Live stream: Hallam v Manor Lakes, Mt Ridley v Vic Uni Secondary – Storm Cup, Round 3
Hallam has shown no mercy in a ruthless shutdown of Manor Lakes while a big second half from one side separated Mt Ridley and The Grange. Watch the Storm Cup replays.
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A ruthless Hallam Secondary College has flexed its muscle over Manor Lakes in a staggering Storm Cup scoreline.
The competition’s early season pacesetters were relentless, piling on try after try at Seabrook Reserve to record a monster 86-0 victory.
Their clash was one of two Storm Cup matches broadcast on KommunityTV on Wednesday, with The Grange defeating Mount Ridley in the second of the double-header.
Watch replays of both matches in the players above and below.
REPLAY: MOUNT RIDLEY v THE GRANGE
Hallam looked set for a big day right from the beginning as errors and penalties plagued Manor Lakes in the opening possessions.
And Hallam made no mistake in capitalising with Ezekiel Tausili, Alipate Vaka, Izaac Batey and Waka Brown Rapana Edwards crossing in the first 15 minutes.
Waka Hammond then made it five tries five minutes later when he breezed through the Manor Lakes defence – almost untouched – from inside his own half.
The under fire Manor Lakes got some unexpected respite early in the second half when Seabrook Reserve’s automated sprinkler system kicked into gear and held the match up for almost 10 minutes.
But the Storm Cup newcomers’ rest was short lived as Hallam put the foot back down with four consecutive tries in a matter of minutes which all went the length of the field.
Among them was the try of the day from Hammond, the star fullback chasing down a Batey kick for a spectacular score.
In the second clash, Mount Ridley and The Grange went toe-to-toe before the latter broke the match open with a superb second half.
Scores were locked on 12-all at the break but The Grange showed its class to run out 42-18 victors.
CHECK OUT THE STORM CUP ROUND 3 LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE BELOW
PREVIEW
They are the wheeling and dealing duo in the middle of the field, which could hold the key for Hallam’s opportunity to finish the Storm Cup undefeated.
Hallam College coach Janan Billings has identified emerging front row duo Phoenix Woods and Ezekiel Tausili as the linchpin players for his side ahead of a third-round showdown against Storm Cup newcomers Manor Lakes P-12 College.
The clash will be part of a huge Storm Cup double header, which includes the clash between Mount Ridley and The Grange, exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV on Wednesday, May 22.
Hallam have been the early standard bearers of the Storm Cup this season, with the impressive squad notching back-to-back wins over rivals The Grange and reigning champions Victoria Uni Secondary College.
But it has been the way in which they secured those wins which has turned plenty of heads, with the free-flowing style netting them an average of four tries a game.
While the skilful players out the back of the shape might usually take centre stage in a free-flowing attack, Billings said it was his two big men in the middle who were key to their success.
“The combination of them in the middle of the park, knowing when to run and knowing when to pass, it has been key for us,” Billings said.
“Their decision making in general in the games when we have had the ball has been great. When they are going deep into the line, knowing when to pass or just hold the ball and charge is massive. When they get those moments right, it gets the whole team on the front foot.
“We like to play an expansive type of footy where the boys go out and use the ball. With the way we play, those forwards become a link from our ruck to our backs.”
Billings said he had trusted his front rowers to act as first receivers and had worked tirelessly in pre-season to help them develop a passing game as part of their emergence as well-rounded players.
“A lot of teams just want front rowers to go forward and get quick play the balls and roll off the back of that, we want them to be more than that,” he said.
“We want a winning mentality but if we can also create a better-rounded footballer in our program than we will be successful.”
MISSED ANY OF THE STORM CUP ACTION IN 2024? SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE, RESULTS AND LINKS TO REPLAYS BELOW
Manor Lakes had a tough initiation into the elite Schoolboys Cup competition after struggling to contain Victoria University fullback Jethro Scanlan.
Fresh off his five-try haul last round, Scanlan will line up at the back for his school in their clash with Mount Ridley
Scanlan, who was part of Hallam’s NRL Schoolboys Trophy success last year, has also been selected in a 34-man extended squad for the Combined Affiliated Schools trial match.
The squad will be split into two even teams to play in a trial game, a curtain raiser for State of Origin II at the MCG on June 26, with the squad reduced to 20 after that game ahead of the ASSRL National Championships in July.
The CAS extended squad features a host of Storm Cup talent including 12 players from Hallam College.