MATRAVILLE Sports High claimed their first Arrive Alive Cup with a convincing 32-10 grand final win over Patrician Brothers Blacktown at the Sydney Football Stadium today.
The pre-game favourites led 16-4 at halftime and went on with the job to prevail in the first grand final between two Sydney-based schools since 2004.
Matraville were led superbly by young Roosters five-eighth Ben Jones, who scored two tries and had a hand in several others in the six-tries-to-two win.
Winger Sanor Earl opened the scoring for Matraville in the eighth minute but Blacktown hit back quickly when prop Siosaia Vave stormed over next to the posts.
Matraville moved into the lead two minutes before the break thanks to a fine solo effort from Arana Tuamata, before Jones stepped his way over on the siren to extend their advantage.
Matraville didn't let up in the second half and struck again in the 39th minute when winger Dominique Peyroux got on the end of a fine Albert Kelly cross-field kick.
Second rower Petros Thanos barged over three minutes later, before hooker Jamie Buhrer grabbed a consolation for Blacktown and Jones scored his second to complete the emphatic win.
The win completed an impressive double for Matraville, only a relatively new sports high school, having also won the Waratah Shield rugby union competition this year.
The Arrive Alive Cup is rugby league's premier schoolboy competition, contested by almost 450 schools throughout NSW, Queensland and Victoria.
Fulltime Details
MATRAVILLE SPORTS HIGH 32 (B Jones 2 S Earl A Taumata D Peyroux P Thanos tries A Reynolds 4 goals) bt PATRICIAN BROTHERS BLACKTOWN 10 (S Vave J Buhrer tries M Wright goal) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referee: A Devcich.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22460787-5006066,00.html
The Roosters have a good one with Ben Jones.
