Columba sinks fast-finishing BTC to seal top spot and grand final place
Columba Catholic College locked up top spot and a ticket to the NQISSRL grand final after a week off, crushing Blackthorn & Thornburgh College (BTC) 38-16.
Playing its first home game of the tournament, Columba was too strong for a fast-finishing BTC, leading 22-6 at halftime and heartily reinforcing its points differential despite allowing the final two tries of the match.
Both sides played with depleted squads due to mid-season injuries, but it did not diminish the intensity of the match.
Columba’s First XIII coach Rohan Dixon was impressed with the balance his squad had shown through the first four rounds of the competition.
“It was pleasing to get the win after a week’s break and also see tries scored on both our left and right sides, through the good work of halves Mathias Santo-hero and Ben Simpson,” Dixon said.
“We have a young forward pack, but they are getting the job done and are to be commended, largely on the back of senior Brady Horan showing the way.”
The hosts got out to an early lead thanks to dangerous centres Jerremy Singleton and Naqarne Oui, before BTC centre Corey Prior hit back to make it 8-6.
Two tries in the dying stages of the half extended the Columba lead to 16 points and they never looked back.
Meanwhile on the other side of town, All Souls St Gabriels School stole victory from the jaws of defeat when fullback Darby Linton crossed the line late to give his school a 12-10 lead against Ryan Catholic College.
Poor goalkicking saw All Souls St Gabriels School outscore its opponents three tries to two, but it escaped with the all-important two competition points.