion and it was his 40m try which ignited Eddies’ recovery.
Connor Gordon and Seb Kracht (St Edmund’s)
Both bench middle forwards, the boys impacted the match with their defensive work rates and energy around the play the ball which saw their side gather momentum from the ruck.
Special mentions: Denzel Savelino, Abrahim Huxtable, Archie Maddocks (St Patrick’s).
Round 7, hosted by Ashgrove
St Peters v Villanova
St Patrick’s Iona
Padua v St Laurence’s
Marist v St Edmund’s
Originally published as Iona College now one match from winning the premiership
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