Australian schools rugby championships: Stars, standouts, results, photos in day one wrap

The conditions were heinous but the action sensational as some of the best teen players in the country hit the pitch at the Australian schools rugby championships. Stars, standouts and photo special,

The conditions were testing on the opening day of the Australian Schools rugby championships at Knox. Pic: John Appleyard

A last minute call-up was one of the head turners on day one of the Australian Schools rugby championships played in atrocious conditions at Knox College in Sydney.
Numerous players defied the big wet and slip and slide to produce some standout performances in the teeming rain and cold.

And one of them wasn’t even supposed to be playing.

DAY THREE GIRL POWER AND BIT HITS

DAY TWO: HISTORY MADE AS COMP HEATS UP

DAY ONE WRAP AND PHOTO SPECIAL

NSW's Joe Hutton tackles ACT's Jake Mead. Pic: John Appleyard

Barbarians young gun and Illawarra talent Harrison Valevatu starred for his side with two sensational tries.

He wasn’t originally selected in the squad, called in to replace another player in the final lead-in to the four day tournament which concludes on Saturday.

NSW's I’s Nick Lamming with the ball in the match against Queensland II.

With NSW Waratahs Gen Blues selectors watching on for squad selections later this year, Valevatu was just one teenager who stood out in the rain on Wednesday.

And photographer John Appleyard was there to capture both the miserable conditions and memorable performances.

NSW Barbarian's Sam Pickard with the ball in their win over Victoria.

BARBARIANS v VICTORIA

The Barbarians opened the tournament with an entertaining 29-0 victory over Victoria.

Up by 7-0 at halftime, the score blew out in the second half largely due to the antics of late call-up Harrison Valevatu.

Valevatu scored entertaining back-to-back tries in the second half and ended the game as the only multiple scorer.

Action in the NSW Barbarians (blue and white) v Victoria game.

“It was the first game for a group that I only met on Sunday and I thought that the effort was outstanding,” said coach Gary Tunks.

“He (Valevatu) was a late call up for us. He came off the bench and added instant impact.”

Victoria's Corey Lleumaga Chan with the ball in the match against the NSW Barbarians.

Tunks said he deliberately chose a bigger and hardened squad for tournament with the majority of his players coming from the Colts ranks.

“It was a deliberate tactic finding these bigger guys,” he said.

NSW's Jackson Lill getting plenty of attention from ACT players.

ACT v NSW JUNIORS

The ACT came out hard and fast in the first half, scoring two quick tries to take an lead 14-O lead.

Silas Holmes from Canberra Grammar opened the scoring with No. 10 Angus McFarlane from Saint Edmund’s College following suit immediately after.

NSW's Joe Hutton gives chase to ACT's Joe Henry.

A penalty kick from St Edmund’s Shane Wilcox followed before Southern Districts colt Rodney Blake finally put points on the board for NSW just before half time.

Joey Henry from Marist then scored one of the most entertaining tries of the day with the ACT eventually taking the match 22-5.

NSW's Joe Hutton gets the ball away against ACT.

ACT's Shane Wilcox.

“They played better wet weather football,” coach Ben Rutherford said of the ACT team.

“I think we just lacked physicality.”

Rutherford identified Blake, who came off with a shoulder injury, Stirling Munsie and Freddie Toone as standouts for NSW Juniors

NSW's TJ Herring gets the pass away against Queensland 1.

QUEENSLAND 1 v NSW II

Queensland put first points on the board in this match courtesy of an off a penalty kick converted by Joshua Groenewald.

It took until the second half for the NSW II side to score the first try of the match.

NSW's Solomon Tuqiri and Zac Sarfati celebrate Solomon's try.

Solomon Tuqiri from Waverley College went over in sensational style with Arnie Tancred from Kinross Wolaroi School and Tino Jahnke-Tavana, also from Waverley, extending the scoreline to 19-3.

NSW II player Arnie Tancred was one of his teams scorers.

Action in the NSW II’s win over Queensland 1.

“We had been preparing pretty well the last three days,’’ said Tuqiri, a relative of dual international Lote Tuqiri.

“We were all just looking to do our roles in the game.

“But there was a lot of hunger. We all want to take our rugby further.’’

NSW's Brogan M'crystal on the run.

NSW's Leo Bassingthwaighte is tackled by Queensland's Jakeb Horne.

NSW I V QUEENSLAND 2

NSW dominated the last match of the day to take the win 22-2.

Kaleb Ah-Colt, Will Perkins, Harry Davis and James Kotis all scored tries and were standouts for NSW.

Queensland's Finn O"Rielley.

Muddy collision for NSW's Leo Bassingthwaighte and Harry Darling and Queensland's Al Nanai Marsden.

NSW's Jay Ingleton on the run.

NSW players ready for a lineout.

NSW's Quinn Dickinson.

NSW's Manus Bailey.

The rains came for the game between Queensland II and NSW 1.

NSW's Keenan Ewings packs down in the slippery conditions.

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY ONE RESULTS

Queensland Schoolboys 1 U18 3 (Penalty Goals: J. Groenewald) Def By NSW Schoolboys 2U18 19 (Tries: S. Tuqiri, A. Tancred, T. Tavana Conversions: T. Davey (2))

NSW Schoolboys 1 U18 22 (Tries: K. Ah-colt, W. Perkins, H. Davis, J. Kotis Conversions: W. Perkins) Def Queensland Schoolboys 2 U18 7 (Tries: P. Vaoiva Conversions: A. Nanai)

Victorian Schoolboys U18 0 Def By NSW Barbarian Schoolboys U18 29 (Tries: J. Folaumoetu’i, W. Clark, H. Valevatu (2), K. Vincent Conversions: H. Wilson (2))

NSW Juniors Schoolboys U18 5 (Tries: R. Blake) Def By ACT Schoolboys U18 22 (Tries: S. Holmes, A. Mcfarlane , J. Henry Conversions: S. Wilcox (2) Penalty Goals: S. Wilcox)

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Originally published as Australian schools rugby championships: Stars, standouts, results, photos in day one wrap