MATRAVILLE WIN CHS UNIVERSITY SHIELD
Mighty Matraville SHS added another trophy to their cabinet today after hammering Hunter SHS in the Uni Shield Grand Final by a wooping 56 - 20
 MATRAVILLE
SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL |
56 - 20 |
 HUNTER
SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL |
TRIES : Mark TALANOA 4, Sandor EARL 2, Ben JONES 2, Adam REYNOLDS, Junior PETTYBOURNE,
GOALS : Adam REYNOLDS 8 |
TRIES : Andrew GAY, Peter MATA'UTIA, Chris MARLBOROUGH, Mark BOWEN
GOALS : Peter MATA'UTIA 2 |
| Man of the Match : Ben Jones - 2 tries ( Matraville SHS ) |
| Man of the Uni Shield Series : Adam Reynolds ( Matraville SHS ) |
UNIVERSITY SHIELD
COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS FINAL |
JUNEE
HIGH SCHOOL |
56 - 6 |
GUNNEDAH
HIGH SCHOOL |
TRIES : Matt WARD 3, Matthew HANDS 2, Charles CURRY 2, Cameron WOO 2, Alex SIEMSEN, Daniel PRATT
GOALS : Kyle GALLEN |
TRIES : Mitchell CAMPBELL
GOALS : Kyle GALLEN |
| PLAYER OF THE FINAL: Junee #6 - Matt HANDS |
| PLAYER OF THE COMPETITION: Junee #13 - Cameron WOO |
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| The CHS University Shield |
Matraville SHS with the 2007 Uni Shield |
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| Matraville SHS after the Grand Final |
Ben Jones, Man of the Match (Matraville SHS) |
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| Matraville SHS after the Grand Final |
Matraville boyz carry the Uni Shield |
Photo's by :  |
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| Zac Newcombe crosses for Gunnedah in their University Shield victory against Dubbo College yesterday. |
GUNNEDAH OUTGUNS DUBBO BOYS
Story & Photo By : GRANT ROBERTSON 
Gunnedah High School is 70 minutes away from its first University Shield title after another inspired performance in front of a huge home crowd yesterday.
The Gunnedah boys won a David and Goliath battle against Dubbo College 33-10 in the shield semi-final at Kitchener Park.
The visitors had a big size advantage over Gunnedah but the home side hurled the first rocks early in the contest.
On the back of some good field position little winger Brad Newman slid over in the right corner after a short-side play started by Kyle Northey after five minutes.
Zac Newcombe threw the last pass for the first try and it was he who made it 8-nil to Gunnedah after 20 minutes when he found space following some great lead-up work from Farran Lamb and captain Trent Hilton.
Northey then sprang from dummy half and squeezed the ball over the line to extend the lead to 14-nil after Kyle Gallen's conversion and Gunnedah led 14-nil at the break.
Dubbo finished the first half with several chances but the Gunnedah defence stood strong.
That good defence continued early in the second half and when Dubbo fullback Brad Marks dropped a Gallen bomb Hilton took advantage with a try in the 34th minute to push the lead to 20-nil.
Dubbo got on the board when halfback Josh Merritt chased a Jordon Boney kick in the 48th minute.
But Gunnedah made it 24-6 after 56 minutes when Matt Smith scooted over in the left corner off a Judd McDonald flick.
David Nicholls hit back for Dubbo in the 62nd minute but the game was well out of reach, especially when Gallen slotted a penalty goal to make it 26-10 with less than five minutes on the clock.
They weren't finished though.
Hilton made a break down the left hand flank and found a flying Jie Smith who not only finished brilliantly but thrilled the delighted crowd with some acrobatic celebrations.
His try came with just two-and-a-half minutes to play but Gunnedah put the icing on the cake in the final seconds when Gallen struck a field goal to make it 33-10. |
 HUNTER SHS TO FACE THE MIGHT OF MATRAVILLE IN UNI SHIELD
Story & Photo's By :
Matraville SHS went through to this years University Shield Grand Final when The Hill SHS forfieted the game.
While Hunter go to play Matra after a very tight victory over a young Endeavour SHS at Wyong on Tuesday.
