With the ambition to become a State Champion, 42 schools from across NSW descended on The Kingsway Playing Fields, the home of Penrith Touch Football, in a quest to be named the NSW All Schools 9/10 State champion. An added benefit of a successful campaign would also see a number of high performing teams qualify for the National Schools Cup later this year.
The top 8 teams from the boys and girls competition would all qualify for the National School Cup, which will be contested as part of the Touch Football Australia National Youth Championships in Kawana Queensland come September this year.
The Girls competition was tightly contested throughout the day, with all 4 pools close and only the number of touchdowns proving the difference between making finals and missing out.
Qualifying this year after finishing in the Top 8 are Taree High School, Tomaree High School, The Hills Sports High School, Young High School, Kildare Catholic College and Monte Sant Angelo.
The Girls quarter finals were all close, including a drop off between Monte Sant Angelo and Narrabeen Sports High School. Monte Sant Angelo knocked out Narrabeen 3-2 after scoring in their first set of the drop off.
Monte Sant Angelo then faced off against a strong Kildare Catholic College side, Kildare taking out the semi final 4-3 in another close game. In the other semi final Tomaree High School played against Taree High School, Tomaree winning their spot in the Grand Final after defeating Taree 3-1.
The Grand Final was a reflection of how close the competition was all day, it came down to one touchdown, with Kildare crowned champions defeating Tomaree 2-1. Tyla Gambell from the Wests Tigers NRL Touch Premiership team was on hand to present the medals to both teams and decide the player of the final, Ella McFarlane from Kildare Catholic College was awarded with this Medal.
The Boys competition included several teams who competed in the National School Cup in 2017, qualifying once again from the boys were St Edwards Catholic College, Hunter Sports High School and Narrabeen Sports High School.
The other teams to qualify were Blaxland High School, Kildare Catholic College, De La Salle Revesby, MacKillop College and Tomaree High School. New South Wales Schools performed well in last year’s National School Cup and if the quality of today’s State Final is anything to go by, New South Wales schools will once again be dominant.
Just like the girls Quarter Finals there was a drop off in the boys Quarter Finals. Kildare Catholic College ran out winners 3 touchdowns to 2 over Blaxland High School in an exciting finish.
Kildare then came up against a dominant St Edwards Catholic College in the Semi Finals. St Edwards booked their place in the grand final after defeating Kildare 4-2. In the other Semi Final Narrabeen Sports defeated MacKillop College 3-2 in another close game.
The Grand Final between St Edwards and Narrabeen Sports was one for the ages. Narrabeen Sports were leading with 1 minute to go before St Edwards scored in the corner to level the game at 2 touchdowns a piece. The scores were still deadlocked when the teams were dropped to three players a piece. Narrabeen Sports came close to winning when they dived over in the corner, however a St Edwards player stretched a finger tip out to make the game saving touch.
St Edwards then powered down the field and scored the championship crowning touchdown in the corner. Wests Tigers NRL Touch Premiership player Scott Buckley was on hand to present the boys with their medals and award the player of the final to Sandon Smith from St Edwards CC.
NSW Touch Football would like to thank our fantastic hosts; Penrith Touch Football, all the Schools who supported the event, not only the State Final but also the Regional Qualifiers and of course the referees, who without them the event could not run.
For a full list of results please visit the NSW Touch Football Secondary Schools Page
