HILLS SPORTS HIGH's AMAZING FIGHT BACK
Story & Photo's By : pk &
The Hills Sports High School has defeated Endeavour Sports High School 46 - 40 in the grand final of the CHS University Shield for Sports High Schools (SHS).
The game was played in fine conditions at the magnificent Shark Park - the home of the Cronulla Sharks football team.
As the score indicates defence was not on the menu of either team. But what a game of football with 15 tries scored on the day – 8 by the victors and 7 by Endeavour.
Endeavour will be bashing themselves up today wondering how they let the game slip after leading 18-0 after fifteen minutes and 40-18 mid way through the second half.
Their players were visibly upset after the final hooter went with skipper John Nicholas unable to talk at the official presentation. But we are not going to bash them up today. They are a magnificent football team who deserve the utmost respect from the rugby league public.
Today wasn’t their day. Sure they will rue the lost opportunity of not having their names etched on the big shield but that’s football folks.
Yesterday was all about the new kids on the block. Those brazen, loud, out there boys from Sydney’s west. Take a bow boys – that was quite a fight back.
The game started out as I expected with Endeavour opening up Hills defence easily with three quick tries to open up a good lead of 18-0. Soon it went to 24-6 after a Hills try and another to Endeavour.
Hills hit back before half time with another two tries to make the score at the break a respectable 24-18 in favour of Endeavour.
Soon after the break the Shire boys put on three quick tries after feeble Hills defence again let them down. The score blew out to 40-18 and old Pk’s prediction of an eighteen points win to Endeavour was looking good.
After the third try you could see the Hills boys standing behind the goal posts. They did not look disillusioned with heads bowed nor were they arguing with each other. What the heck – they were laughing and geeing each other up.
Ourfootyteam.com understands the Hills boys said to each other that they found themselves in the same position in the first half so there was no reason why they couldn’t mount another fight back.
A bit of luck, a bit more of the football, some penalties that went their way, better discipline in offence and defence from Hills and some ill-discipline in defence from Endeavour contributed to the amazing comeback from the boys from Seven Hills.
Leading the second half fight back were props Peni Terepo and William Skelton, fullback Jason Seage and centre Jorge Taufa.
Terepo started to run like a big Mack truck out of control and he was slipping balls to support players. Seage inspired his team with two clean breaks and a freakish pass under pressure to Taufa who scored in the corner. Taufa was causing big problems for the Endeavour defence out wide with his strong runs.
William Skelton the 153kg colossus was intimidating Endeavour with powerful surges that led to numerous field gains of twenty metres plus. He was drawing in three and four defenders each time and the Sharks coach Ricky Stuart who was in attendance at the game was heard to say to his assistant, “Get his manager’s phone number”.
From the 40-18 scoreline Hills scored 5 tries in a row to take the match 46-40. Best players for Endeavour were second rowers Joseph Leilua and Dj Lokeni-Purcell, fullback Kane Gilles who scored three tries, hooker Cameron King and prop Daniel Ahsin.
King left the field with concussion in the second half after accidently colliding with Seage’s knee in one of his high stepping runs.
But credit must go to the Hills forward pack who tamed the Endeavour beast that included three Australian Schoolboys in their pack.
Best for Hills were Terepo, Seage, Taufa, hooker Nick Folino, Skelton, prop Jason Havea, five eight Jason Wehbe and second rower Brett Bennett.
Both The Hills and Endeavour SHS's deserve their places in the TOP TEN AUSSIE SCHOOLS (new TOP 10 soon)
Here is what I thought of the Hills players on the day:
Sam Ahofono - Fast and hard running
Jorge Taufa - Strong in offence and defence
Jordan Petera - Has step and pace for a big man
Charles Bonanno - Plenty of pace
Jason Wehbe - Crafty and great kicker
Nutana Te Rangi - Great defender and good organiser
Nick Folino - Strong and quick
Jason Havea - No wonder the Melbourne Storm have signed him. Great buy!
Arthur Meredith - Had a red hot go
Brett Bennett - Athletic and always looking for work
Tim Crellin - “Pit Bull” got injured but softened up a few in defence while there
Jason Seage - Brilliant ball runner and “Pit Bull junior” in D
Ethan Mafi - This boy is a gun and made some great runs
William Skelton - Scary
Peni Terepo - Best prop in Australia at this age
(?)
Alan Fepualai - Big unit who can run and off load
Mark Horo – coach Inspirational