LANGER CUP: St Mary’s College comes from behind to down title contenders

The Langer Cup opener saw St Mary’s College in a dogfight against title contenders Wavell SHS.

Tom McGahan charges forward for St Mary's College against Wavell SHS in the Langer Cup. Photo: Kevin Farmer

RUGBY LEAGUE: A second-half comeback has lifted St Mary’s College to a huge opening round Langer Cup victory.

Hosting title contenders Wavell SHS, St Mary’s came back from 10-0 down at the break to post an 18-16 victory on home soil.

The home side couldn’t have asked for a better start, with a big tackle from Riley Wockner forcing an error from the kick-off.

It set the tone early, with De La Salle Va’a just held up over the line in the fifth minute as the home side looked destined to open the scoring.

Wavell had their best chance in the ninth minute, as Prinston Esera broke through the line to be tackled just shy of the opposition goal line.

The danger was diffused however, with Declan Ryan following up with a nice tackle to force the ball over the sideline.

Some ill discipline saw St Mary’s marched down the field in the 17th minute, but they were unable to make the visitors pay, fumbling possession on the first tackle.

It took 21 minutes, but Wavell ultimately posted first points with Karl Oloapu crashing his way over.

That gave the visitors the spark they needed with Demascus Neemia striking from short range to give his side a 10-0 lead at the break.

St Mary’s started the second half with intent, forcing two dropped balls from Wavell in their first two sets.

They were inches away from conceding again however, before a desperate tackle from Preston Brown brought down Will Curran off a clean break.

It was the home side’s turn to apply pressure, and a deft pass from Ryan to Bailey Nash saw St Mary’s cut the lead to 10-6 in the 39th minute.

De La Salle Va'a attacks the line for St Mary's College against Wavell SHS in the Langer Cup. Photo: Kevin Farmer

It wasn’t long after that they had their first lead in the game, with captain Xavier Va’a spinning his way out of a tackle metres out from the tryline to score beside the uprights with 17 minutes left to play.

Wavell refused to back down, and after a big kick return from fullback Trae Bennetto, big front-rower Felix Faatili proved impossible to stop close to the line, edging them clear 16-12 in the 50th minute.

Just when they looked on the back foot, a surging run from De La Salle Va’a earned his team a penalty, giving St Mary’s vital field position.

They capitalised, with Dom Whittingham catching the defence napping on their line to put St Mary’s ahead 18-16 with five minutes remaining.

An error from the kick-off almost proved fatal, however their defensive line held strong to desperately keep Wavell at bay.

ST MARY’S 18 (Bailey Nash, Xavier Va’a, Dom Whittingham tries; Chad Lebsanft 3 goals) WAVELL SHS 16 (Karl Oloapu, Demascus Neemia, Felix Faatili tries; Trae Bennetto 2 goals)