St. Augustines College 64 - Mudgee High School 10 (I think)
It was little more than a training run for Saints; so it was hard to judge their form and more so because some regular starters played from the bench.. The Mudgee lads did their best but were not big enough, skilled enough nor fit enough to hold the Brookvale lads out for too long in the match.
They started off well but soon 1. Apineru Manu started bashing them up by forcing them to try to tackle him. It wasn't much joy after he was replaced either because the bloke who ran on, John Mokofisi the regular LHP, was just as destructive.
4. Rhys Dombkins, who was chosen for Oz A Schools this year, had a terrific match with ball in hand. He has the makings to be a fine no.8 as a senior player, methinks 7. Tim Conlon and 8. Dylan Maestri also played well though they are not the biggest lads for their position. I didn't notice 6. Sam Vaka playing; so maybe he is injured.
10. Sam Brisby stepped like Quade Cooper on steroids, or, for older folk, like Brett Papworth. You can see his background in touch footie as he was reluctant to let anybody touch him. Later this Puck was switched to the wing and acquitted himself well there also. 12. Purcell, like Lloyd Walker but stronger breaking tackles than Lloyd on his best day, was the linchpin.
13. Hingano was withheld by Papa for about half an hour and then he did his things, though one of them was a pass that was easily intercepted for the only Mudgee try. The Oz Schools outside centre looked like a swan amongst the ducks and it is rare to see a 13 so comfortable with the ball in hand and able to use it, let alone a schoolboy one. If he stays in our code he will play Super rugby one day.
It was hard for the Mudgee lads to shine but 10. Sam Muller, who was a reserve for NSW I Schools this year, did as well as anybody could expect him to play in the circumstances. He is a Noddy Lynagh type of tactical flyhalf and sweet kicker, both from hand and for goal.
It was a good effort from Saints though sometimes they had too many fellows in the backline when two waves may have been more productive – though that happens in easier games. They did one thing better than I have seen any other school team do this year, or for a few years: staying on their feet and making yards with strong, small steps. Hingano is not a huge strapping lad but he played like one in the tackle, Purcell was the same and let's not mention the forwards to whom staying on feet was probably a mantra.
One wishes that the Oz professional players did the same.
St. Augustines have had a good year to date and have 7 of their regular starters returning in 2011. Watch this space.
