Big upset today
For the second year in a row Combined States pulled off a major upset at the Australian Schools Championship when they defeated the might of NSW Schoolboy Rugby 20-15 at Knox College on Sydney’s North Shore today.
Combined States are made up of the best young schoolboy players from the lesser known Rugby states and territories – Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory - but on the day they were too good for the elite of the GPS, CHS and CAS competitions.
Aquinas College and Canning Vale SHS in Western Australia are hardly household names in schoolboy Rugby but their students scored the points that overcame the best that famed Rugby nurseries like Scots, Kings and Joeys could put on the park.
Flanker Jack de Guingand, from Victorian Schools’ powerhouse St Kevin’s College, and Nathan Oakley from Canning Vale scored tries for Combined States while Aquinas flyhalf Kyle Godwin was accurate with the boot landing two conversions and the same number of penalty goals.
For NSW I, Kings School winger Scott Ferris and Scots College fullback Jacob Woodhouse notched five pointers while Marcus Heather from Endeavour Sports High School put over one conversion and a penalty goal.
The young sky blues had their chances late in the game but poor decisions and resilient defence from Combined States saw the outsiders hold on
NSW I must now rely on Queensland II beating Combined States on Saturday if they are to play in next Monday’s final, while Combined States are now more than realistic final contenders from Pool A.
In the day’s other games last year’s winners Queensland I warmed up for the crucial Pool B clash with NSW II on Saturday with a comfortable 47-7 victory over Queensland II in the non-competition match.
St Joseph’s Nudgee College winger Kimani Situata marked himself as a star of the future racing over for a quartet of tries for Queensland I while St Peters winger George Moresu was Queensland II’s lone tryscorer.
NSW II also kept themselves in the hunt for a finals berth with a gritty 15-7 victory over ACT with St Dominic’s College outside centre Tevita Felikitau-Fetuani crossing for a try along with Kiama High School fullback Ethan Ford.
The ACT’s points were all scored by one school – Erindale College, with a try to hooker Trent Hoscher and a conversion from fullback Brendan Taueki. But with two losses from two games the young Brumbies hopes of a final place are over.
There is a rest day tomorrow, when the young players will receive career and vocational guidance from expert tutors, before Day 3’s competition at Knox College on Saturday.
Australian Schools Championship Day 2
Results
Game 4
Queensland I 47 (Kimumi Situata 4, Simon Morahan, Chris Sautia, Joel Turaga tries, Cayden Matehaere 6 con) defeated Queensland II 7 (George Morseu try, Dion Taumata con)
Game 5
Combined States 20 (Jack De Guingand, Nathan Oakley tries, Kyle Godwin 2 con 2 PG) defeated New South Wales I 15 (Scott Ferris, Jacob Woodhouse tries, Marcus Heather 1 con, 1 PG)
Game 6
New South Wales II 15 (Tevita Felikitau-Fetuani, Ethan Ford tries, Liam Walker con, PG) defeated ACT 7 (Trent Hoscher try, Brendan Taueki con)
POOL TABLES AFTER DAY 2
POOL A
NSW I – 6
Combined States – 4
Queensland II – 0
POOL B
Queensland I - 5
NSW II - 4
ACT – 0
Draw for Day 3 - Saturday July 11
Knox College, Pacific Highway, Wahroonga
11:00 am NSW I v ACT (Non-competition)
1:00 pm Queensland II v Combined States
3:00 pm Queensland I v NSW II