Hunter had a good lead at half time, the second half saw Endeavour pile on the point to make the score 32 - ALL, so we went into extra time for 5 minutes each way.
Endeavour were 1st to score in the southern corner to take the lead for the 1st time in the game to lead 38 - 32 after the successful conversion.
By the brilliant comeback by Endeavour was short lived when Hunter scored 2 quick tries to take the game.
Now Hunter will face the might of Matraville Sports in the University Shield Grand Final on the 25th Sept '07 in Newcastle.
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| Junee High School’s Blake Cowled dives over for the first of many tries during his team’s 34-point thumping of Blayney High School in the University Shield yesterday. Junee High now moves through to the tournament’s semi-final stage.Photo: Kerrie Stewart |
JUNEE HIGH ON FIRE
Story & Photo By : 
Slick passing display propels school into the semi-finals
ANOTHER flawless performance from the Junee High School rugby league team has propelled it into the University Shield semi-finals following its 34-0 thumping of Blayney High School at Willow Park yesterday.
After sweeping through the Riverina side of the draw, Junee High made it look all too easy once again against the central west heavyweights, taking just six minutes to cross the line and send out an ominous warning of what was to follow.
Blake Cowled was the opening try scorer, finding himself on the end of a superb piece of play from Cameron Woo.
Less than 10 minutes later Matt Ward extended the lead with a try of his own, before Jordan Walker, Simon Wilson and Adam Clarke followed suit, all benefactors of some outstanding passing that team official Pamela Halliburton called “poetry in motion”.
With a 26-0 lead at half-time, the Junee boys could sense they were nearly home, but running into the breeze proved to be a big challenge as the second half got under way.
Despite Ward managing to dive over for his second after four minutes, Walker’s second at the 16th minute mark was to be the last of the celebrating for the home team as the game turned into a war of attrition.
“The boys defended well all day to keep Blayney (High) scoreless, but their passing was something else,” Halliburton said after the win.
“Some of the plays they put together today were superb and all credit must go to their coach Steve Lawson, who has the boys all getting along and having fun.”
The 34-point victory now places Junee High in the tournament’s semi-finals, with its next opponent and venue still to be confirmed.
“It’s an exciting time for the school to have their team playing the quality of football they are at the moment – the boys are really excited about what lies ahead,” Halliburton said.
Junee
High School |
34 - 0 |
Blayney
High School |
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At Apex Oval yesterday, Dubbo came back from 18-4 down after 24 minutes to edge ahead 26-24 with 12 minutes to go and eventually held on to win 32-30.
It was magnificent stuff from the Dubbo forwards who dominated in the second half, an effort that left coach Craig May singing the praises of Madden.
"I thought Madden was absolutely outstanding and not far behind him was Max Ray, only a 16-year-old boy who came up with a real champion game out there today," May said.
"Engadine were very strong seven through to one (in the backs) and our forwards had to take control and they did that.
 Dubbo Secondary
College |
32 - 30 |
 Engadine
High
School |
TRIES : Andrew Madden 3, David Nicholls, Kurt Fuller, Jeremy Brown
GOALS : Fuller 2, Boney 2 |
TRIES : Stewart Mills 3, Hayden Peacock, Adam Goode
GOALS : Chad Richmond 5 |
"I called it before the game that Madden's charges with the ball would be important for us and it was particularly important for him to run straight rather than try and set up players.
"The results speak for themselves - he scored three tries and set up another for our captain Jeremy Brown - it was a great effort and the reason why we get a shot at Gunnedah in a semi-final."
The game was only four minutes old when Madden broke into the clear, drew the fullback and sent Jeremy Brown over.
But that lead was short-lived as the Engadine backs - most of who are Cronulla Sharks signed juniors - got into gear and before long Dubbo was behind 12-4 after converted tries to centre Hayden Peacock and tall fullback Stewart Mills.. Learn More |
FARRER FIXES ON FINAL FOUR SPOT
Story By : 
FARRER'S University Shield quest kicks into finals mode at Sydney today when it tackles Sarah Redfern High for a spot in the final four.
