WATCH REPLAY: Palm Beach Currumbin v Keebra in NRL Schoolboys Cup
Palm Beach Currumbin SHS were too good for Keebra Park SHS in the NRL Schoolboys Cup on Wednesday. WATCH THE REPLAY.
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Marsden SHS will play Palm Beach Currumbin in the NRL Schoolboys Cup grand final after the long arm of Marsden prop Xavier Stowers broke Ipswich SHS’s heart in a knockout semi-final thriller today.
Hulking prop Stowers scored three seconds from fulltime to snap a 10-all deadlock. Marsden SHS won 16-10. (Story below)
Marsden SHS then sat back and watched PBC SHS beat Keebra Park SHS 20-10 (story below).
The action was livestreamed by www.couriermail.com.au, the Gold Coast Bulletin, and News’ affiliates.
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THE GAMES
PBC SHS v KEEBRA PARK SHS
PBC SHS iceman Tom Weaver and one of the competition’s best new faces Keano Kini delivered the goods to guide their team to a thrilling sudden death semi-final win over Keebra Park SHS in NRL Schoolboys Cup action.
Weaver engineered a critical try with an astute grubber kick 15 minutes from fulltime, and then fullback Kini blazed over to score after a rollicking run by Del Wigmore.
At that point PBC SHS were up 20-10, 10 minutes from fulltime after Keebra Park SHS had drawn level 10-all. It ended up the final score.
Earlier in the half Keebra Park SHS No.6 De’ontae Perese produced two magic tricks in three minutes to hoist his side back into the semi-final.
The pulse of Keebra Park SHS quickened when lightning fast winger Elijah Lui swept onto a long pass by five-eight Perese to score minutes into the second half.
What a ball it was from Perese, who on the run put the ball wide to Lui who had out-flanked his rival, reducing the deficit to 10-4.
Then, off the back of an up tempo resurgence by Keebra Park SHS, the dancing feet of Perese beat the PBC defenders to score beneath the posts, making the score 10-all.
PJ Poutasi had announced himself after the break for Keebra Park, producing several inspiring runs to take his side forward.
Earlier, PBC’s blanket defence paved the way for a 10-nil first half lead.
The red and white swarm were all over Keebra Park SHS at both ends of the field.
The all-embracing defence led directly to PBC’s second try, an intercept effort by Jett Forbes as Keebra Park were trying to make headway out of their own end.
PBC’s defence, and Tom Weaver’s astute kicking game, applied the blow torch to Keebra Park, particularly with the defensive net applied in support of his kicks.
Two thumping runs from Keebra Park prop Herman Tofaeono against the tide twice put his side onto the front foot, but both times PBC recovered.
Hooker Blake Mozer also tried to work PBC’s defenders over on attack ball, but the red and white wall stood firm.
Keebra Park SHS’s Arama Hau was a big threat close to the line with his strength and unloading skills, but nothing could breach the PBC line.
PBC opened the scoring early when Michael Roberts’ speed off the mark helped him squeeze over in the right hand corner.
MARSDEN SHS v IPSWICH SHS
The extra long arm of Marsden SHS prop Xavier Stowers broke Ipswich SHS’s heart in a knockout semi-final thriller today.
Hulking prop Stowers scored three seconds from fulltime to snap a 10-all deadlock. Marsden SHS won 16-10.
The match seemed certain to plummet into extra time when Stowers, ironically an Ipswich Jets junior, surged one last time when all seemed lost, launching his 194cm frame head long at the try line, extending his arm to score.
After scoring the most important match-winning try of his schoolboy career, emotional Marsden State High forward Stowers just wanted to hug his family and friends.
“The boys did all the effort. I just finished it off,’’ Stowers said, receiving multiple hugs.
He thought he had knocked on before safely grounding the ball to the delight of the Marsden State High faithful.
When asked if that was the best try of his career, the towering forward left no doubt it was being circled for more hugs.
As Stowers prepared to join his jubilant teammates post game, head coach Matthew Hartigan was clearly relieved to escape with victory, especially after Marsden had beaten Ipswich 48-10 in the second round.
“We were just really poor today,’’ Hartigan said.
“You have got to give credit to Ipswich. They just hung in. They stuck with it. They were really gutsy.
“They showed up and showed why they should be in the finals.
“They were definitely a massive challenge for us.’’
It was a great final
Ipswich surged back into the match 10 minutes from fulltime when left winger Ariki Wallace scorched over after a wide left shift against a 12 man defensive line.
Wallace’s try - one minute after Marsden five-eight Jarydn Stilinovich-Watene had been sin-binned - reduced Marsden’s led to 10-4.
Then from the kick-off centre Damien Burrows burst through, putting his hooker Tom Luhrmann sprinting between the posts.
Jake Self’s conversion raised a 10-all scoreline and set the scene for a grandstand finish.
