The resilience of Iona College is all that stands between Marist College Ashgrove and the 2019 AIC First XV rugby union premiership this weekend.
Ashgrove ensured that it would at least share the title after edging Padua College at Banyo last Saturday in an entertaining round 6 clash.
The 29-10 result, featuring two tries from flanker Nick Baker, stretched Ashgrove’s winning run to six matches, guaranteeing a share of the title.
They will win outright if they can topple Iona at Ashgrove this Saturday when the AIC competition comes to an end.
Iona will spring into the game buoyed by a 19-7 win over a much-improved St Edmund’s College at Tivoli Sports Complex.
Iona were well served across the park with flanker Lachlan Hyde, prop Anthony Pepe and debutant fullback Kayne Rogerson among their best.
Villanova College will be urging on Iona, hoping the black and whites can spring an upset that enables Villanova a shot at a shared premiership.
Villanova pushed its 2019 record to five wins and one loss when they overcame St Patrick’s College 38-19 in a high-tempo clash at Villanova Park.
The teams were close at halftime – Villanova led 14-12 – but the home team pushed clear in the second half as Year 11 centre Declan Ries scored twice to keep their premiership hopes alive.
Villanova faces an intriguing clash on Saturday when they meet St Laurence’s College at Runcorn.
Victory will ensure that Villanova is at least guaranteed second place on its own, otherwise St Laurence’s and Padua College could join them on the ladder.
St Laurence’s defeated St Peter’s Lutheran College 48-14 last weekend, showcasing some new talent in the strong home victory.
Year 10 players Oscar Hawes and Tom Parker-Ryan featured for St Laurence’s along with Year 11 student Bailey Phister.
Liam Trenow, making his first start in the top team, played well with two tries in the first 20 minutes.
St Peter’s has shown enough to know it will provide a stern test for St Patrick’s when they close their season at Indooroopilly on Saturday.
Padua will host St Edmund’s College as the Ipswich team aims to finish strongly. Padua has enjoyed a positive season underlined by the challenge that it threw out to Ashgrove last weekend.
Strong forward Poasi Manu scored for Padua against Ashgrove – no mean feat given the wall of Ashgrove defence that has withheld its rivals across the season.
Round 7 matches, Saturday 15 June (home teams first)
Marist College, Ashgrove vs Iona College
St Laurence’s College vs Villanova College
Padua College vs St Edmund’s College
St Peter’s Lutheran College vs St Patrick’s College
Round 6 results
Iona College 19 (J Shelton, C Kwock Sun Barker, F Stevens tries, B White 23 goals) d St Edmund’s College 7 (J Kennedy try, D Ah You goal)
St Laurence’s College 48 (L Trenow 2, C Torluccio 2, A Sawtell, L Davies, B Huddy, O Hawes tries, H Farimbella 4 goals) d St Peter’s Lutheran College 14 (J Savage, C Gadd-Weazel tries, M Hill 2 goals)
Villanova College 38 (D Ries 2, M Boxall, J Livingstone, O Donoghue, H Muir tries, G Stokes 4 goals) d St Patrick’s College 19 (W Boland, T Nukunuku, S Boulton tries, Connor O’Regan 2 goals)
Marist College Ashgrove 29 (N Baker 2, H Dreghorn, C Moller, D Hammond tries, L McDonald 2 goals) d Padua College 10 (P Manu try, D Ryan goal, pen goal)