The Farrer boys travelled down to Sydney yesterday in readiness for their quarter-final test against what co-coach Gus Comi expects will be a sizeable and quick opposition.
"They're a 90 per cent Polynesian side," Comi said.
"They're in West Tigers territory so there's probably a few Wests juniors there, and they've got plenty of speed out wide and a mobile pack."
Comi and co-coach Steve Cavanagh weren't getting too bogged down in details of Sarah Refern though as their side takes aim at a semi-final berth alongside Gunnedah High.
That semi-final will be against Country Cup winners Junee but is still a win away and Farrer has a few things to address first – starting with the way that they start today.
They were guilty of a poor start against Rutherford High School a fortnight ago and, while it didn't cost them, they won't want to be taking the chance again.
"Our speed off the ground also needs to improve, and we've worked on a couple of things to try to improve that," Comi said.
"We've got to win the battle on the ground to win.
"It's a matter of us getting quick play the balls and slowing them down."
"When the game's played at that level, if you can control that area of the game you can get a bit of momentum."
Farrer will be missing hooker Seb Swain, forcing a centre reshuffle, with Jake Hawkins taking over the number nine jersey.
Swain was heading down to Sydney with the side and will act as a walker/runner before having an arthroscope, but Comi expects to not lose too much by Hawkins taking over.
"Jake will give us a lot of thrust from dummy half," Comi said.
Today's match kicks off at 10am, with the boys hoping to emulate the success of their Buchan Shield side after the rugby boys won through to the semi-finals yesterday.
FARRER: Fullback - Scott Blanch, Wingers - Cameron Mitchell/Dominic Bower, Centres – Kierin Fisher/Jacob Wheeldon, Five-eighth – Marcus Bower, Half-back – Matt Wilson, Hooker – Jake Hawkins, Props – Angus McHattan/Dominic Horne, Second Row – Paul Lambell/Kurt Resch, Lock – Pat Hunt. |
| 50 - 16 |
TRIES : Jie Smith 3, Judd McDonald 2, Mitch Campbell, Kyle Gallen, Farran Lamb, Trent Hilton
GOALS : Gallen 7 |
TRIES : Bryce Hardes, Tim Alliston, Terry Beacham
GOALS : Alliston 2 |
BRILLIANT GUNNEDAH CHARGES INTO FINAL FOUR OF UNI SHIELD
Story By :
GUNNEDAH High School stormed into the University Shield semi-finals with another magnificent attacking display against Taree's Chatham High in yesterday's quarter- final at Gunnedah's Kitchener Park.
But it was in defence that the Gunnedah boys really impressed.
Plenty of strong tackling paved the way for the 50-16 win described as "inspirational" by coach Jeff Allen.
"They were very well controlled," Allen said.
"We knew they (Chatham) would be tough but we ground it out, particularly in defence."
Big prop Mitch Campbell opened the scoring for Gunnedah but it was a quick double from fullback Jie Smith that really gave the home side an early boost.
At 14-nil the attack was on song already but then Gunnedah had to start tackling.
They held the Taree side out for several sets before finally cracking.
But Gunnedah was back on song when Farran Lamb finished off a brilliant passage of play that went through countless sets of hands.
Trent Hilton and Lamb touched the ball twice in the hot-potato play before Lamb reached out to score in the corner.
A good conversion from Kyle Gallen made it 20-6 and soon it was 26-6 when Judd McDonald rolled over the line after Smith split the defence again.
A momentary lapse let the visitors add their second try just before halftime but Gunnedah reasserted its advantage after the break when Gallen showed up the Chatham defence from close range following a slips catch from Andrew Seach off a Chatham kick.
Captain Hilton was dangerous throughout and got on the board to make it 38-12 before Smith raced onto an offload from Zac Newcombe, showed a Karmichael Hunt-style skip and sped away to score his third and the game was well beyond doubt.
McDonald came up with his second to bring up the half century before the school that produced NSW captain Danny Buderus finished off the scoring.
"In the forwards Mitch Campbell and Trent Hilton, two of the senior players, led the team," Allen said.
