Padua College’s drought-breaking First XV premiership was never just about two quick months of undefeated matches in AIC rugby.
For some players, the inspiration for last Saturday’s 27-22 victory over St Laurence’s College was hatched back in Grade 5 when they first entered the school gates in short pants with no concept what a razor was used for.
The hard work to win a First XV premiership began years ago.
Padua’s man-of-the-match Will Tozer captured it perfectly in his words to both teams after being awarded his Peter “Doubles” Daley Medal.
“To our boys, congratulations, those early morning runs on cold mornings and times in the gym, all were worth it,” Tozer said.
The benefits of the rousing undefeated premiership will be felt for years to come through all those cheering, younger rugby players who were gulping in inspiration on the sidelines while watching the season finale at Runcorn.
Padua’s first premiership since 2016 was a worthy contest. Padua jumped to a 12-0 lead yet found themselves behind 19-15 early in the second half when Lauries rallied strongly.
In the premiership minutes, it was Padua who rose. Tozer speared over from a lineout win to grab the lead at 20-19 before a classy play sealed it.
The silky moves of headgeared fullback Jayden Solien had already caught everyone’s eye even before a short, one-handed offload put cenre Nate Clark over for the deciding try.
In the first half, Solien had caught a kick on the run and stepped instantly into attack with a step and spin to evaded defenders for 20m. Only the best can do that.
Padua had many standouts.
Halfback Brock Dillon was the chief instigator of the 12-0 lead with tries to lock Jacob Moesbergen and winger Tyrone Burr. His darts from the ruckbase were direct and nearly always made good metres.
Flyhalf Damon Humphrys’ big left boot matched that of Lauries’ Finn Mackay and both must be rated as among the best No.10s at Under-18 level in Queensland.
Lauries had become an efficient, well-drilled outfit during their run of four solo or shared premierships and the belief that they were never out of it showed.
The second of two strong pick-and-go tries from prop Preston O’Brien got Lauries into the lead just after half-time.
Their opening try had been the perfect reflection of Lauries’ cornerstones of set piece strength, kicking for territory and working off a strong base under coach Welmar du Plessis.
Off the back of a scrum, No.8 Ben Davis, a strong performer the whole season, fed halfback Henry Edwards, who switched his pass to centre Lewis Blaikie making the perfectly timed inside run to the tryline.
Padua coach Andrew Clyne was delighted with how all elements of the season had come together for a rousing finale.
“These past few weeks, the feeling around the whole college has been pretty special. If rugby is in a good place, you feel the good vibe,” Clyne said.
“We knew Lauries would back their strong set piece and their pick-and-go. We knew we had to play, shift the ball quickly at times and find the space. We defended really well right to the end and that last intercept on full-time.
“This has been Brock’s first year at halfback after being a flanker or inside back in the seconds last year. He’s strong in contact from his league background and he had an excellent game.
“Players like Will Tozer have been at the college since those Grade 5-6 days. It’s really something to reach this point in Year 12.”
Flanker Fynn Dalton was non-stop. Hooker George Noone did much unsung work with his cleanouts.
How will the win reverberate?
Queensland Reds flyhalf Lawson Creighton, a member of Padua’s 2015 premiership group, gave an inkling that school loyalty rarely fades.
He was just off the plane in Brisbane from the Reds’ quarter-final in New Zealand, when he posted the reaction the whole college is feeling.
“How good,” he wrote.
Padua College 27 (Jacob Moesbergen, Nate Clark, Tyrone Burr, Will Tozer tries; Damon Humphrys 2 con, pen goal) defeated St Laurence’s College 22 (Preston O’Brien 2, Lewis Blaikie tries; Finn Mackay 2 con, pen goal)
