Moree’s Ash Walker and Tiarna Molloy will represent NSW at the Senior National Sevens Championships in Adelaide this weekend.
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The talented pair will kit up for either the NSW Blue or NSW White side after impressing at various tournaments and events over the last 12 months.
NSW head in as the reigning champions in both the mens and womens after taking out both divisions at the 2015 Nationals at the Sydney Academy of Sport in Narrabeen back in March.
Their selection follows that of Moree’s Percy Duncan and Warialda’s Rhiannon Byers in the NSW Waratahs U17 boys and girls sides to play at next months Youth Boys and Girls Sevens National Championships in Perth.
Duncan was part of the Central North side that were crowned State Champions after taking out the U17s Division at the inaugural NSW Waratahs 7s U15 and U17 State Championships at Coffs Harbour.
The Kylie Dawson-coached side blitzed Far North Coast in the Cup final 46-17 to claim the silverware after earlier beating the Gordon Baa Baas 22-nil in their semi-final.
“They were on a high from playing exceptionally well against Gordon. They had a 40 minute turnaround and didn’t have time to come down from the euphoria,” Dawson said.
Not only were Gordon undefeated to that point but they were a much bigger side.
“It was a very physical and demanding game,” she said.
She was going into the weekend confident of performing well, with the side she had.
“We were a bit scratchy on Saturday but it all came together on Sunday,” Dawson said.
She said defensively they were outstanding. The second and third efforts they put in, and their intensity were also big factors. The other sides just couldn’t handle their intensity.
ARU North West participation manager Garry Walsh also remarked about their defence.
“That final they were ruthless,” he said.
“More so when they didn’t have ball in hand.”
Narrabri’s Will Morley was also added to the boys NSW squad following the championships, but missed out on the final team.
Central North also sent over 17s girls and 15s boys and girls teams. The 15s boys finished equal third after going down to eventual champions Cavaliars 19-12 in their Cup semi-final 19-12.
The girls also made it through to the semi-finals of the Cup and their efforts were one of the highlights of the weekend, Walsh said.
“They had no experience, absolutely none, they were in a pretty tough pool and they competed well beyond expectation and their experience,” he said.
The 17s girls went down in the Bowl final to finish sixth, as did the U20s men at the U20s championships in Newcastle the following weekend.
