Ipswich defeat PBC grand final blockbuster

Ipswich defeat PBC grand final blockbuster

Author : Andrew Dawson NewsCorp Sport

Ipswich defeat PBC in Langer Trophy grand final blockbuster

Comeback kings Ipswich snatched back the lead to defeat Palm Beach Currumbin in a Langer Trophy grand final blockbuster. Watch the Langer Trophy, Walters Cup and Langer Reserves grand final replays!

Replay: Langer Trophy grand final – Ipswich SHS vs Palm Beach Currumbin SHS

Ipswich SHS’s team today created history by winning its first ever Langer Trophy, edging out PBC SHS 16-12.

At Kougari Oval it was a triple treat of schoolboy live streaming by The Courier-Mail and KommunityTV.

LANGER TROPHY:

Ipswich 16 – 12 Palm Beach Currumbin

Ipswich SHS’s most famous past student Allan Langer has expressed his pride in seeing his old school claim an historic premiership, the Langer Trophy, by beating Palm Beach Currumbin SHS 16-12 in a schoolboy rugby league grand final classic at Kougari Oval on Wednesday.

Ipswich SHS, unbeaten this season, swept to its first ever premiership by winning the trophy which is named after Langer.

“I am proud of the Ipswich boys. It was such a great game of rugby league and you need to give it to Palm Beach as well.

They defended superbly,’’ Langer said.

“It was great football. But even better (Ipswich won),’’ Langer with a typical cheeky smile.

GALLERY: All the action from schoolboy footy grand finals

LANGER trophy schoolboy rugby league grand final between Palm Beach Currumbin SHS and Ipswich SHS. Palm Beach Currumbin SHS players celebrate a try before half time. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Ipswich SHS hit the winners post by the width of tissue paper in a grand final for the ages.

Ipswich scored first, then PBC SHS crept back to lead 12-10 before Ipswich SHS mighty mite Tyler Peckham-Harris dashed over to score after a break by his hooker Tommy Luhrman.

Ipswich SHS had received a pre-game pump up by celebrated alumni, Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, who flew from Sydney to address his old school side.

LANGER trophy schoolboy rugby league grand final between Palm Beach Currumbin SHS and Ipswich SHS. Ipswich SHS celebrate a try. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The NRL star then celebrated with the schoolboys like he had been let out of the classroom a day ahead of the Christmas school holidays.

“I could cry right now. I have had my best memories here,’’ Mulitalo said.

“It’s such a proud rich history we have. And from where we have come from, it means even more. We finally have one. “I’m so proud of the boys.’’

PBC SHS coach Tim Maccan said despite the loss, the game highlighted how tough his side was as it suffered injuries and confronted a huge pack.

“They probably beat us through the middle. We just had to try and hold on and they got a couple of sneaky tries and they got the chocolates.

“It could have gone either way and while I am disappointed we did not win, if there was a team which deserved to win it, it was Ipswich.’’

The Ipswich win was greeted with wild celebrations broke out around Kougari Oval as coach Joshua Bretherton and his men disappeared beneath a heaving mass of supporters.

In a match where the 26 players from both teams reached lofty heights, it was the smallest man on the field, jockey-sized Ipswich SHS fullback Tyler Peckham-Harris, who scored the decisive try nine minutes from the end.

LANGER trophy schoolboy rugby league grand final between Palm Beach Currumbin SHS and Ipswich SHS. PBC Jackson Le Pou. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Peckham-Harris, having played the ball, then had the energy to follow his scurrying dummy half Tom Luhrman through the ruck and score under the posts, leading to a 16-12 lead.

This was a grand final for the ages, with first one team and then the other wrestling for the initiative.

Ipswich, unbeaten this season, won it on the back of its defence, locking up the middle against the dynamic PBC SHS fullback Keano Kini, and hustling to the edges like men possessed.

There were an array of crucial tackles surely inspired by the occasion.

Some of those included:

+ PBC SHS’s Caleb Te Mono tackle on a try bound James Frazer

+ Anton Naiyep and Tyler Peckham-Harris on Michael Roberts

+ Keano Kini making two in a row on attacking Ipswich runner

+ MIchael Roberts on his opposite Naiyep

+ Zane Harrison’s dive to prevent Gabriel Satrick putting his support over for the winning try

Players from both teams played out of their skins, highlighted when Ipswich little man, fullback Peckham-Harris, leapt skyward to field a bomb like he had been fired out of a cannon.

The first half was highlighted by one of the great prop forward grand final tries, with Ipswich SHS captain Josiah Pahulu battering his way 15m to score under the posts.

He came so hard onto the ball, once sensed he would have run right through the fencing surrounding the field had his celebrating teammates not jumped all over his back and eased his momentum.

“They say big time players make big time plays and that’s what skipper Josiah Pahulu did,” Mulitalo said.

It was a real “follow me’’ effort by the Ipswich SHS forward leader and gave his side a 10-6 lead after 26 minutes.

Then came a crucial moment. Following the resumption of play, Ipswich turned the ball over which gave PBC SHS a late chance in the half.

Palm Beach Currimbun SHS were blocked from scoring on the left side when Ipswich centre Anton Naiyep and his fullback Tyler Peckham-Harris tackled Roberts on the line.

But a right shift saw interchange forward Jaylen Taewa crash over from a short ball by Zane Harrison after Reico Ratana had tapped on.

Earlier, Ipswich SHS opened the scoring after six minutes when Tommy Luhrman cleared the ruck to his halfback Jalen Afamasaga whose early ball to his representative centre Tre Fotu saw the big bloke crash over.

Ipswich had just regained possession from a nothing bomb, but in attacking the bouncing ball PBC SHS fullback Kini fumbled possession, leading to another set of six for Ipswich SHS.

Fotu’s early game contribution also included a thumping tackle on Brady Turner which shook the venue.

But after Ipswich middle forward Rene Bagon had produced a try saving tackle on Kini, PBC SHS were ahead when big match centre Michael Roberts barged over from dummy half.

A double blow for Ipswich who lost Bagon to injury after his brave tackle on Kini who had come on the burst with typical explosive power.

It was a blow to Ipswich who lost Caleb Jackson (centre), Ahmarni Leluia (prop) and Joven Gyemore (winger/ utility) leading up to the game.

PBC SHS captain Josiah Pahulu said the win should be used for his community to “aim high’’. “Anything is possible when you put your heart and mind to it,’’ said Pahulu, while also praising the Ipswich SHS coaching staff.

Scores: Ipswich 16

TRIES : T Fotu, J Pahulu, Tyler Peckham-Harris
GOALS : J Frazer 2

def

PBC SHS 12

TRIES : M Roberts, J Taewa
GOALS : J Lynn 2

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