St Columba’s College Clinch Dramatic Ian McKinley League Final Win
In blazing sunshine at Lakelands Park, St Columba’s College edged a thrilling Ian McKinley League Final with a last-minute penalty to seal a 26-25 win over a powerful Oatlands side.
Oatlands started the brighter, using their size up front to dominate early possession. But it was SCC who got on the scoreboard first, with Rory O’Dowd slotting a penalty. Oatlands responded with a penalty of their own and followed up with a well-worked try to lead 8-3 approaching halftime. However, a brilliant long pass from Ryan Ovenden found Vito Wiesner in space, who dived over in the corner to level the match 8-8 at the break.
The second half was fiercely contested, with big carries from Oatlands testing the SCC defence. Matthew Houlihan and George Priestley led the resistance with immense physicality and determination. Ovenden continued to be a spark in attack, and early in the half, he broke through and timed his pass perfectly to send David Chukweuke diving in at the corner for us to lead 13-8.
Oatlands hit back with a converted try to lead 15-13. Gavin O’Dowd kept the pressure on with sharp breaks from scrum-half, and David Cron was relentless in midfield. Ovenden once again made the difference, slicing through the defence and sending Chukweuke over for his second. This time, he finished closer to the posts, and Rory O’Dowd’s conversion gave SCC a 20-15 lead.
Oatlands responded again to edge ahead 22-20, before another O’Dowd penalty nudged SCC back in front. Yet another late Oatlands penalty saw them lead 25-23 with minutes remaining. But with one final chance, Rory O’Dowd coolly slotted his final kick in an SCC shirt to seal a memorable 26-25 victory. A heroic win and fitting end to a brilliant season.
