Saint Martin’s Academy "Mixed Nuts" Rediscover Passion in Courageous 21-19 Win Over Blue Valley
By Vincent Prezzia
Saint Martin’s Academy, fielding a vibrant crew jokingly dubbed the “Mixed Nuts” for its blend of lads from their development squad, B-side, and A-side, rediscovered their joy for rugby to claw out a heroic 21-19 victory over Blue Valley in a match that throbbed with heart and defiance—a triumph destined to live long in the history and lore of Saint Martin’s Academy rugby. The Kingfishers, propelled by stellar efforts from substitute captain Peter McDonald, inside centre Daniel Ellis, outside centre Danny Dziak, scrum-half Jack Harrington, lock Jack Staunton, and full back Jude Cleveland, overcame a brutal second-half defensive siege, two late yellow cards, and a crushing injury to shine in a display that reaffirmed their love for the game.
The first half burst into life with a moment of magic in the tenth minute, as JP Gallo’s hard attacking dummy line sucked in Blue Valley’s defence, creating space for winger Liam Pluta to dart over for the opening try, putting Saint Martin’s 5-0 up after outside centre Danny Dziak missed the conversion. Scrum-half Jack Harrington, a B-side firecracker stepping up with an A-side regular absent, ignited the pitch with relentless energy and crisp passes from the outset. Substitute captain and flanker Peter McDonald and lock Jack Staunton led fearlessly with bone-crunching tackles, setting a ferocious tone alongside prop Henry Schafer, who hammered Blue Valley’s runners to keep them pinned. Dziak stayed sharp, slotting three penalty kicks to punish Blue Valley’s indiscipline, building a 14-0 lead. But disaster struck—McDonald, a beacon of leadership and defence, hobbled off injured just before the break, a massive blow to the Kingfishers. Blue Valley pounced in the final seconds, their forward barging over for a converted try to cut it to 14-7 at half-time, though the Mixed Nuts’ spirit burned bright under Staunton’s unwavering resolve.
The second half became a gruelling test of courage, with the Kingfishers pinned back in a near-relentless defensive stand, berated by a flurry of penalties that tested their mettle. Blue Valley struck early, levelling the score at 14-14 with a converted try. The Mixed Nuts dug in, flanker Theo Piliero hurling himself into tackles with ferocity, winger Anthony Klassen chasing down every loose ball, substitute flanker Martin Staunton throwing his weight into rucks, and flanker Simon Dunlap battling tirelessly to hold the line. Staunton and Schafer continued their tackling masterclass, while Jude Cleveland saved a certain score with a clutch ankle-tap tackle on a rampaging Blue Valley winger, keeping the Kingfishers alive. But in the sixth-to-last minute, Blue Valley broke through again, scoring in the corner; their missed conversion left it at 19-14. The Kingfishers’ grit was pushed to breaking point when yellow cards to Klassen and Pluta in the final seven minutes reduced them to 13 players. Under the posts, trailing and battered, a stirring speech from injured captain McDonald and assistant captain Staunton rallied the squad. Inspired, they stormed downfield—Harrington, seizing the moment, burst through to score with one minute left, and Dziak slotted the clutch conversion to snatch a 21-19 lead. The Mixed Nuts won the restart, played smart to protect the ball, and when time expired, Harrington booted it into the stands, sealing a victory forged in pure heart.
For Saint Martin’s, this was a triumph of defiance—Ellis’s artistry, Dziak’s vital penalties and match-winning kick, Harrington’s relentless spark and decisive try, Cleveland’s game-saving tackle, and the fearless leadership and tackling of Staunton, and McDonald drove a squad that played with unyielding courage, even after McDonald’s injury and late cards threatened to unravel them. Blue Valley fought fiercely, but the scoreboard read 21-19, marking the Kingfisher's revival after a listless win over Wichita and a bruising loss to Aquinas the week before. This ragtag crew, blending raw talent with seasoned grit, etched their names into Saint Martin’s lore with a performance that was defiant, vibrant, and unforgettable—having fun, battling bravely, and winning tight. They march on, their soul reignited, proving that on this day, it wasn’t just a game—it was a memory.
