REPLAYS: Hallam v Mt Ridley, Vic Uni Secondary v The Grange – Storm Cup Semi-Finals

Last year’s reigning champions, Victoria University, are out of this year’s Storm Cup after The Grange won a classic encounter. Check out both REPLAYS of the semis to see who is playing in the decider.

Reigning champions Vic University will not defend their title in the Storm Cup after The Grange won one of the best games in the history of the competition to progress to the grand final.

In a contest which had it all The Grange made their first final since 2022 with a 26-22 win after extra time.

Early on it looked like the Vic University would march their way to the decider, taking a 6-0 lead after The Grange made a mistake in their first set.

Vic Uni hooker Lockyer Foliola took advantage of it to score the first try of the match.

The Grange responded, scoring a try straight away, to make the score 6-4 before Vic Uni fullback Jethro Scanlan bulldozed his way through the defence to give the reigning premiers a lead by more than a try.

Vic Uni led 12-4 at the main break before The Grange in a five minute spell took the lead back and threatened to run away with the contest.

The Grange winger Nathaniel Sialaoa scored first before Mack Sivanila and Andrew Mulipola combined in the next set to score again.

Sivanila got the linebreak past the Vic Uni defence before he and Mulipola passed to each other a few times in a wonderful play, which allowed the centre to score.

The Grange led 16-12 and held on to the lead for the next 15 minutes as Vic Uni tried to get a try to claim the lead back.

With five minutes to go forward Josmiracle Suaniu stormed over the line to give Vic Uni the lead back, 18-16, and one foot in the final.

But it would start a crazy final few minutes of the game, which led to extra time.

The Grange would respond with their next set, scoring after Sialaoa got his second for the afternoon with a mesmerising run past a few Vic Uni defenders to score.

It left 80 seconds in the match for Vic Uni to try to score and win with The Grange leading 22-18.

The reigning champs got the break it needed when The Grange knocked on with their next set.

The resulting set saw Leuong Punufu score to level the game up on the siren and gave Vic Uni the chance to win.

Vic Uni fullback Jethro Scanlan had a chance to win the game with his conversion kick from the sideline.

While the kick was brilliant it went to the left as Vic Uni missed the chance to win.

The game went to golden point extra time with The Grange getting a try a couple of minutes in to win the game.

A mistake from Vic Uni gave The Grange a set in their attack half.

Zeph Faumuina got on the back of a wonderful play to score and win the game, 26-22, for The Grange.

It ended one of the best games in the competition.

The Grange will now play Hallam in a repeat of the 2022 decider after the minor premiers defeated Mount Ridley 46-10.

While Mount Ridley performed well in the opening five minutes of the contest, Hallam took control of the contest after that, scoring eight tries to two to win comfortably in the end.

Hallam fullback Waka Hammond scored a hat-trick in 10 minutes, scoring the three tries just before and after half time.

He was joined by Tevita Tuima who scored a double to be one of the best players for the team.

The grand final between the teams will be held later this month.

REPLAYS

Hallam College v Mt Ridley

PREVIEW

Hallam concedes it might not be at full strength as it prepares for its biggest NRL National Schoolboy Cup game of the year on Thursday.

The Storm Cup semi-finals are here, with four sides set to battle for a spot in the decider plus passage through to the next stage of the national competition.

Hallam takes on Mount Ridley while the defending premiers Victoria University face The Grange.

Both matches will be live and exclusive on KommunityTV from 11.30am Thursday.

Hallam have been the best team all season, winning all matches, to qualify for the finals in top spot.

But heading into the clash half the squad could be battling niggling injuries after a tough couple of weeks with club and state commitments.

“Seven of our boys have just been away to the Australian championships (ASSRL),” Hallam coach Janan Billings said.

“They played four games in a week and then they came back and their bodies are sore and they have to play club footy on Saturday and then the semi on Thursday.

Hallam has been unstoppable so far in the Storm Cup. Picture: Michael Klein

“As a school and as a team we are not taking anything for granted.

“We know we could pick up some injuries.

“We are preparing the best we can.”

Billings said the seven involved might be rested during the contest if Hallam gets into a position to do it.

But if all are ready to play, despite knocks, they will.

“I don’t think anybody will be rested before the game because we don’t want to take anything for granted,” Billings said.

“We won’t go underprepared, we won’t be underestimating Mount Ridley.

“They’ll be two or three players better off (from the last match).”

Billings added the team is definitely not the complete package.

There’s areas he feels are important to work on ahead of their big tests in the semi and potentially a grand final.

“At our level I’m not looking to much at the opposition, I’m looking at our team performance.

“Our ball control needs to improve.

“If we play a good brand of football and complete our sets, we’ll be hard to beat on the day.”

Billings said control of the ball would be especially important if it rains, which is forecast to happen.

Deacon King in action for Mt Ridley. Picture: Michael Klein

Mathew Kereti will be key for The Grange. Picture: Michael Klein

In the other contest, Victoria University is hoping their first 45 minutes of the last clash against The Grange can be replicated.

The team stormed out to a 28-8 lead in the match before three late The Grange tries made the final score 28-24.

The Grange could have stolen the game with chances in the final minute.

“We had a lapse the last 15 minutes but we also rotated a few players who won’t see a lot of game time this time through,” Vic Uni coach Tony Adams said.

“You don’t read too much into the preliminary matches.”

But Adams knows The Grange can cause an upset.

It shared the Storm Cup title with Hallam in 2022.

“They had a few players out to be honest, down some troops.

“We know that they are a talented side, have good outside backs and some honest forwards.

“They will throw a fair bit at us and we will have to be good to beat them.”