A try on full-time by fullback Hemi Rakuita today delivered the Ballymore Cup to Ipswich Grammar in a thrilling 22-19 win over Sydney's Scots College.
Just as Ipswich Grammar had fought from behind earlier in the tournament, they found a way back when it looked a long shot at 19-7 down just before half-time in the Under-18s final.
Halfback Jack Garnier had spotted a gap at the ruckbase and scooted within metres of the Scots College tryline to set up the final attack by Ipswich Grammar at South Pine Sports Complex.
In the first half, the visiting Sydney side had set a breathtaking pace with the speed of their play, quick taps and a superb 90m try on counter-attack from an Ipswich Grammar kick.
The final was a fitting climax to three quality days of schoolboy rugby with Ipswich Grammar crowned the first back-to-back winners of the Ballymore Cup since Wavell State High School in 2010 and 2011.
This was Rakuita's third Ballymore Cup and the Queensland Reds U18s fullback was upbeat about the springboard it can be into trials and the GPS First XV season.
"It's a great feeling to take into the season. We've just come from a big camp at Casuarina so all the games we've played in the Ballymore Cup got the rust off and built our team bonding," Rakuita said.
"Scots do play a different style of footy to what we are accustomed to with the speed of their play and going to the edge as much as they do.
"We were a bit more strategic. When we were down 19-7, our captain Lane (Edmonds) just kept saying 'stay in the fight' and we did."
A pick-and-go try by lock Thomas Smith closed the gap to 19-17 after Scots had taken a 19-10 lead into half-time.
It was a superb display by Ipswich Grammar to beat a Scots team which had a rollicking run through their five previous games, including a 19-0 shutout of Brisbane Boys' College in the semi-finals and a 24-10 win over St Laurence's College in the quarter-finals.
Ipswich Grammar advanced by beating Marist College Canberra 21-14 in their semi-final.
Tournament Director James Pritchard said the presence of teams from Sydney and Canberra to vie with top GPS and AIC schools had elevated the three-day tournament.
"The level of rugby definitely went up a level this year. We had schools feel each other out on the opening two days and the bigger schools step up in the quarters and semis," Pritchard said.
"The restructure with Bowl and Plate competitions also running in the U18s meant teams, which had lost pool games, still had a trophy to play for.
"We had good feedback from a number of coaches about the value of getting four, five and six games against different opponents, having to manage squads and getting good footy in before the season proper starts for them."
Pritchard marshalled a group of 10 Queensland Rugby Union Community Rugby staff to deliver a quality tournament over three days with invaluable help from QRRA Brisbane and Queensland Country referees at host club, the Albany Creek Brumbies.
Brisbane schools always hear so much about the GPS competition in Sydney so the chance for six Queensland schools to test themselves against that standard at Under-18 level was invaluable.
There were familiar faces too with 2024 Queensland U16s No.8 Agapetos Lote-Felo in Scots' colours as well as former Queensland U16s flanker Ryker Smith.
In the U18s Bowl final, Rockhampton Grammar beat Scots College (2) 24-21 with winger Brayden Wooler amongst the try-scorers.
In the tight plate final, St Edmund's College came from behind to beat Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar 22-14.
A grubber kick ahead by classy St Eddie's fullback Max Halls was swooped on by centre Tomi Wilson for the clinching try nearing full-time.
Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar duo Caleb Doevendans and Aiden Broadhurst, the nippy try-scoring halfback, stood out.
King's Christian College claimed the U14s division while Sunshine Coast Grammar were crowned U16s champions.
