Two NSW teams fought out the final of the Australian Schools Championship in Sydney on Saturday, with defending Champions NSW I defeating NSW II at St Ignatius College, Riverview.
In advancing to the title decider, the two NSW sides ended Queensland’s highly-impressive record of 10 successive years of finals appearances.
A well-attended last day crowd of around 2,000 witnessed a NSW I victory by 20-12 to claim the Novotel Australian Schools Rugby Championships Division I BH Jika Sir Edward Travers Shield.
NSW I scored early through Andrew Kellaway, his try under the posts following a clever offload from Andrew Deegan. Harry Jones converted, and later added a second try for NSW I to open up a 12-0 advantage.
NSW II fought back in the opening minutes of the second half, with Joey Lussick scoring and converting his own try to cut the deficit to five points.
A second try to Kellaway eased the pressure on NSW I, with the score stretching to 20-7 before Elliot Jennings grabbed the last try of the match for NSW II tot ake the score to 20-12.
NSW I retained the BH ‘Jika’ Travers Shield while runners-up NSW II secured the Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop Shield.
In other Division 1 playoffs, Qld I defeated QLD II 17-7 to finish third, Combined States defeated Victoria 33-14 to finish fifth and ACT beat WA 8-6 to claim seventh.
In Division 2, Lloyd McDermott RDT (Indigenous) took out the top spot receiving the Charles Blunt Cup, with South Australia runners-up receiving the Merv Allen Plate.
Following strong performances from a number of players throughout the Championships the Australian Schoolboys and Australia A sides have been named to face the New Zealand and Fiji in a tri-nations program later this year.
Australia A faces the New Zealand Schools on Tuesday 1 October at 1pm and Fiji Schools on Saturday 5 October at 3pm.
The Australian Schoolboys will meet New Zealand on Tuesday 1 October at 2.30pm and Fiji Schools on Saturday 5 October at 5pm.
All matches are to be played at Knox Grammar School.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL:
NSW I 20 def. NSW II 12
NSW I tries - Andrew Kellaway (2), Harry Jones
NSW I conversion – Jones
NSW I penalty goals - Jones
NSW II try – Joey Lussick, Elliot Jennings
NSW II conversion – Lussick
Third-place playoff:
Qld I 17 def. Qld II 7
Qld I tries - Maclean Jones, Evander Guttenbeil, Brad Wilkin
Qld I conversions - Mitchell Third
QLD II tries - Jake Lyon
QLD II conversion – Henry Devine
Fifth-place playoff:
Combined States 33 def. Vic 14
CS tries - Angus Fowler, Adrian Delore, Olly Kamp, Alitasi Tuituioho, Sione Mapitoa
CS conversion - Delore (2), Mapitoa, Christian Kagiassis
Vic tries - George Stewart, Nick Gillies
Vic conversion - Patola Toeta (2)
Seventh-place playoff:
ACT 8 def. WA 6
ACT tries - Jason Toumane
ACT penalty goals - Thomas Evans
WA penalty goals - Hershelle Classen, Tim Koiatu
DIVISION II – Round Robin
National Indigenous 66 def. NT 5
NI tries – David Green, Trae O’Neill, Connor Watson (3), Isiah Huet, Joseph Wilson, Michael Doolan, Nicholas Duncan, Isaiah Enriquez
NI conversions – Trae O’Neill (4), Nicholas Duncan (3)
NT try - Ian Manolis
SA 41 def. Tas 0
SA try - Will Marschallek, Giuseppe Focarelli (2), Rhys Gurd, Brendan Crause, Chris Hodgson, Liam Wall
SA conversions - Focarelli, Hodgson (2)
Australian Schools to play:
Fiji
Knox Grammar School, Wahroonga
Tuesday 1 October at 2.30pm
New Zealand
Knox Grammar School
Saturday 5 October at 5.00pm
