NSW qualify for Schools Final
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Saturday, 12 July 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
NSW I have topped their pool and qualified for the final of the Novotel Australian Schools Championships despite going down in their final pool game.
NSW Schools Rugby Union
NSW Schools Rugby Union
Combined States, drawn from players from Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, were never headed in defeating NSW I 10-7, however the bonus point was enough to qualify NSW I through to the Final.
NSW II upset ACT 15-7 in other day three action, however it wasn't enough to stop Queensland I topping their pool to meet NSW I in the Final.
Match reports is courtesy of the Australian Rugby Schools Football Union.
Match 7 (Non-comp) - Queensland I v Queensland II
Queensland I 12 (Matt Wenck, J Daley tries; D Gagai con) d Queensland II 12 (Mitch Wenck 2 pens).
Match 8 (Pool B) - Australian Capital Territory v New South Wales II
The ACT came out very strong in the opening minutes, continually attacking the NSW II line. In the third minute NSW II's desperate defence resulted in a penalty against them, right in front of the posts. The ACT chose to kick, however in a bizarre lack of organisation couldn't find a tee and so instead opted for the line out.
The ACT were close again in the fifth minute when David Bennett salvaged a poor pass and ran on, however the NSW II defence worked well to limit his options, and when he went to pass found his supporting player too close, causing a knock on
In the 14th minute, following two great runs by Peter Gilmore, NSW were awarded a penalty and chose to go for the line out, however the ball was turned over due to a forward pass. NSW II soon recovered, and newly substituted Tom English scored in his first minute on the field, converted by Harry Bennett.
NSW II's Liam McGrath had a chance in the 22nd minute, but again the ball was turned over to the ACT. After sustained pressure, NSW II took a penalty kick in the 27th minute, Bennett's kick almost scraped the posts but went in. In the final minute of the half, ACT's Jean-Pierre Mynhardt found himself heading towards the line in space, but with no support and with an enormous NSW defender approaching, offloaded the ball to no-one. This did create some momentum for the ACT, but a knock on signalled the end of the half.
Half-time: NSW II 10 ACT 0
The ACT again came out blazing in the beginning of the second half, and in the second minute Ollie L'Estrange ran through a maze of players but a poor pass led to a turnover.
In the fifth minute the ACT were penalised and NSW II chose to kick. While Bennett was lucky to make it on the previous attempt, he was unlucky to miss this time, the ball skimming the post on the wrong side. In the seventh minute the ACT had possession when Robbie Coleman created a try out of nothing, by chipping the ball high over the defence in the centre of the field, catching it and then dodging NSW II players as he ran for the line and scored. Anthony Crowe converted.
In the 15th minute Mynhardt again kicked long and chased down the field, and as the ACT scrambled to follow him, the NSW II defence got there a split second earlier, and chose to continue to kick the ball down the field before an ACT player could get a hand to it. The ball was about to land just over the try line when a NSW II defender caught it and put it down.
In the 18th minute the ACT's Reinhold Kamilo made a strong charge down the field, but the momentum soon swung to NSW II, who after a few failed attempts managed to score again when Luke Rissman broke through. The conversion was missed.
In the 25th minute the ACT chose to tap and go from a penalty but couldn't score, and in the 26th minute Jack Brims spun around to make a quick pass to Mynhardt, however they couldn't find the line before the ball was knocked down by a NSW II defender.
The ACT had some chances in the final minutes of the match, however similar to the rest of the match they were unable to make the most of them.
New South Wales II 15 (T English, L Rissman tries; H. Bennett con, pen) d ACT 7 (R Coleman try; A. Crowe con).
Match 9 (Pool A) - Combined States v New South Wales I
What was expected by most to be one of the more one-sided matches of the tournament to New South Wales ended up being the most entertaining and nail-biting of the Championships, with Combined States putting up an exceptional display of strength against their larger and more favoured opponents.
NSW I came out strong, and in the fifth and seventh minutes Greg Jeloudev used his speed to make very quick runs for NSW I towards the line, however no points were scored.
The following ten minutes, although not effecting the scoreboard, showed a very high calibre of rugby from both teams, and the lack of NSW I opportunities set the scene for the rest of the match.
Great team work by Combined States in the 17th minute gave them all the momentum but no points, although it was a perfect set up for the 20th minute, when an awkward pass looked like causing a turnover to NSW I until Siliva Siliva's great skills enabled him to collect the ball one-handed a metre out and dive for the line to score, giving Combined States the lead and NSW I something to think about.
Darryl Mitchell made the conversion and CS were able to keep control of the final ten minutes of the half, going into the break in front, perhaps unexpectedly but nonetheless well deserved.
Half-time: Combined States 7 NSW I 0
The second half got off to a blistering start, with an awesome display of individual skill from Combined State's Heremaia Te Aute in the second minute.
A loose pass looked like it was going to be intercepted by NSW I, but was saved by Te Aute's quick hands, who then went on to break through several tackles in a row to run from just past half way towards the line, being caught a metre short by an impressive NSW I tackle.
In the seventh minute CS ambitiously chose to kick when NSW I were penalised for not rolling away. Although being a fair way out from the goal posts, Mitchell's kick, while initially looking like it wasn't going to make the distance, scraped over the top of the bar to the jubilation of the parents who had come from as far away as Perth to watch their boys play.
In the tenth minute CS had another chance to further their lead with a penalty in front of the posts, and Mitchell's kick was tantalisingly close, but on the wrong side of the post.
The momentum swung towards a shaken NSW I team, desperate to recreate the dominant play of previous matches. Their persistence was rewarded in the tenth minute with a penalty against CS.
Looking for a try, they opted for a line out despite being right in front of the posts. A rolling maul was formed and looked strong initially, but the CS defence got on top of it and created a stalemate, eventually the ball was turned over.
In the 15th minute Alec White made a break and passed the ball off, momentarily raising NSW I's hopes of finally scoring, but the following pass went to no-one and the ball rolled over the touch line.
The momentum was still with NSW I in the 17th minute, but the CS defence was relentless and NSW I had no answers, eventually losing the ball with a forward pass. In the 18th minute however, CS were penalised in front of goal, and this time NSW I's gamble to go for the try paid off, when a scrum led to Alec White scoring. A conversion by Greg Jeloudev put NSW I just three points behind CS going into the final ten minutes of a tense match.
In the 23rd minute, with CS tentatively staying in control, NSW I were penalised, however a silenced crowd watched as Mitchell's ball sailed just wide.
A nervous five minutes followed. In the 28th minute NSW I had a line out and formed a strong rolling maul, this time gaining a lot of ground, however a penalty was awarded to CS following a knock on two metres from the line.
NSW I had possession after the siren, but the ball was again turned over, signalling the end of the match and an enormous achievement for the thrilled Combined States side. Although leaving with the knowledge that just three more points would have put them into the final, Combined States can be proud, proving that they were the better team and that their win was certainly earned.
Combined States 10 (S Siliva try; D Mitchell con, pen) d NSW I 7 (A White try; G Jeloudev con).