Farrer winger Will Gooch dives over for the first of his two tries in yesterday’s Uni Shield semi-final win over Yanco Agricultural High School. Photo: Grant Robertson 050912GRA15
FARRER Memorial Agricultural High School will play for the University Shield again after an impressive semi-final defeat of Yanco Agricultural High School at Farrer’s Simpson Oval yesterday.
The green and golds were too good for the spirited visitors and it showed on the scoreboard as Farrer ran out 30-4 winners.
That sends Farrer to the final against Tumut High School at Shark Park in Sydney next Wednesday.
“Yanco were tough,” coach Damian Kenniff said.
“It was a level up from Eagle Vale.
“It gets us into the grand final and now we’ll focus on that.
“Tumut High will be a similar side.
“They’ll keep coming at us.”
Farrer started well, with the defensive line giving Yanco no room to move.
That provided the home side with good field position and the first opportunity came when centre Brad Cappello found winger Callum Hayne on the right flank and he almost beat the defence back on the inside, but was ruled to have spilled the ball in trying to force it.
The first points weren’t far away though as five-eighth John Brady found left centre Kyle Avery with a long ball that gave him enough space to crash over.
Brady and Avery were also involved in the second try when Brady juggled a pass before spinning it wide to Avery again.
This time the centre drew the defence and fed winger Will Gooch who beat a tackler and went in for the try.
Captain Logan Harris booted the conversion from the sideline in what proved to be a tough day for kickers.
The next try of the first half was a long time coming but it was worth the wait.
Farrer was still dominating territory thanks largely to some great dummy half running from Harris and big charges by Andy Saunders and Tremayne Sanbrook behind the ruck.
That made way for more lateral movement and, on the back of this, fullback Matt Brady produced a flick pass to Cappello to score on the right side.
Saunders charged onto the ball all day and was rewarded with a try of his own to complete the first half.
It was a simple effort from close range and the Yanco defence, which had stood up reasonably well, couldn’t stop him.
It was 18-nil at the break butwhile the players were in the sheds the wind picked up and was blowing at Yanco’s back in the second half.
That made an immediate difference as the visitors booted a 40-20 and followed that up with another a few minutes later.
But the Farrer defence held firm and Yanco’s best chances were coming up empty.
That eventually made way for more points at the other end despite Farrer being held up over the line four times by the Yanco defence.
The try finally came when Farrer shifted the ball to the right and Trent Eather dived over.
Cappello limped off with a hamstring injury and Ian Brown was held up over the line but another four-pointer followed when Gooch went in for his second.
At 26-nil there was to be no comeback but Yanco did get on the board in the right corner, which was a nice reward for their defensive efforts.
But it was Farrer’s day and Avery finished it the way it started, with his second coming from a neat chip kick from Brown.
The solid defence, strong running and low error count all contributed to one of Farrer’s better performances of the year.
“In the heat we can’t afford to drop, it’s that simple,” Kenniff said.
“But I’m just glad they now have the opportunity to finish the season off well, especially for the Year 12s.”
Harris, Saunders, Sanbrook, Avery, Cappello and the Brady twins were among the standouts.
The only downside was recurring injuries to Cappello and halfback Jacob Booby, who came off nursing his shoulder just before halftime.
Farrer will now prepare for its third final in five years.
FARRER 30 (Kyle Avery 2, Will Gooch 2, Brad Cappello, Andy Saunders, Trent Eather tries, Logan Harris gl) d YANCO 4.
