Live stream: Marsden entertain unbeaten leaders Ipswich in big Langer Trophy showdown

High-flying Ipswich SHS have racked up their seventh successive win, but it’s been far from easy against Marsden SHS in their Langer Trophy game. Watch that plus full Walters Cup REPLAY.

Ipswich SHS has defended its unbeaten winning streak from deep behind enemy lines in Logan on Wednesday night, beating a revved up Marsden SHS 26-10.

Although Ipswich finished with a seventh successive win, their players will wake bruised after the Marsden SHS pack aimed up, time and again.

It was only a brilliant individual try from Ipswich hooker Sam Martin which handed his side the chance to lead 6-4 at halftime.

REPLAYS

Marsden SHS v Ipswich SHS - Langer Trophy Round 6

Watch the full replay in the window above.

Marsden SHS v Ipswich SHS - Walters Cup Round 6

It then took one of Ipswich’s pet plays this season, a inside ball from hooker Martin to his runaway prop Xzavier Timoteo, to finally put Marsden to sleep six minutes from the end after Marsden had closed the gap to 18-10. Timoteo’s try made it 22-10.

Marsden prop Levi Rusin set the scene with a rocking early tackle on Ipswich SHS forward battleship, captain Timoteo, which forced a turnover.

Rusin bellowed at his forwards, “let’s go”, with a roar that echoed around the ground.

Unlike last week against PBC SHS when Marsden started strongly, the underdogs maintained the rage all the way to halftime and then into the second half.

Ipswich’s Cooper Cracknell, Xavier Kirk and Xavier Timoteo after their latest win. Picture: Andrew Dawson

Down half a dozen troops, the match provided a chance for Marsden players like Te Ara Tamepo-Habib, VJ Vialau, Caleb Cresswell, Paea Puleiku and Zack Lotaki to live out their dreams of playing Langer Trophy for their school.

There was no place to hide as both packs set about bashing each other.

Importantly, Ipswich scored two quick tries after halftime.

One Ipswich try came from a trick scrum play that led to second rower Mafiou Cherif scoring, which puffed a little wind into the Ipswich SHS sail.

Then a runaway try by Maila Setu thrust Ipswich ahead 18-4 and Ipswich were at the crest of the hill again. But boy they took a hammering getting to that vantage point.

Earlier, Marsden scored first from a clever blindside switch play, which put promising second rower Taylon To’a into a gap to score.

Marsden had come to play, but it was the Ipswich SHS players who absorbed the pressure to finish winners.

Marsden fullback Grayson Wharakura, forward Haki Kennedy and Tippessa Lee following their demoltion job in their latest Walters Cup contest. Picture: Andrew Dawson

WALTERS CUP

Marsden SHS scored five tries in 14 minutes either side of halftime to turn a seemingly close match into a win which would have caused a ripple across the competition..

It was 6-all seven minutes before halftime and anyone’s game when Marsden’s Tippessa Lee twice sparked his side.

It was off the back of his breaks, Marsden were given momentum to help them snap a 6-all deadlock.

Off Lee’s quick feet and ruck ball, big interchange forward Haki Kennedy barrelled over.

Then followed another telling break by Lee, and after fullback Grayson Wharakura had played his part with a strong run, a backs ball spread to the left resulted in Marsden winger Boston Barnard squeezing over in the corner. That double burst led Marsden to a 16-6 advantage at the break.

The big body of Marsden fullback Wharakura then enabled his side to crucially open the second in the second half after centre Mairangiatea Walker had ignited his team with a thrust from right centre. Marsden led 22-6.

Marsden left centre Chevy Wiperi then gapped Ipswich on the other side of the field to create his team’s fourth try and within 12 minutes Marsden had gone from 6-all to 26-6.

And to complete the run of points another left edge break saw a second long distance try, raising Marsden to a 32-6 advantage. And despite 20 minutes remaining, the match had been won.

Ipswich gathered themselves in the final 20 minutes, but the damage had been done.

To Ipswich’s credit they scored next, an enterprising team effort from a long way out, but with just 12 minutes remaining, the gap was too great.

PREVIEW

Before Ipswich get too carried away thinking about a second Langer Trophy minor premiership in three seasons, they must first get past a fired up Marsden on Wednesday.

Ipswich coach Josh Bretherton knows the clash will be a massive challenge, but with the talents of Tom Parker (fullback) and Chris Simpson (centre) sprinkling their magic on a ground once graced by the great Cameron Smith, his team is in safe hands.

Catch all the action from the Walters Cup/Langer Trophy double header LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV from 3.15pm.

Check the latest Queensland Schoolboys LIVE STREAM schedule below.

“This challenge at Marsden is going to be very difficult,” said Bretherton.

“We are just really pleased to be 5-0, because at the start of the year we would never have expected to be in that position.

“That is not because these boys aren’t talented or not working hard... we are very proud of them. It is just an extraordinarily hard competition, so at the moment we are just enjoying it for the ride that it is.”

Tom Parker is making a big impression in 2024.

Two key cogs in Ipswich’s outfit this season have been utility back Parker and the ever improving Simpson, a right centre from Cherbourg who started at Ipswich alongside Parker at the start of last year.

Ironically, both players were masterful in the school’s Langer Reserves premiership last season and have maintained the rage this year to bolster a program that has gone from strength to strength in recent years.

Bretheron described Parker as a kid who just loves his footy.

“Tommy is genuinely a kid who is most happy when he has a footy in his hand,” Bretherton said of Parker, who slotted six-from six in the Souths Juniors Nev Blair Shield win over the Logan Brothers last Sunday.

Parker’s passion is easy to see when he celebrates every try like it was the match-winning moment.

“When he is moving, running and reading a game, he is just a very natural footballer,” his coach said.

“He can make things happen. He understands the game well. He makes good reads.

“Because he has got a very good football IQ, he helps organise good defence, he shows up in good positions and is a good support runner.”

Cherbourg boys Tarell Indich (left) and Chris Simpson (right) have been top notch in 2024.

Simpson, a high achieving Cherbourg junior, has also impressed Bretherton this season.

Simpson has previously played five-eighth and at fullback, which has plenty to do with why he has such good footwork, fast hands and an elite short passing game.

A centre this year, Simpson has taken strides towards being more physical and aggressive.

“He has made huge improvements. He does the slick things, scores beautiful tries and has set up some great tries with his hands, but what I have liked about him is he is getting involved in games earlier on,” Bretherton said.

“He is carrying aggressively in the exit... He gets his nose through the line and finds his front, he understands the value of creating momentum for other people.”

Originally published as Live stream: Marsden entertain unbeaten leaders Ipswich in big Langer Trophy showdown