Greater Western Rugby League Experience- Kolby Martin

Last Friday mum picked me up from school and we left for Tamworth. After staying the night there at my brother Jesse’s house we spent the next day in the car arriving at Wollongong in the afternoon for the Greater Western team’s first training session. We trained well and hard as a team, cementing our structure, calls and defensive ethic to prepare us for the high standard of footy we needed to play. On Sunday we met up as a team again for a captain’s run training session then we headed off to the Collegians Sport and Performance centre where we would be playing for the next three days. We were given a talk from the selectors, presented our team kit and got our team photos. The field was top shelf with a huge spectators grandstand and pro sheds.

Monday at 12pm we played our first game against the President’s side. We won 24-12. I was able to get over the line twice through a support play and a short side solo effort.

On Tuesday we lost to the Sydney Red team 12-32, who were the best team at the carnival. Red scored first but we were able to regain the lead, staying toe to toe in the first half then falling behind as they got a roll on in the second half.

Wednesday was a day reserved for matchups the selectors wanted to see. We faced Sydney gold at 1pm again being scored on first then fighting back to stay with them. At half time we were down by a try at 12-16. Gold showed their class in the second half and the game finished at 20-32.

Thanks to the beach being close by recovery sessions were easy and enjoyable as a team. Despite the score lines of the last two games the greater western side, the boys from the bush, done very well to compete so strongly against the big skilful players on the Sydney teams who have a lot of players that play at this high level consistently for NRL clubs in the under 19’s SG Ball competition. Although our base level footy is at a lower standard we showed up and were competitive with the elite of the elite of NSW public school rugby league. Our halfback Jordan Hamlin was successful in making NSWCHS selection and will represent NSW public schools at the National carnival giving him a chance of selection in the Australian Schoolboys team.

The high intensity competitive games made this carnival a rewarding experience, helping me to quickly learn how to defend as an outside back against structured teams and to create and finish attacking opportunities against bigger, stronger, faster defence. Although I wasn’t selected for the NSWCHS team I am a shadow reserve.

Tennis - Wade Grennan, Macauley Green, Harry Watt and William Wright

It was a great day and a great competition against Guyra Central School, with the boys ranking themselves to 1-4 in skills, with the boys having a few close calls in there games. The boys first played a doubles match with Macauley and Wade versing Guyra's best two players and come to a score of 6-0 to Guyra. Harry and Will then played a doubles match against Guyra's 3-4 coming to a close call with Guyra winning to 6-4. Everybody played a singles match versing their same ranked opponent with Wade, Macauley and Will loosing to 6-2 and then with Harry playing a tough game coming sown to 6-5 to his opponent player then the boys had a last game of doubles against the same ranked players with Wade and Macauley coming to a loss of 3-6 to Guyra's 3-4 and Will and Harry losing by 4-6 to Guyra's 1-2.

Thank you Katie Rossington for organising the day out.

Thank you Leanne for the article and for your assistance on the day.

Touch Football News

Congratulations to Glen Innes High School Opens Boys and Farrer team on Wednesday 22 May for putting on a true spectacle of touch footy. Thank you to the Tamworth Touch Association who refereed the game superbly.

The actual game was a TRUE REGIONAL FINAL played at a hot pace, placing great demands on fitness, decision making and player position and strategy.

Farrer opened the scoring in the first half with Glen Innes High School (GIHS) responding. The score line was locked at 3 all at half time after some maximal efforts and high paced skill executed by both teams.

Early in the second half GIHS reduced their error count and some excellent plays were demonstrated seeing GIHS getting ahead with the score 7-4. Glen were surely outplaying the Farrer side.

Displaying true character and return fight Farrer responded to this score line and with only 30 seconds left on the clock, Farrer scored to once again lock it together at 7 all.

To determine a ‘winner’ a drop off was ordered and the 4 on 4 in the extra 2minutes saw Greg, Toby, Brendan and Corey take the field.Farrer were first to score with GIHS returning fire quickly. After extra time the teams were locked once again at 8 all.

Now down to 3 on 3 , and a golden point situation , Farrer scored first. Final score being 9/8.

It is important to report that throughout the game GIHS were very much dominant in attack, getting over the Farrer line many times to only see opportunities lost with final passes and groundings in-completed. All boys should feel genuinely proud of their skills and effort today as we are.

Additionally, being one of the top two teams coming out of the North West Region in 2024, our Open Boys Touch Team still have the opportunity to progress and will soon come up against a school team out of the metropolitan area. We have yet to

confirm which school that is. We are thrilled that the boys touch footy journey continues as they demonstrated today that they certainly deserve that much.

IN A ‘HOT’ Team our selected MVP was none other than Brendan Landsborough, congratulations Brendan.

The entire event today was enjoyed by all and EVERYONE involved today displayed great class, a credit to Public Education.

Congratulations to the Open Girls Touch Football Team who won a close battle against Warialda on Tuesday 21 May in the North West regional final. The girls won in a drop off with the final score being 6-5.

The game began with Warialda proving they had what it takes to win by scoring two quick tries to our ‘slow to react defensive line’. This however did not deter our team and with regular and quick substitutions throughout the first half the girls fought back positively with some lovely fast drives and break away tries to draw the match 3-3 at half time.

A much needed break at half time and game chat was confidence building and the girls ran on the field in the second half believing they had a strong chance of winning.

The second half was hard fought and both teams playing some exceptional and quality touch football. At completion of full time the teams could not be separated and the score was drawn 5-5.

To determine the winner a drop off was played which is 4 players on 4 in 2mins extra time. We had an experienced 4 girls take the field Jasmine, Maisie, Mary and Mia. These girls can handle the pressure given their extensive experience in various sporting settings. They were able to drive the ball nicely to the line and then strongly defended Warialdas first attacking set of 6. We got the ball again and Jasmine scored a run away try. Warialda had another brief chance to score but it was shut down nicely by our fit and determined girls. The end of the two mins extra time saw Glen Innes Victorious.

The entire team must be congratulated, including the girls that have played in the previous games to get to this final.

It was very much a team effort today with our younger players really stepping up and meeting the intensity and effort. The girls were beautifully lead by Maisie and Mia, our Year 12 students, who are very experienced and crafty touch players. I was very impressed with the positive leadership offered by these two in supporting their TEAM.

GIHS NORTH WEST CHAMPIONS 2024

Our GIHS girls representing the NW in Touch.

The girls had 4 games on their first day. Three of these games against “top of the ladder” teams. Hunter, Sydney West , Sydney South & North Coast. Last game of day one was their best, they were defensively strong in particular, as the team found a little more ‘glue’ and connection in the later part of their first day together. Day two action sees another 3 games, as well as the sprint & relay tomorrow. Impressively Mia Baker , along with another senior student was appointed Captain. Congratulations Mia.

Looking forward to hearing about your second day of action. We are proud of you all and know that you will come back with a new level and depth to your ‘Touch game’. Go TEAM!

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