"Kyle Gallen at five-eighth had a great game and the centres Judd McDonald and Zac Newcombe created so much pressure around the ruck area with some dummy half scoots.
"It was a great team effort."
Lamb and Chad McDonald were also impressive while Smith was an ever-present danger from the back.
"We have to thank Jamie Gallen for his motivational ability," Allen said.
"And manager Bob Heath for his management skills and thanks to Chatham for a great game.
"We were at full strength today."
Gunnedah will now play their historic semi-final against a side from Sydney or the south coast, most likely at Gunnedah, in the coming weeks.
The region's other Uni Shield hope Farrer High will play its quarter-final against Sarah Redfern High in Sydney next week. |
SOUTHS MOTIVATED BY SHIELD SUCCESS
Story By :  25.07.2007
THE South Grafon High School open rugby league team has its sights on more silverware for the trophy cabinet after its success in The Daily Examiner Shield.
This afternoon the team takes on Gunnedah High School in the University Shield competition as the teams compete for a place in the quarter-finals of the prestigious statewide competition.
South High coach Matt McKee said the team expected a tough encounter from the visitors, who have emerged from a traditionally tough region.
"Gunnedah had to beat Farrer Ag School and Coonabarabran High, so we are expecting a tough game," McKee said.
McKee said the team's success in The Daily Examiner Shield would stand it in good stead in the lead-up to today's game.
"It is a competition all the local schools want to win," he said.
"But the University Shield is the big one for government schools. Winning a tournament like the DEX Shield puts everyone in a positive frame of mind."
South High will ensure its team receives maximum support, with the entire school given permission to attend the game.
"With all the school on the sideline screaming their heads off for us, we should be able to put up a good showing," McKee said.
Should South High make it to the final eight, they will play either Sydney South West or a South West Country side.
The game kicks off at McKittrick Park at noon today.
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| STANDING FIRM: Wagga High’s Cassey Little (right) tries to defy the tackle of Junee High defender Matt Ward in the University Shield regional final at Staunton Park yesterday. Photo: Les Smith |
JUNEE HIGH BEATS WAGGA HIGH
Story By : Les Muir
JUNEE High School turned on a second-half try-scoring blitz to romp to a commanding victory over Wagga High in a regional final of the University Shield at Staunton Park yesterday.
After leading only 6-4 at half-time, Junee High scored four tries to one in the second half to beat Wagga High 28-10 in runaway style.
The game was marred by wild wind and sleet in the first half, which restricted scoring chances, but Junee High made the most of better conditions in the second term.
For Junee High, the win has promoted the talented team into a University Shield showdown with Yass High next month.
The winner of that game will qualify for the finals of the statewide University Shield competition.
Country Rugby League development manager Rick Keast yesterday described Junee High as a “very good side” with the potential to make an impact later in the series and other schoolboy competitions
“If they beat Yass High they will come up against a Sydney school,” Keast said.
“They (Junee High) are also only three games away from the final of the Country Cup.”
Keast said secure ball control was the cornerstone of Junee High’s win yesterday.
“The conditions were tough in the first half, but they got better,” Keast said.
“The ground was wet, but wasn’t too bad at all.”
Among the standout players were Cameron Woo and Jordan Walker, who scored two of the five tries. |
KICKED OUT OF SHIELD
Story By : 26.07.2007
FIVE freakish bounces of the rugby league ball were all that separated South Grafton High School from a spot in the final eight of the University Shield statewide schools competition.
South High coach Matt McKee could not believe his teams bad luck as visitors Gunnedah High School ran away to a 28-4 lead in the first 20 minutes of the game at McKittrick Park yesterday.
"It was unbelievable. Every time they put up a kick it would bounce away from us and straight into one of their players hands and they would score," he said.
"We were so desperate to stop the kicks going up, we charged one down, but the ball just bounced back to the kicker and he ran into the gap to score.
There was nothing we could do."
Gunnedah High built on its powerful opening burst to go into half-time 38-8 in front, but McKee's South High team was determined to show it was a better side than the scoreline suggested.
"There was nothing much I could say to them at halftime. There was nothing they had done wrong," the coach said.
