INVERELL’S Holy Trinity and Moree Secondary College are chasing Country Cup and Small Schools Knockout success in Dubbo today.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
They are among 10 sides vying for some silverware on what will be a big day at Apex Oval, with the U13, U15 and open aged Country Cup, and U13 and U16 Year 10 Small Schools Knockout champions all to be decided.
Moree will be the first in action, taking on Kildare Catholic College in the U13s Country Cup final at 11.45am.
Holy Trinity will follow them in the U16s Small Schools final against Sacred Heart Cootamundra.
It’s somewhat familiar territory for the Inverell side.
They’ve made the trip south a few times in recent years.
Back in 2012 they won the U13s Country Cup final, coach Peter Ehsman said.
The next year they made it again but lost to Sacred Heart.
That will add a bit of extra incentive today.
“It’d be be good if we could get the win this time,” he said.
He said a few of the boys playing today were part of that side.
One – Jack McAuliffe – was a part of both.
They will unfortunately be without his brother Will.
He dislocated his shoulder in their semi-final win over Oberon.
He will be a big loss, being also their skipper and general at half-back.
They’re also missing one of their forwards. He’s at the brisbane Show.
To reach the final they first won the gala day in Inverell.
That put them into the semi-final, which they won 38-30 but far from comfortably.
“It was close,” Ehsman said.
“We got out to a good lead then they came back.”
To the point where they were in front.
“We had to come from behind in the last 15 minutes to win,” he said.
One of the secrets to their run has been their defence.
“Our defence has been really good,” Ehsman said.
“It’s probably been the best part of our game.”
It’s been a whole team effort.
“They’ve been really good across the park,” he said.
“They just keep aiming up, which is good.”
They also play as a team.
“They’re very gritty. They just keep working away,” Ehsman said.
The semi-final was testament to that.
He said the boys were all looking forward to today.
“They’re pretty pumped up,” he said.
“They’ve been looking forward to it for a couple of weeks.”
Most of them do play league but there are a couple of soccer players amongst them.