Earlier, Ipswich State High’s quest to cause a massive NRL Schoolboys Cup upset suffered an early second half setback with Marsden halfback Cassius Cowley breaking into the clear to dash 40m to score from a charge down.
The competition leaders were looking to apply the blowtorch to Ipswich State High having built a 10-0 lead.
Hooker Tyree Bowman had earlier dived over close to the line capitalising on a penalty.
Teapo Stoltman’s successful conversion put Marsden up 6-0 heading into the break.
Well into the second half, as both teams looked set for extra time, it was Stowers who made the most of last minute pressure.
“He really wanted the ball at the end there when the big moments were on the line,’’ Hartigan said.
THE TEAMS
Marsden SHS v Ipswich SHS
Marsden: 1 Leon Te Hau, 2. Tea-Rani Woodman-Tuhoro, 3. Teapo Stoltman, 4. Kienan Tempest, 5. Rylan Fleming, 6. Jardyn Stilinovich-Watene, 7. Cassius Cowley, 8. Lance Fualema, 9. Tyree Bowman, 10. Xavier Stowers, 11. Will Semu, 12. Jieye Mauai, 13. Chris Faatgutu; 14. Braden Teuila, 15. Taelon Te Whiu Hopa, 16. Mou Taumaletila, 17. Eli Tuli. Emergences: 18. Cody Hamilton, Sione Fotuaika, 20. Terry Lafaoi, 21, Dom Sandow, 22. Nathananiel Tangimataiti.
Ipswich SHS: 1. Caleb Jackson, 2. Kulu Baruani, 3. Shannon Stewart, 4. Damien Burrows, 5. Ariki Wallace, 6. Mason Pintegne, 7. Jake Self, 8. Josiah Pahulu, 9. Tommy Luhrman, 21. Rene Bagon, 11 Josiah Patea, 12 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 13, Jarvis Yeatman, 14. Tyrese Weatherby, 10. Samson Sauaso, 15. Gabriel Satrick, 18. Richard Mala.
Keebra Park SHS v Palm Beach Currumbin SHS
PBC SHS: 1 Keano Kini, 2 Hunter Ploegsma, 3 Reef Sommerville, 4 Deine Mariner, 5 Michael Roberts, 6 Travis May, 7 Tom Weaver (c), 8 Jack Cullen, 9 Oskar Bryant, 10 Kade Somerville, 11 Brock Priestley, 12 Ryan Foran, 13 Jayden Wright, 14 Tanu Nona, 15 Bailey Martin, 17 Isaiah Scanlan, 18 Reico Ratana, 19 Jett Forbes
Keebra Park SHS: 1 Tawera Toia, 2 Levi Jones, 3 Nathaniel Cama, 4 Nella Lotaki, 5 Elijah Lui, 6 De’ontae Perese, 7 Cooper Maytom, 8 Immanuel Kalekale, 9 Blake Mozer, 10 Herman Tofaeono, 11 Seth Nikotemo, 12 Del Wigmore, 13 Arama Hau, 14 Philip Hakaraia-Ngamotu, 15 Louruce Brown, 16 Jeremiah Tamepo, 17 PJ Poutasi, 18 Wailer Whaiapu, 9 Jaxsen Yow, 20 Malakai Rhind, 21 Haze Tai-Rakena
STATE WIDE
LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE, NRL Schoolboys Cup
Wednesday, August 25
Mackay Jnr Rugby League
11am - Kirwan SHS v The Cathedral College (Aaron Payne)
12.15pm - Ignatius Park v St Brendan’s (Aaron Payne)
1.30pm - Ignatius Park v Mercy (Cowboys Challenge)
Webb Oval Yeppoon
5.30pm - St Brendan’s v Emmaus (Cowboys Challenge)
Langlands Park
3.30pm - Marsden SHS v Ipswich
5.00pm - Palm Beach Currumbin SHS v Keebra SHS
Thursday, August 25
Mabel Park SHS
2.00pm - Mabel Park v Ipswich (Langer Res)
Mabel Park SHS
2.30pm - Marsden v Forest Lake (Walters Cup)
Palm Beach Currumbin SHS
3.00pm - PBC v Wavell (Walters Cup)
4.00pm - PBC v Wavell (Langer Res)
NRL Schoolboys Cup
LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE
August 25:
Semi-finals: Langlands Park
3.30pm: Marsden SHS v Ipswich SHS
5pm: PBC SHS v Keebra SHS
September 1: (Wynnum)
Southern QLD Schoolboy Cup final
September 8: COVID Contingency Week
September 15: Phil Hall Cup (Redcliffe)
Northern Conference Final, Southern QLD winner v Northern QLD winner
Originally published as WATCH REPLAY: Palm Beach Currumbin v Keebra in NRL Schoolboys Cup
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