The NSW PSSA Rugby Squad has successfully defended their title at the School Sport Australia Interstate Rugby Union exchange at concord Oval in Sydney. In its 10th year they won the Phil Waugh & Trevor Allan Shields with sensational performances on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th October.
The future of Waratah & Wallaby rugby is very promising if these players continue to progress through junior rugby pathways. Their coaches and parents, as well as the spectators, who watched them in action, have little doubt a number of the squad have the potential to go all the way.
After two training warm up matches against Kings U13s and Hunters hill U13s, followed by a great session at Concord Oval, on the Monday before the tournament, the squad was in devastating form to outclass the brave ACT, SA and Victoria’s 12 Years Squads.
The first match of the tournament saw NSW flex their muscle against ACT, running out 39-0 winners. With teammates adjusting to the tempo and surroundings a few pushed passes and lack of ball security were areas to improve on for the later matches. As combinations started to click, the team then started to hit their straps in game 2 against SA. They ran in some fantastic tries winning 59-0.
This set up a great contest between the NSW and Victoria on day two as both teams were undefeated. ACT played SA to see who finished 3rd and 4th and a great fight back saw SA win 15-14.
The NSW - Victoria match was of an excellent standard. NSW started very well and pressure in the Victorian 22 saw three ties in short succession. The forwards constantly got over the gain line allowing the backs time and space to use the ball. The free flowing game continued and saw Victoria score just before half time to take the score to 19-7.
Even though the Victorians enjoyed the majority of possession in the first 10 minutes of the second stanza the NSW defence really showed up. Once NSW weathered the storm they again ran the ball between forwards and backs alike producing some scintillating play. Four more tries flowed and the score finished 36-7.
The individuals to receive awards from NSW were;
Player of the Tournament (judged by the Tournament Director and his committee)
Alan Davies, Utility Forward (St Finbars, Glenbrook)
NSW Most Valuable Player (points awarded for each match by each coach)
Nicholas Frost, Number 8/Second Row, (Berowra Public)
NSW Most Improved (as decided by NSW Coach/Manager)
Liam Cornish, Utility Forward, (Waverley College)
NSW Players' Player (points from each squad member after each match)
Tre Finau, Fullback, (St Patricks Griffith)
Coaches' Award (as decided by NSW Coach/Manager)
Dominic Easy, Openside breakaway, (Holy Spirit North Ryde) and Triston Reilly, 5/8, (South West Rocks).
The NSW PSSA Rugby Squad was; Alexander Apthorpe Holy Trinity, Inverell – Polding, Rory Lynch St Aloysius, Cronulla – Mackillop, Oregon Kaufusi Barnier Public School - Sydney West, Mac Williams Mosman Public School - Sydney North, Nicholas Frost Berowra Public School - Sydney North, Alan Davies St Finbars, Glenbrook – Mackillop, Bailey Lamb Gwynneville Public School - South Coast, Liam Cornish Waverley – CIS, Ben Hansen Knox Grammar – CIS, Triston Reilly South West Rocks - North Coast, Samuel Villata Beelbangera Public School – Riverina, Zac Lomax St Anne's Temora – Mackillop, Jesse Stevens Assumption Bathurst – Polding, Harry Haywood Balgowlah Heights - Sydney North, Tre Finau St Patricks Griffith – Mackillop, Max Cutrone Knox Grammar – CIS, Hugo Traine South Coogee - Sydney East, Sam Abbey Holy Family Parkes – Polding, Dominic Easy Holy Spirit Ryde – Mackillop, Jaiden Burke St Patricks Trundle – Polding, Jaemon Salmon OLF Carringbah – Mackillop, Will Harrison OLR Kensington - Mackillop