PATRICIAN BROTHERS’ BLACKTOWN 34 - 20 WESTFIELDS SPORTS HIGH SCHOOL TRIES : Tyler Tuigamala 2, James Taufettee, Roland Podesta, Simeone Taateo, Tyler Field GOALS : Roland Podesta 4, Stephen Crichton TRIES : GOALS :

Story by : Man on the Hill
Patrician Brothers’ Blacktown v Westfields Sports High School

It was only fitting that the two dominant teams of this year's competition should qualify for this year's Final.

Westfields after winning the previous two state finals went into this match with several well credentialed players returning from injury to play, three in form Australian Schoolboys players and the confidence of performing well in big games.

Blacktown after defeating Westfields in the round one match knew they had to take their game to another level, as Westfields would be harder to beat twice in one year.

With the whole school cheering Blacktown on, the match didn't go as they had planned with Westfields scoring the opening two tries and lead by 12 - 0.

Blacktown started to control the ball and with 6 minutes left in the first half James Taufetee was able to break a couple of tackles and score in the corner. Roland Podesta converted from the sideline to make the score 12 - 6 in favour of Westfields.

With only two minutes remaining in the half Tyler Tuigamala was able to pounce on a crossfield kick to score again in the corner. With the Westfields crowd behind him trying to put him under pressure, Stephen Crichton was able to land the pressure kick to make the half time score 12 - 12.

When the second half started Stephen Crichton again demonstrated some brilliant individual play and did a short kick off and regathered the ball himself which took our opposition completely by surprise and a few tackles later saw Tyler Tuiga-
mala score his second try for Blacktown to now lead for the first time in the match by 16 - 12.

Blacktown began to dominate possession and a few minutes later Roland Podesta was able to dive onto a great kick by Tyler Field and score another try and also convert for Blacktown to now lead by 22 - 12.

James Taufetee a few minutes later made a great run and looked set to score when the referee called a forward pass. From the next play, Westfields were able to score their third try but missed the conversion, the score now 22 - 16.

The match again became a very tight tussle before a great run by Simeone Taateo saw him crash through and score a vital try which saw Blacktown with the conversion, now lead by 28 - 16.

Unfortunately, from the kick off Simeone was injured in a tackle, that resulted in a serious arm injury.

Westfields like a champion team, took another opportunity and scored again to make the score 28 - 20.

Stephen Crichton then did the perfect kick off in which Westfields couldn't regather the ball and had to do a line drop out.

With only three minutes left, the NRL man of the match for this game, Tyler Field made a clean break and with great support was able to throw a great dummy and dive over to score himself.

The trophy comes back to Blacktown and the whole school community is on a high.

The crowd even sang the school song from the grandstand before the presentation.

Result
Patrician Brothers’ Blacktown 34
(James Taufettee, Tyler Tuigamala (2), Roland Podesta, Simeone Taateo,
Tyler Field – Tries, Roland Podesta (4), Stephen Crichton (1) – Goals)
defeated
Westfields Sports High 20

PATRICIAN BROTHERS’ COLLEGE CROWNED NRL SCHOOLBOY CUP NSW CHAMPIONS

It is hard to go past our success in the NRL Schoolboy Cup NSW Final for excitement.

This success is something the whole school can share in, along with the wider community.

At the conclusion of the match the players and coaching staff ran across the field to join the 1,500 students, staff and parents seated in the grandstand.

The sharing of the success in this fashion will remain with me for some time, because it clearly acknowledged the role of all members of our community in our success.

Patrician Brothers? College Blacktown – officially ranked the BEST rugby league school in NSW.

The school has received wonderful recognition and congratulatory letters, emails and phone calls.

We should all feel very proud of the magnificent school spirit that was evident on the day of the NSW Final.

There is a wonderful sense of pride not just in being victorious but the manner in which victory was attained and especially with the obvious support and spirit of the community.

Whilst many have congratulated the school and the team on this success, few would be aware of the sacrifices made by the team in order to succeed.

Training began in October of 2017 and continued throughout the year.

The school congratulates the team and the coaching staff on their success but more importantly acknowledges the hard work, edication and sacrifice needed in order to be successful.

Our head coach Mr Gregory Beacroft deserves the highest praise.

Finally, this team has been a credit to themselves, to the school and to their families for the manner in which they played the game.

Congratulations to all,
Mr Santo Passarello

Keebra Park Skipper David Fifita Proudly holds up the National 2017 gio Schoolboy Cup (Photo : steve montgomery / OurFootyTeam.com)

CHECK OUT SOME OF THE ACTION

Keebra Park 25 (Siofele, Seiuli, Karaitiana, Dumas, Fifita; Boyd 2/5) def Westfields 12

Keebra Park State High School have been crowned National Schoolboy Champions for 2017 after defeating Westfields Sports High School in the national final on Wednesday.

In a rematch of last year's epic final, Keebra Park jumped out to a quick start scoring through left winger Jono Siofele. However, two tries through the midway point of the half saw the momentum shift to Westfields.

After withstanding an immense onslaught on their goal line, Keebra Park finally found some field position and were able to cash in with a try to right centre Ioane Seiuli just before the break.

Despite trailing 12-10 at half time, Keebra Park came into the sheds with confidence and self belief that if they could get an even share of possession the game would be theirs for the taking.

Keebra Park broke the momentum of Westfields with a scintillating 60m team try finished off by five eight Paul Karaitiana. From this moment onwards, Keebra Park controlled the game with captain and Peter Sterling Medalist David Fifita putting his hand up and leading the way.

Fifita was instrumental in the win laying on the next try through a fantastic offload to Damion Dumas and scoring the sealing try himself.

Tanah Boyd iced the game with a 55th minute field goal to extend the lead to 13.