"It was not a matter of catching the ball on the full. None of the kicks seemed to go anywhere near our players."
South's second-half fightback even had the coach hoping for a miraculous win as the team showed what it could do when it could do when it got hold of the ball.
The home side piled on 22 points, but could not bridge the gap. Gunnedah took the game 52-30.
"At one stage we scored a couple of tries in a row and I started to think we could be a chance here," McKee said.
"But they had too big a start on us and they were too classy a team to let it slip.
"Except for the first 20 minutes of the game we outscored them.
In the second half it was 22-14 our way. It was really just the bounce of the ball that was against us."
McKee said the Gunnedah team was a good side - maybe better than his team - but could not say so for sure on the evidence available yesterday.
"It's a shame it's a knock-out competition. You would like to have another game against them when the luck fell a little bit more evenly," he said.
"The boys have done really well to make it this far. There's plenty of good footballers in the team and they have played well together as a team."
The coach said the team has one more chance for some representative honours at the Arrive Alive Cup gala competition in Coffs Harbour next month.
But he was left cursing his team's luck again as South drew traditional school rugby league powerhouse Farrer Agricultural High School in their opening game.
"I think I should buy a lottery ticket," he said. "The luck has to change soon." |
CHATHAM HIGH REACHES QUARTERS
Story By : 
CHATHAM High School will meet Gunnedah in the quarter final of the University Shield rugby league competition following their courageous 34-28 win over Hoxton Park in the round of 16 game at the Jack Neal Oval.
This is Chatham's best performance in the shield since 1984 when the school made the semi-final.
Chatham was a much smaller outfit than the Liverpool-area school. However, they were aided by some ill-disciplined play from Hoxton Park that resulted in their five-eighth twice spending time in the sin bin for back chatting.
Halfback Todd Bridge, fullback Matt Hardcastle, prop Bryce Hardes and lock Tim Alliston were outstanding for Chatham.
Centre Jae Simon scored two tries. Chatham trailed early but led 20-10 by halftime via tries to Paul McClory, Bridge, Alliston and Simon.
They increased this to 26-10 early in the second half when Shayne Went crossed and Simon's second touchdown pushed them into the comfort zone.
However, the visitors started to get some momentum and hit back to 30-22 with six minutes remaining.
A try to Hardcastle sealed the result with Hoston Park crossing and converting seconds before fulltime. |
CHS UNIVERSITY SHIELD
FARRER AG HS Vs INVERELL HS - 21 stJune'07 |
| FARRER Ag HS |
62 - 0 |
INVERELL HS |
TRIES : Dominic Bower 2, Scott Blanch 2, Luke Wheeldon 2, Josh Dutton 2, Matt Wilson, Demeille Landsborough, Jake Hawkins, Seb Swain
GOALS : Hawkins 5, Paul Lambell |
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| Each round to be played by the following dates |
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| Round 1 Term 1, Week 9 |
| Rnd 1. 20th March '07 |
 CRONULLA
HIGH
SCHOOL |
10 - 52 |
 ENGADINE
HIGH
SCHOOL |
| * Match Report coming |
| Sat 3 rd June h '07 |
 Farrer AG
High School |
74 - 1 |
TAMWORTH
HIGH
SCHOOL |
| * Match Report |
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| Round 2 Term 1, Week 11 |
Round 3 Term 2, Week 5 |
| Round 4 Term 2, Week 7 |
| Round 5 Term 2, Week 9 |
| Qualifier Term3, Week 2 |
| QF Term 3, Week 4 |
| SF Term 3, Week 6 |
| Final Term 3, Week 9 (Wednesday) |
Rnd 2 Endeavour SHS Vs Hunter SHS |
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UNVIERSITY SHIELD 2007 
The Hills SHS 
Hunter SHS 
Illawarra SHS 
Matraville SHS 
COWRA 
FARRER Memorial Agricultural High School
DUBBO 
BRISBANE 
WESTFIELDS SPORTS HIGH SCHOOL 
COMBINED HIGH SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY SHIELD/PLATE HONOUR ROLLS 