NSW edged out at Novotel Australian Schools Championships
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Monday, 14 July 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
NSW I came within two points of winning the Novotel Australian Schools Championships, however Queensland I were too good running out 23-21 victors in Canberra.
NSW Schools Rugby Union
NSW Schools Rugby Union
NSW II had a great win against Combined States who triumphed over NSW I earlier in the week, while in the other redraw match Queensland II accounted for ACT.
Match reports are courtesy of the Australian Rugby Schools Football Union.
Match 10 (Redraw) - Combined States v New South Wales II
With Combined States coming off a huge win against NSW I in the previous match, the game was set to be an exciting one. The match started off well for both sides, sharing possession and territory, until the tenth minute when Combined States were penalised in front of the posts and NSW II chose to kick, Harry Bennett was successful.
The match was evened two minutes later when NSW II were penalised and an ambitious kick by Darryl Mitchell went over nicely. In the 15th minute the ball was passed out from a NSW II rolling maul and was passed along the line, however NSW II couldn't break through and score despite a slight overlap. The ball did cross the line, however it was held up and then turned over.
A penalty to Combined States in the 17th minute due to a late shoulder charge by NSW II after the ball had already gone out resulted in another three points to Mitchell and Combined States.
Another NSW II rolling maul in the 23rd minute gained a lot of ground, but the ball was turned over when a ruck was formed.
NSW II again had a chance to score in the 27th minute, when two decoy runners confused the CS defence and Damon Anderson ran sideways across the field to the opposite corner from where he began his run. After diving for the line to avoid an approaching defender, he was pushed across the touch line at the last possible second.
NSW II's Callum Fryer carried a number of Combined States defenders down the field with him to set up the try for Anderson after the siren, which was converted by Harry Bennett.
Half-time: Combined States 6 NSW II 10
NSW II had scored by the third minute of the second half, setting the scene for the rest of the match. A pass from William Meakes enabled Fryer to score again after running through a scrambling Combined States defence, which was again converted by Harry Bennett.
Combined States were increasingly losing their line outs, which gave NSW II more opportunities to attack. Meakes broke through several tackles in the eighth minute, creating a try out of nothing, converted by Bennett.
At this point Combined States were beginning to lose the cohesion of the last match and were continually missing tackles. In the twelfth minute NSW II scored again when Anderson broke through the scrambled CS defence and ran from the half way line and Bennett converted.
Combined States had the momentum in the 14th minute and used it, with Rodney Esekia recovered from an awkward pass that one of his team mates had to duck under to avoid knocking on. Esekia catching the ball cleanly was unexpected, giving him the upper hand when running to score. Mitchell converted, but Combined States were already a fair way behind their opponents.
NSW II's fifth converted try was scored by Robert Hahn in the 19th minute, from Jack Howard's pace across the field.
They again scored with Fryer's second in the 20th minute from an overlap.
Bennett missed his first kick of the match when the conversion attempt hit the very top of the post and bounced out. Combined States had one last chance in the 25th minute with nice team work and good passing, however Keith Wicks slipped and couldn't get to the ball as it rolled over the line and the ball was turned over. NSW II scored their final try in the 26th minute when Jack Howard ran down the line, past the Combined States who put in little effort to chase him as the result of the match had been evident for a while already.
Harry Bennett's sixth conversion were the last points scored in a match that looked promising initially but resulted in a white wash and the biggest winning margin of the Championships.
NSW II 50 (D Anderson 2, C Fryer 2, W Meakes, R Hann, J Howard tries; H Bennett 6 cons, pen) d Combined States 13 (R Esekia try; D Mitchell 2 pens, con).
Match 11 (Redraw) - ACT v Queensland II
Queensland II 27 (T Postal, F Tuua, T Tela tries; M Wenck 2 cons, 2 pens, S Rosolea con) d ACT 12 (T Stevens, J Brims tries; A Crowe con).
Match 12 (Final) - New South Wales I v Queensland I
The final began with a thunderous start, the crowd excited to see the two best junior rugby teams in the country go head to head. The standard of rugby was high, and in the fourth minute Greg Jeloudev ran from half way along the touch line, using his speed to avoid being tackled and score under the posts for NSW I, with Alex Pinson easily converting.
The scores were evened in the eleventh minute when the ball stopped rolling just before the try line off a QLD I kick. Dominic Shipperly picked it up and scored, and Eddie Bredenhann converted.
In the 15th minute NSW I were left a man down when Pao Pele was sin binned for shoulder charging a Queensland player before he could receive the ball.
NSW I were penalised in the 25th minute for not rolling away, and QLD I's decision to kick paid off when Bredenhann slotted the ball over.
NSW I reclaimed the lead in the 28th minute via Alec White, as he used his considerable height to charge down Simon Morahan's clearance kick for QLD I and follow it through. Although Morahan got to the ball first and kicked it away, he had no support and couldn't get the ball out, Kotoni Ale recovering it to score and Pinson converting.
After the half time siren Nicky Price used his incredible speed to run down the line and score for QLD I, the NSW I defenders having no chance of catching him once he was off, Bredenhann again made the conversion giving QLD the lead for the break.
Half-time: NSW I 14 QLD I 17
The second half had an intense beginning, both teams again coming out strong. In the fifth minute NSW I were penalised, giving QLD I an easy three points by Bredenhann.
In the eighth minute history repeated as NSW I were penalised again for not releasing the ball, right in front of goal. Bredenhann put QLD I further in front with his kick. However NSW I regrouped and it was QLD I who were in trouble in the 13th minute, continually giving away penalties in the same spot, although NSW I's repeated decisions to go for the try was perhaps ill-advised, as no points came from it.
Nicky Price again had a chance for QLD I in the 15th minute, with an overlap looking promising, but a misguided kick caused the ball to roll over the touch line.
In the 19th minute NSW I's Michael McDougall somehow found a gap in the defence where initially there wasn't one and ran under the posts to bring NSW I within a try of QLD I's lead. The conversion by Pinson put them two points behind, promising an exciting last ten minutes of the match.
The play alternated in favour of each team as the match progressed, NSW I becoming increasingly desperate to score and take the lead. However QLD I weren't giving NSW I a break and continued to put the pressure on.
In the final 20 seconds of the match NSW I were given a penalty and went for the line out. The siren went as NSW I began to build momentum, however they were unable to gain any considerable ground and an eventual turnover meant that QLD I were able to clear the ball and take the BH 'Jika' Travers Trophy for 2008.
QLD I 23 (D Shipperly, N Price tries; E. Bredenhann 3 pens, 2 cons) d NSW I 21 (G Jeloudev, K Ale, M McDougall tries; A Pinson 3 con).