GAME OF THE ROUND: The Southport School at BBC (17-15)
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Beautiful weather after earlier rain, fields a little soft, but Miskin Oval looked great condition
BBC led out by Darcy Swain (4), TSS by Angus Allen (7), with a total of 9 Australian Schoolboys or Australian Schoolboy Barbarian (A) representatives playing. Swain, Verevis, Ikatau, Ngamanu and Farrell for BBC, and Allen, Lenac, Riley and Campbell for TSS. One on one matchups were also keenly anticipated – Farrell v Allen at 7, Gunter v Pere at 8, Verevis v Lenac at 9, and Ikatau v Riley at 13.
BBC immediately showed intention to attack with a chip and chase from winger cum halfback Kris Verevis.
TSS countered with good runs from fullback Max Dowd and openside Angus Allen (7), with speedster Noah Lolesio (14) supporting.
TSS had the first opportunity to score from a penalty, but kick from Lenac (9) was unsuccessful.
The BBC fullback (Ngamanu) looked dangerous whenever he joined the line, first on the left hand side, and then on the right where created the extra man, drew the TSS winger off his man, and put the BBC 14 (Joe Stead) in for a try in the corner untouched. 5 – 0 to BBC
TSS then had a chance from a penalty in the BBC quarter, but lost the ball when spreading it wide from a quick tap.
A good kick and chase from Campbell (10) forced a 5 metre scrum, when Ngamanu was forced to carry the ball dead.
From the scrum Lenac was held up over the line, but from the ensuing scrum BBC forced another TSS error.
BBC were able to clear the ball, but were soon defending in their own 22 again.
From a penalty to TSS in front of the posts, the call came to spread the ball wide, and Hayden Sargeant (11) was able to evade Swain and Verevis to score. Conversion unsuccessful, score 5 – 5 after 20 minutes.
From the restart, BBC went close to scoring in the corner from a kick from Raoren (10), but a penalty and quick tap saw Riley (13) set off on an 80 metre run downfield.
Riley was able to beat Ngamanu once, but the fullback recovered to bring Riley down 5 metres short of the line.
BBC defended on their line for the next 5 minutes, until Lolesio managed to get the ball down over the line in the tackle of Gunter (8) and Ngamanu. Conversion unsuccessful, and the half time score was 10 – 5 to TSS.
After the break, TSS started the strongest, but were unable to to cross the line, due to good defence and poor handling.
BBC were able to counter-attack from their own half several times through good runs from Verevis and Ngamanu, and looked to have scored a spectacular try when Ikatau (13) made a break down the left wing, and kicked ahead for Ngamanu.
The BBC fullback won the race for the loose ball and dived on it in the corner.
The crowd was convinced a try was scored, however it was called back for a knock-on, either where Ngamanu had first toed the ball ahead, or in the grounding of the ball.
Photos are inconclusive, and BBC can consider themselves very unlucky not to have the try awarded.
BBC received some compensation a few minutes later though when they were able to kick a penalty goal through Verevis. TSS 10 – BBC 8
TSS struck back immediately through a line-out steal from Rudland (4), and then Whitbread who had been contained well all day by the BBC centres, broke one tackle and then offloaded in another to Riley (13) who sprinted away from the cover to score under the posts. Conversion successful TSS 17 – BBC 8 with 15 minutes to play.
With time running out, BBC moved up a gear, and ran the ball back strongly.
First Ikatau (13), then Stead (14), then some forward pick and drives saw Swain stopped inches short of the line.
From the following ruck, Raoren (10) crashed over near the posts. Conversion successful TSS 17 – BBC 15 with 10 minutes to play.
Momentum had swung back towards BBC and Ngamanu and Verevis, in particular, looked dangerous every time they touched the ball.
TSS also had their chances to wrap the game up first when a rolling maul was held up over the line, and then Sargeant (11) went close, but was bundled into touch in the other corner.
BBC broke out once again, and were building pressure on the TSS line, when a dropped ball allowed TSS to clear the ball from their own half.
With little or no time on the clock, TSS were then penalized for off-side at a ruck on the 50 metre line.
After some quick deliberation, BBC elected for the 55 metre kick for goal. The crowd was silent as Joe Stead (14) lined up the goal.
The kick looked good in the air, but fell 5 metres short, but then the catch was knocked on in front of the posts! Could it be that BBC would get one more chance in a great attacking position ? No, it was not to be, as the referee called game over.
TSS jubilant, BBC shattered.
But the BBC team should raise their heads high, as it was a great game played in great spirit, as exemplified in the concern showed by the BBC No. 8 (Gunter) for the TSS halfback (Lenac) when he suspected he had suffered serious injury. With what looks like a very close competition this year, BBC are not out of the race with only one loss.
For BBC, Jayden Ngamanu, Kris Verevis and Jack Farrell were the standout players.
For TSS, Dylan Riley, Jordan Lenac and Angus Allen played well also.
Full-time score: TSS 17 – BBC 15
TSS 17 (Tries: Sargeant, Lolesio, Riley. Conv: Lenac)
BBC 15 (Tries: Stead, Raoren. Conv: Verevis. Pen: Verevis)
