St Joseph's Nudgee College

August 4, 2008

In a "fairytale finish", Nudgee College defeated Ipswich Grammar last weekend by kicking a drop goal on the full time bell, securing an undefeated 2008 rugby premiership.

Year 11 Nudgee Fly Half Cayden Matehaere slotted a perfect drop goal to give Nudgee the 19-17 victory.

Ipswich Grammar lead for the majority of the match but the closing five minutes saw the score change three times.

Prop Kieren Tumata scored Nudgee's only try late in the game from a charge down at a lineout making the score 14-14 with a successful conversion taking the score to 16-14 for Nudgee. Ipswich replied with a penalty to again lead 17-16.

Matehaere's then kicked his drop goal and the referee immediately blew full-time to rapturous applause of the Nudgee crowd.

The win makes Nudgee the undefeated GPS Rugby Premiers for 2008. This takes Nudgee's tally to 37 GPS Rugby Premierships.

Nudgee 2nd XV were also undefeated GPS Rugby Premiers for 2008 beating Ipswich Grammar 31-7.

These two results complement the whole season by Nudgee College, which have put together some very compelling overall statistics:

• Total Nudgee teams 32 with approx 500 Nudgee Rugby Players.
• 162 games played - 141 Won, 15 Lost, 6 Drawn. Winning percentage of 91 per cent.
• Total for and against - 5160 for Nudgee, 1074 against Nudgee.
• Average - 32 points for, 6 points against.

Rugby Program Coordinator and First XV Co-coach Todd Dammers said he was justifiably proud of this achievement.

"The whole school deserves credit. When you have staff and students that are not big on Rugby but that are willing to provide their support and encouragement, this does make the Rugby program very strong," Mr Dammers said.

"The most rewarding statistic for me is the number of players that represented Nudgee, which was over 500.  For the great majority of these boys, they just want to play and have fun with their mates.

"If we can foster this love for Rugby throughout their years at Nudgee, then the boys have the chance to go on and enjoy Rugby for the rest of their lives if they want.

Mr Dammers said Nudgee was very proud of the First and Second XV teams.

"As a squad, they do have some serious talent. Nicky Price and Dom Shipperley being selected in the Australian Schoolboys team," he said.

"Another really shone today with Cayden Matehaere showing such maturity and calmness then displaying his skills with the winning kick.

"The First XV boys have really preserved throughout the season. At the start we had some scratchy games and were just hanging on to win.

"Four of our GPS games were cliff-hangers, or coach-killers, but the boys have that ability to stay calm, follow the plan and ultimately succeed.

"Our best game of the season was our very first against Brisbane State High. We had worked for 8 months for that very first match, it was a huge hurdle and the pure magnitude of the win was immense.

"Today eclipsed that match. It was a real fairytale. One of the very best games I have been associated with.

"Every credit to the all the boys that played First XV in 2008. Making a First XV team at Nudgee is something to be very proud of, but to be part of a team that were undefeated Premiers, is worthy of greater commendation."