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THE Beaudesert Warriors under 15s rugby union team this week turned their minor premiership into a major premiership with a well executed win over rivals the Coomera Crushers.
Plenty of headlines could have captioned the story with Luke Peterson at number 8 scoring three tries and Billy Parke’s diving full length try in the corner followed by his incredible conversion from the sideline.
It was however, the way the whole team executed the game plan which should be the focus.
Having charged the front row with the responsibility of dominating the scrum and tight play, Luke Gittins, Tom Kliese, Luke Rutherford and Jesse Holden responded in style.
The Warriors constantly put Coomera’s big pack under pressure allowing the Beaudesert backline, well led by Iziah Tittor, to dominate.
Izzy was able to continuously give the electrifying Tom Jellie quality ball enabling the Warriors great go forward.
In the first half Coomera had the advantage of a strong wind at their backs but were unable to penetrate the Warriors defence led by fullback Nick Picton and loose forward Exavier Evile, forcing the Crushers to settle for two penalty goals for the half.
Two tries to the Warriors from extremely accurate throwing by Tom Kliese and great line-out wins by Dylan Leyland and Dylan Archer enabled the pack to drive over the line with Luke Peterson scoring twice.
Dylan Archer, who moved from the backs into the second row, was simply astounding around the paddock and caused havoc with his lock partner Dylan Leyland whenever they had ball in hand.
The 10-6 half time score was soon a distant memory with the Warriors scoring a try in the corner after some backline magic created by Iziah Tittor on the back of great go forward by the hungry pack.
Iziah moved the ball quickly to space, finding a diving Billy Parke just inside the corner to score.
His conversion from the sideline will go down as one of the most impressive pressure kicks of the year in all grades.
A disallowed try due to Ray Creighton after a dubious obstruction call, would have put the game beyond the reach of Coomera early in the second half. A penalty to the Warriors saw the score move to 20-6.
Jamie Wright was then able to secure his fourth pressure catch from the restart showing lots of courage under the high ball.
Time and time again they smashed him while he was pulling in the ball from over his head but he was able to make sure the ball came back to the Warriors side of the ruck.
The game now seemed well in control by the Warriors, Coomera however had not given up and took advantage of an injury to Warriors inside centre Jahmin Harrison to scramble over for a converted try.
The Warriors hit back soon after when Dylan Leyland moved the ball from a turnover and found Tom Jellie and replacement Mark Tuitupou who moved the ball 70 metres down field right onto the Coomera try line.
Pure strength and an iron will to score saw Luke Peterson score the third of his tries, an accomplishment he has achieved in his last three grand finals. The conversion by Izzy made the score 27-13.
Sam Gilliland at half was constantly pressured by the opposition loose forwards but remained calm throughout, taking many runs back into the forwards rather than pass pressure ball.
Harry Hudson showed that nothing would stop the Warriors when he replaced the hard working Daniel Sierant late in the second half.
Harry immediately got into play with several tackles when the Warriors were under pressure. Josh Aitken ,returning after a year off, finished the season with some telling defence to go with a season of great attack.
A last second try to Coomera saw the final score at 27-20 but there was little doubt the Warriors were the better team on the day.
Thanks goes to under 14s Benjamin Nash and Clayton Reed who covered the bench but were unable to get on, injured player Jeff Mylett and unavailable Tyler Boreham.
In summing up the young charges performance, Warriors coach Dale Ledger said it was like having Black Caviar in their stable.
“You just tell them which way to run and then let them go,” he said.
“For a bunch of 13 and 14 year old guys they are extremely mature in their approach to football.”
When asked to pick the player of the match Ledger said, “it is very hard to go past a guy who scores three tries in the grand final in Luke Peterson but I think a mention must go to our young props Luke Rutherford, who played up a grade and Luke Gittins in his first year of rugby”.
“I also thought our captain Tom Kliese had his best game of the season at line-out, scrum and in defence.
“Tom Jellie was unstoppable in the centres and Izzy has grown into a complete number 10.
“I am very pleased with the way they have developed and look forward to celebrating their achievements at presentation day.”
Ledger also thanked Ross Kliese, Grant Peterson and Stew Anderson for their assistance this year citing the win as a team effort by both players and support staff. |
