TAS First XV rugby’s form players revealed
TAS First XV schoolboy rugby: Who starred in round 2? The best of the best named here along with 25+ pictures from the St Paul’s Pink Day clash against John Paul College.
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The TAS First XV schoolboy rugby competition will reach a flashpoint on Saturday when Ormiston and St Paul’s clash in the match of the round.
St Paul’s christened its season with a 19-10 win over John Paul College in round 2 after a round 1 bye gave them more time to strengthen player bonds and work on combinations.
That extra time spent together showed in a slippery Pink Day success in front of more than 500 people.
It was a nice moment for the Rauchle family on Saturday when Noah Rauchle was presented with the 800th St Paul’s First XV cap for his debut. He ran out alongside older brother Oli, an inside centre, who played his way into last year’s team of the season.
Across town, Ormiston got their season underway with a 19-10 win over WestMAC in even worse conditions which acted as a leveller for the teams.
The single-digit difference between the sides said a lot about the progression of the improving WestMAC opens rugby program.
At Cannon Hill Anglican College, Canterbury College built more confidence with a 33-14 win. They will play St Columbian’s at home in round 4 in what could decide the premiership.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Rohan Mendis-Galpin (Canterbury College)
Mendis-Galpin put in a tradesman-like knock to inspire Canterbury to its second straight win.
The ferocious front rower worked hard in and around the tight channels, carried hard into the defence and scored a try for his troubles.
Was busy for 70 minutes.
Charlie Menzies (Canterbury College)
Canterbury wouldn’t trade Menzies for any other midfielder across the competition.
In fact, if they could, they’d clone him and get a few more Menzies running around on a Saturday afternoon.
The outside centre was simply outstanding.
“When we needed that strong settler, he was just super consistent,” coach Josh Afu said in praise.
“He settled the boys down. When we started to lose our way, he was the calming leader that we needed.”
Max Everett (CHAC)
CHAC have blooded a mighty young buck in this year’s team — Year 10 prop Max Everett.
Everett has shown maturity and skill beyond his years and against Canterbury he was just solid.
It was his second game playing the full 70 minutes and he was going just as hard in the 70th as he was in the first displaying nothing flashy but he clearly has the core skills and rugby fundamentals down pat.
Peter Elliot (CHAC)
On a wet day, scrumhalf Elliot enhanced his reputation with pinpoint service, speed to the ruck and a scheming running game.
A Year 11 livewire, Elliot would have been close to the best player on the field with his little half breaks creating momentum from the breakdown.
Adam Edwards (St Paul’s)
Edwards had an edge on Pink day.
He scored a try, led the Puma’s defensive charge and just organised the line expertly from flanker.
Was a key lynch pin in what was a cracking game of schoolboy footy.
Oli Rauchle (St Paul’s)
The St Paul’s multi-sport stud was back at it again, impacting play from inside centre.
A towering teen who hit runs for fun in term 1 playing First XI cricket, Rauchle cut an inspiring figure in the midfield as captain of a young Puma’s outfit with just five returning players from 2024.
He was assertive early and a highlight came when he scored a 60m pearler, cutting back inside and storming down field.
Kingsley Brookes (St Paul’s)
Brookes controlled the tempo nicely from halfback, passed to the chest of his fly half and showed urgency getting to the breakdown and swinging the ball promptly.
It was a high-quality, measured performance from a Year 11 student in his first game in the top team.
Tom Dennis (JPC)
Hard work was Dennis’ middle name on Saturday.
In a game where JPC lost six players to injury or concussion, fierce flanker Dennis played above his age (16) and size to be a reliable defender.
Kyle Kooi (JPC)
Kooi did his job to perfection in the front row.
He often moved JPC over the gain line, scrummed well and had his hands full when JPC got going off the set-piece.
Elijah Baron (JPC)
Baron’s brave performance at fullback had JPC coach Josh Kron singing his praises.
A gutsy cover defender who “just never gave up”, Baron was a constant roving from left to right in the back field, making tackles and slotting in and out of the line when needed.
Eduard Welgemoed (Ormiston)
Welgemoed provided a ripping response to being shut down in the first round against an amped-up St Columban’s outfit.
The midfielder of South African heritage came to life, running hard and fast, scoring a try and setting up another to Angus Plastow.
He had plenty of good moments showing what he was made of. The best was when he picked up a loose ball, accelerated through two defenders and stormed into the back field before lobbing a chip kick over the WestMAC fullback.
A free-for-all with his rival led to Plastow diving on the ball and scoring.
Will Park (Ormiston)
Park brought the aggression from blindside flanker where he hit, got up again and hit once more.
In attack, he lapped up the pick-and-drive play and in defence he led the charge against a big WestMAC side.
Luke Gilbert (Ormiston)
Gilbert inspired belief into his side with his unrelenting leg drive and ability to keep moving forward after contact.
In the scrum, hooker Gilbert had his saywinning a few penalties as well. But it was his mobility and busyness around the park, resisting defenders, which made spectators take note.
Lincoln Booth (WestMAC)
The WestMAC No. 8 was tireless with his work ethic.
The wet did not deter him from doing the dirty work at the break down, fronting up in defence and putting his hand up for a run, regularly, wide of the ruck.
Charlie Pickering (WestMAC)
Pickering has been on fire to start the season.
The forward leader started with a bang against CHAC and his versatility was on show when he started at prop and shifted to hooker midway through the game.
His repeat efforts on defence was impressive in one of WestMAC’s best showings against Ormiston College in recent years.
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