TAS First XV rugby’s Rd 4 players of the week
TAS First XV rugby’s Round 4 players of the week have been named following an off the charts performance from St Columban’s centre Akeli Filipo. More here, including the best photos so far this season.
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St Columban’s College centre Akeli Filipo was immense last Saturday blasting his side to victory over Canterbury College and in doing so gift wrapping STC its third TAS First XV premiership in as many seasons.
Barring an unforeseen loss in coming weeks, St Columban’s will win the title after accounting for main rivals Ormiston in round 1, and beating an under strength Canterbury College, 62-14, in round 4.
Could centre Filipo have played any better for St Columban’s last Saturday?
Absolutely not, as he unravelled his rivals with line-breaking runs every time he touched the ball.
Canterbury simply could not contain Filipo who broke two or three tackles with every touch.
Filipo’s perfect-10 performance included:
+ Filipo combining with flanker Noah Drahm to prevent a Canterbury try after a Charlie Menzies break;
+ Filipo scoring his team’s second try from a scrum after St Columban’s flanker Drahm had triggered five minutes of forward domination by his side after pressuring a goal line clearing kick from Canterbury;
+ Filipo putting his brother and winger Dom Filipo over for the try of the match after Akeli broke tackle after tackle during an extraordinary 40m surge from inside his territory;
+ Filipo producing a super pass that saw his fullback Charlie Ogden scored a chip and chase try;
+ Filipo charging through defenders like they were ten pin to score his second try in the second half;
+ Filipo handling in a movement involving his No. 8 and five-eight Lucas Curtis which ended in fullback Ogden scoring again;
+ Filipo finishing the match as he started — by breaking tackles — resulting in replacement forward Jack Schottes dishing up an amazing pass as he fell which enabled another replacement middle, Pat Hickey, the chance to score.
While Akeli Filipo was easily the most impressive player of the round, there were others who impressed as well.
RESULTS: WestMAC 15 def St Paul’s 14, St Columban’s 62 def Canterbury 14, Ormiston 43 def CHAC 12.
TAS RUGBY PLAYERS OF THE ROUND
Hamish Hutchinson (St Columban’s)
The STC prop was immense for his side on both sides of the ball.
He engineered a strong scrum, carried the ball with authority and confronted Canterbury players in the defensive line with force.
Noah Drahm (St Columban’s)
Flanker Drahm had a big match with his charging ball carries, hustle in defence and occasional turnovers in contact.
Dom Filipo (St Columban’s)
While his brother Akeli stole the show, winger Dom also played strongly on the right wing. His strength and energy caused problems in contact, while he also had the pace to finish movements with aplomb.
Charlie Menzies (Canterbury)
Menzies was one of the top three or four players on the field. Playing inside centre, Menzies could not match the stepping power of the St Columban’s midfield, but his gutsy runs and exhaustive defence ensured he stood out from the crowd.
He did everything possible for his side, including carrying an injured teammate from the field after full-time.
Ben Stanley (Canterbury)
If you were giving away gold stars for effort, Stanley would have got five of them.
In an outgunned pack, the breakaway worked until the cows came home.
He was outstanding and finished with an enhanced reputation.
Charlie Ogden (St Columban’s)
Ogden was the perfect link man at the back, picking the time for his incursions with the ball while linking nicely with his passes.
He also thwarted Canterbury challenges with his uncanny positional play.
Harvey Dean (St Columban’s)
All of the St Columban’s forwards, including hooker Dean, flanker Jack Brown and lock Jack Reynolds, played their part in St Columban’s away win against Canterbury.
Charlie McIntosh (St Paul’s)
McIntosh has been one of the finds of the season for St Paul’s.
The outstanding No. 8 has been a tone-setter in the Pumas pack with his fast feet and defensive work.
After a brilliant round 3 performance against Ormiston, McIntosh was important again with his unrelenting ability to tackle, find his feet, and go again in a 15-14 loss against WestMAC.
Isaac Fry (St Paul’s)
Fry’s steady improvement on the wing has been another positive for St Paul’s in a season where they’ve dearly missed Queensland Schoolboys select Oli Rauchle.
Fry was rock solid at the weekend, holding down his edge and going looking for work when possession swung his team’s way.
Given the amount of penalties the Pumas conceded, Fry’s steady, mistake free performance manning the wing cannot be underrated.
Joseph Schmalkuchen (WestMAC)
WestMAC’s continued rise in the First XV ranks was spurred on by lock Joseph Schmalkuchen who was massive in the one-point pipping of St Paul’s.
His work rate, on both sides of the ball, was excellent. As was his lineout dependability.
strong ball carries all game getting over the ad line time and time again.
A towering presence, Schmalkuchen got WestAMC over the advantage line at will. His bold performance follows a string of good showings from a player, well versed in Australian rules football, who has relished a greater role in 2025 and been devastating.
Fox Rees (WestMAC)
In the flanks, Fox Rees was also here, there and everywhere across 70 minutes.
A typical flanker who does all the ground work for team success, Rees impressed with timely cover tackles, countless ruck arrivals and strong support play of his peers.
Charlie Gardiner (CHAC)
CHAC forward leader Charlie Gardiner was again at the epicentre of all good things for his side.
A No. 8 currently at his best, Gardiner spread his wings running the ball in the wider channels.
In defence, he tackled like a man possessed to produce a ‘follow me boys’ performance built on repeat efforts.
Will Triggs (CHAC)
Triggs also took matters into his own hands. The consistently good front rower has been a trusted performer all season long, playing 70 minutes each week.
His lineout lifts, pilfering, and decision making were key features of his game on Saturday where he attacked the breakdown with vim and vigour.
Eduard Welgemoed (Ormiston)
A star centre in the competition, Welgemoed was at his blistering best scoring three tries from outside centre,
One of them was a chip and chase special which just showed his immense class.
We thought his older brother Renier was a top gun talent. Eduard may just have his measure as a well-rounded No. 13 constantly improving.
James Zannes (Ormiston)
Zannes’ progression in 2025 has been startling given his rise from the Seconds to First XV rugby where he started on Saturday.
A tough as nails lock, Zannes put in a faultless performance where he did all the little things well in the lineout and with the ball.
Just an outstanding debut game after warming his engines on the bench earlier this year.
Tom Smith (Ormiston)
A pleasant surprise packet for Ormiston given the top job he has done at halfback this season, Smith has improved in leaps and bounds to be one of the first players chosen each week at Ormiston.
A tall, rangy halfback, Smith worked his backside off against CHAC which is part of the reason why he has come into his own.
His effort and hard work has seen him go hammer and tongs with every scrumhalf he has come up against this year and he has not been shaded once.
BEST PHOTOS SO FAR
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