REVEALED: Queensland Schoolboys squads named after rugby union state championships in Townsville
The Queensland Schoolboys rugby union squads have been announced following a thrilling day of finals action. See who made the cut and read match reports from Sunday’s finals – plus check out our photos from the playoffs.
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Met East was crowned Queensland’s schoolboys rugby union champions on Sunday afternoon after scoring late to stun Met West 19-15 in a thrilling grand final at the Townsville Sports Reserve.
Trailing by one point late in the game, Jesse Maugatai thought he had set up the matchwinner when he charged from the back of a scrum and found Francis Pepe in support to dive over in the corner – but the touch judge’s flag was raised as Pepe was bundled out of play in the process of scoring.
But not to be denied, Met East scored in the same area of the field moments later with a perfectly executed rolling maul finished by William Rasmussen to snatch the lead at the death.
Met East had to survive a late push from the runners-up, holding on for victory after Met West made an error from a lineout close to the line after the final hooter had sounded.
Met West openside flanker Harry Cohen was sin binned in the opening stages of the match for cynical hands in the ruck while defending his line, allowing Met east to race out to a 14-0 lead.
Met East struck first when Angus Tagicakibau fired a double cut-out pass to Malakaih Beals – who was later named Met East’s player of the final – to score untouched in the right corner before Jeremiah Patea nailed the difficult sideline conversion.
Tagicakibau came within metres of scoring a try himself just minutes later if not for a stunning trysaving tackle by Met West captain Brock Coombes.
But celebrations were short-lived as Maugatai carried five defenders across the line during a powerful carry to extend the Met East advantage.
Late in the half, a failed clearance by Met East rebounded off an opposition player’s back and was swooped upon by Oliver Kennedy, who raced half the field to score Met West’s first points of the match. Kennedy duly converted his own try from in front of the posts.
It didn’t take Met West long to strike again just after the break and suddenly the margin was only two points.
A penalty for offside gave met West the chance to hit the lead via a Angus McPhail penalty goal with 10 minutes to play, setting up the grandstand finish.
Caleb West was named Met West’s player of the final.
QUEENSLAND SCHOOLBOYS TEAM 1
1. Tyrece Herniman (Met East)
2. Cyrus Suniula (Met East)
3. Gavin Wilson-Tyers (Darling Downs)
4. Tannar Baker (Met West)
5. Luke Thornton (Met East)
6. Jesse Maugatai (Met East)
7. Lane Edmonds (Met West)
8. Tremayne Patelesio (South Coast)
9. Kobi Nouanrasy (South Coast)
10. Elijah Breen (Met North)
11. Nate Thompson (Sunshine Coast)
12. Junior Latu (Met East)
13. Max Bolton (Met East)
14. Quinn Timperon (Met East)
15. Angus Tagicakibau (Met East)
16. Malaki Lemalu (Met East)
17. Denzel Savelino (Met North)
18. Owen Heathwood (Sunshine Coast)
19. Oliver Rauchle (Met North)
20. Diesel Hauff (Met East)
21. Koby Kelland (Sunshine Coast)
22. Rohan Nichol (Sunshine Coast)
23. Dermott Arthy (Sunshine Coast)
QUEENSLAND SCHOOLBOYS TEAM 2
1. Tyler Riddell (Met West)
2. William Adrian de Klerk (Sunshine Coast)
3. Kofoa Miaile (Met East)
4. Patrick Edwards (Sunshine Coast)
5. Owen Myers (Northern)
6. Robert Piutau (Met East)
7. Harry Cohen (Met West)
8. Malachi Figota (Met West)
9. Harvey Kachel (Peninsula)
10. Indygo Keir (Northern)
11. Brock Coombes (Met West)
12. Jeremiah Patea (Met East)
13. Flynn Corbett (Met East)
14. Malakaih Beals (Met East)
15. Isaac Fidock (South Coast)
16. Lincoln Payne (Sunshine Coast)
17. Atapana Noa (South Coast)
18. Marcus Harris-Pomare (Sunshine Coast)
19. Olliver Sharpe (Darling Downs)
20. Ryker Smith (Sunshine Coast)
21. David Nunn (Darling Downs)
22. Oliver Kennedy (Met West)
23. Micah Figota (Met West)
THIRD-PLACE PLAYOFF: MET NORTH v SUNSHINE COAST
The Sunshine Coast schoolboys claimed bronze with a 28-17 win against Met North in the third-place playoff on Sunday.
A 40m dash from Kyron Arthy sealed the result late when the blistering centre tore through the centre of the field, staving off four defenders with his speed before rounding the fullback to put his side 11 points ahead late in the contest.
Met North started strong with an early try by centre Ryan Smallhorne, before Sunshine Coast answered back through Nate Thompson and Luke Sparke.
Four tries inside the first 12 minutes in an open game of rugby.
Met North’s second try came via a rolling maul close to the line after winning a penalty at the breakdown midfield.
Smart work at the breakdown by the openside flanker – releasing the ball and jumping back to his feet for a second effort close to the line – paid dividends for the Sunny Coast as he crossed for his team’s third just before halftime.
After such a frenetic opening to the match, it was surprising that neither team was able to add to their score in the 15 minutes after the break.
Finally it was Met North who broke the standoff when fullback Cooper Knowles found his winger Rory West with a late offload.
West grubbered for himself and dotted down just before the dead-ball line to cut the deficit to four points with 10 minutes to play in the final.
Sunny Coast’s Ryker Smith and Met North centre Ryan Smallhorne were named players of the match.
FIFTH-PLACE PLAYOFF: DARLING DOWNS v SOUTH COAST
The Darling Downs secured fifth place with a 15-10 triumph over South Coast thanks to a matchwinning try by vice-captain Xander O’Neil.
The bullocking prop gave his side the all-important advantage after a seesawing affair which saw four lead changes.
South Coast winger Eli Pyziakos had opened the scoring early before Darling Downs hit back through captain David Nunn, taking a 7-5 lead via Lucas Clarke’s boot.
South Coast substitute forward Zephanaiah Takitaki crossed to put his team back in front but another missed conversion meant Clarke could tie things up not much later with a penalty goal.
Locked at 10-all, O’Neil stepped up to score the match-deciding five-pointer and give his team a win to finish the championships.
Darling Downs halfback Matthew Geolagon was named his side’s player of the match while openside flanker Ma’afu Takai earnt the honours for South Coast.
SEVENTH-10TH PLAYOFFS
Northern’s 17-18s schoolboys rugby union team finished 10th in the Queensland state championships after a tough weekend at the Townsville Sports Reserve in North Ward.
Northern lost to Capricornia 15-12 on Sunday as a Ryan Attard penalty goal made the difference after both teams crossed for two tries.
Northern’s Cooper Christianson was named his team’s player of the match, while Tamati Matheson was best for Capricornia.
The win earnt Capricornia a seventh-place finish to the state championships.
However with Wide Bay and Peninsula drawing 15-all in the other fixture of the 7-10 playoffs, Northern was relegated to 10th in the final standings.
Peninsula’s Harvey Kachel and Wide bay’s Eli Bunn were named the players of the match.
Northern enjoyed two wins and two losses during the pool stage before they were beaten 26-3 by South Coast on Saturday to set up the final match with Capricornia.
PLAYOFFS PHOTO GALLERY
Originally published as REVEALED: Queensland Schoolboys squads named after rugby union state championships in Townsville
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