Live stream: Keebra Park SHS take on Ipswich SHS as Langer Trophy resumes after holiday break

It featured some of the best schoolboy footy seen this season and wasn’t decided until the home side turned on an attacking master class late on. See the Walters Cup/Langer Trophy REPLAYS.

Ipswich SHS marched on in their pursuit of an undefeated Langer Trophy season with a riveting 34-22 win over Keebra Park State High School on Thursday.

Under lights and in a cool breeze at the North Ipswich Reserve, Keebra and Ipswich traded blows back and forth right up until the final 15 minutes when the home side ran away with it on the back of stunning Velonte Baruani and Tom Parker (two) tries.

While Ipswich handed Keebra their first loss of the season, it was rugby league that was the real winner with some of the highest quality schoolboy footy seen this season on show.

The visitors led 22-16 with 20 minutes left after Keebra fullback David Bryenton had created something out of nothing to spark a backline shift which saw Joey Tupuse crash over and extend the lead.

But in the last 15 minutes, Ipswich duo Reeco Kirk (five-eighth) and Xavier Kirk (utility back) asserted themselves to create tries scored by Baruani and Parker, snatching a 28-22 lead in the process.

Then, Parker struck on the left edge to nail the coffin in at 34-22 and complete a stunning home-straight surge after Keebra’s middle forwards Isopo Taunuu and Cruz Tauaifaiga had laid a brilliant platform.

OFF THE WHIM PLAYS

Thursday’s clash was a game decided by quick thinking and three times in the first half tries were scored by freakish decision making.

First it was Keebra Park fullback livewire Bryenton who spotted space in behind the Ipswich line and dabbed in a grubber kick, which he followed, scooped up and scored in a fantastic piece of individual brilliance.

In reply, Ipswich SHS’s utility weapon Xavier Kirk ran from the ruck base and lobbed a kick over Keebra’s defence for Chris Simpson who regathered the ball to score.

This bit of quick-thinking magic came after five-eighth Reeco Kirk had dabbed forward a grubber kick, which was gobbled up and scored by nimble left centre Tayshon Foley.

SPECIAL K

Kirk was the name on everyone’s lips at the North Ipswich Reserve after Xavier and Reeco inspired their side to an enthralling victory.

Five-eighth Reeco came away with two try assists both coming off his brilliant right boot while the electric Xavier snared a try assist and made the linebreak which led to a telling try scored by Parker.

Both boys were everywhere, with Reeco’s kicking game and Xavier’s incursions into enemy territory from the ruck at the centre of Ipswich’s attacking enterprise.

MIDDLE FORWARD GIANTS

Keebra Park props Isopo Taunuu and Cruz Tauaifaiga were instrumental through the middle of the field.

The hulking middle forwards got Keebra on the front foot with their carries and combined to deliver some thumping tackles when Ipswich were moving in.

WALTERS CUP

Ipswich SHS v Keebra Park SHS - Walters Cup Round 5

Ipswich SHS mounted a late game comeback, put into motion by centre Tomu Cook who scored a beauty five minutes from time, but ultimately fell to a 22-18 defeat to Keebra Park.

Keebra scored first, and then landed telling tries on each side of the halftime break.

The visitors’ halves pairing of Harvey Smith and Kaden Lander worked well together, creating plenty of opportunities down the right edge where Arjay-Troy Sharrock and Simione Tauelangi got busy.

Tauelangi snaring two tries in quick succession to turn a 10-12 halftime deficit into a 22-12 lead with 22 minutes left to play.

Those were the two biggest plays of the game, along with Israel Lotaki’s try on the stroke of halftime which pulled Keebra within two points of Ipswich, who had got on the scoresheet through Viliami Seumalii and Cordell Kirk.

PREVIEW

Coach Peter Norman has tipped star fullback Mason Barber as the X-factor for Keebra Park ahead of their top-of-table Langer Trophy clash with Ipswich State High School on Thursday.

With the season resuming after the two-week holiday break and ASSRL tournament commitments, both sides will be looking to slip back into the form that saw them win four in a row and set the competition alight.

Cowboys-signed Queensland schoolboys star Barber played a big part in that strong Keebra Park success and Norman is confident he won’t miss a beat.

Catch the Walters Cup/Langer Trophy double header LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV from 4.15pm.

Check the full LIVE STREAM schedule for Queensland below.

“If I was Ipswich, the main player I’d want to shut down is Mason,” Norman said.

“Any team is going to see the kind of football he has been playing this year, and know they’ll need to do their best it shut him down.

“He’s been in electric form … going to be on everyone’s radar.”

Barber and fellow Keebra Park gun Zac Kumbamong will return on the back of a campaign playing at the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League National Championships in Coffs Harbour.

“As long as they come back feeling OK, they’ll be good to go, and then I’ve got a couple that just need to pass fitness tests next week,” Norman said.

Mason Barber has been in great form in 2024.

Halfback Daniel Feki will undergo a precautionary X-ray on his ankle following a training injury, though is a likely chance to be ready for the evening clash.

Among the last-minute fitness tests and return-to-season checks, Norman is pleased with how his side are poised for the all-important clash.

“I like to think the style of footy we play is about getting everyone in the right positions,” he said.

“We’re a well-rounded side with players across the park.

“We’ve done our due diligence on Ipswich, obviously they’re also undefeated and playing some great footy.”

He pointed to the Queensland schoolboy trio of front rowers Xzavier Timoteo and Kanaan Magele and winger Saifiti Junior Saifiti as Ipswich’s main threats.

“If we can shut those three players down, that’ll give us the best chance of coming home with a win.”

Norman said Keebra’s ‘team first’ approach to each game is what sets them apart and will shine under pressure this week.

“The thing that impresses me the most with this group compared to what we’ve had in other years, is that they definitely embrace the team first mentality.

Zac Kumbamong is also returning from ASSRL duty.

“Sometimes young men can get a bit selfish and jealous.

“This bunch of boys just want to do their job … happy to be in a supporting role instead of being the main man every time.”

Norman will be unavailable for the clash, fulfilling representative playing duties of his own as he jets to England for the World Touch Football Championships in Nottingham.

“It is what it is, I’m confident the players are mature enough,” he said.

“They’ve been training well and they all know their roles.”

In his absence, assistant coach Sam Swift will step into the lead role with support from former-NRL star Todd Carney.

“I’ve got really good support staff … it’ll be pretty seamless without me there,” Norman said.

Originally published as Live stream: Keebra Park SHS take on Ipswich SHS as Langer Trophy resumes after holiday break