Hills scales another mountain with Cup win
Hills Sports High School’s early dominance of schoolgirl rugby league shows no sign of slowing down. Glenn Cullen reports.
29 August 2024
Hills Sports High School has cemented its reputation as the state’s top nursery for girls’ rugby league, making it back-to-back titles in the NSW Schoolgirls Cup.
Winner of the inaugural competition in 2023, Hills showed the depth in their ranks with an 18-0 victory over Central Coast Sports College at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Wednesday.
“It wasn’t about the flashy stuff that you see on TV,” said Hills coach Patricia Raikadroka.
“The girls just executed beautifully today and played patient footy – it was such a team effort.”
Hills set the foundation for the win after an impeccable first half, taking a 14-0 advantage to the break.
When rampaging No.11 Aliahana Fuimaono crashed over early in the second half for her double, the match was effectively won.
In unfortunate scenes, it was agreed to call the game off early after Central Coast’s Bronte Ryan received treatment following a heavy knock.
She was mobilised and taken to hospital.
Next stop for Hills will be the national final against Queensland’s Ipswich State High School on September 11, as they seek to reverse their 2023 loss to Mabel Park State High School.
Ms Raikadroka said it had been a challenge setting up a new program in 2023 but with excellent support from Principal Amanda De Carli and Director of Sport Andrew Tetley, the school quickly found success.
“We have great staff and a group of girls that have bought into this and kept everyone accountable,” she said.
For Endeavour Sports High School, it turned out to be the one that got away.
Playing in the final of the Peter Mullholland Cup, the Shire school raced out to a 10-0 lead after just 14 minutes.
But the wizardry of Patrician Brothers’ Jasais Ah Kee proved too much to combat with a particularly devastating 10-minute spell by the halfback involving a try and assist taking the game out of reach.
Blacktown closed out the match 34-16, helping to erase memories of their heartbreaking loss to Westfields Sports High School in 2023.
Endeavour coach Dave Howlett was proud that his side had made such a game of it.
“Blacktown had really been the benchmark and had four Australian Schoolboys representatives, so we knew how tough it was going to be,” he said.
“But it has been 10 years since we made a final and I am really proud of what the boys have achieved for the school.”
In the under 13s Schoolboys Cup final, Westfields Sports High School defeated Matraville Sports High School 26-10.
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