WESTERN Australia kicked off their Australian Under 15 Schoolboys Championship with a 76-6 mauling of South Australia at Scully Park yesterday.
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It was a free-flowing win for the WA side as it crossed for 15 tries.
The WA side is well prepared for the week of football, said team manager Michael Hayes.
“We had two lots of trials to pick this side,” Hayes said.
“And we’ve had eight weeks of training.”
The WA side trained three times a week, he and coach Ian Prout said.
“The boys came together after Anzac Day.
“Trained Monday, Wednesday and Friday sessions and we also had one trial game as well. We won that.”
Most of the side comes from eight junior clubs in and around the Perth metropolitan area although one, comes from the Pilbara region, some six hours away.
Dylan Hutchins won their player of the match award while Rakheem Tuuta-Edwards had a big game up front, the prop scoring one long range try from a kick off return. Ashley Tunbridge was another to star while Dominic Romano was best for South Australia.
Northern Territory’s preparations have been completely opposite to WA’s but that didn’t stop the side from posting a well earned 34-22 win over Victoria.
“It was a good start,” said coach Cameron Veersteegh.
“It’s been a challenge getting here. I only had three days with them before we left and four of the boys didn’t arrive (at the three-day training camp) until the second day.
“So it’s been a big test. They didn’t do themselves any favours either today but they came through.”
Five-eighth Leslie Marony was impressive, scoring a crucial try late in the game while centre William Nugraha won the side’s player of the match award.
His opposite number, Chase Aporo, was adjudged Victoria’s best.
Grant Edwards, Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League Council president, believes it will be “a memorable week”.
“I hope the players enjoy it and that is played in the spirit of fair play,” he said.
“It should be a sensational week of football.”
He said the likes of State Of Origin stars Justin Hodges, Jarryd Hayne and Trent Hodgkinson all played at the Under 15 Schoolboy championships.
Queensland White then beat NSW CIS 30-18 with Coombabah’s Konrad Edwards their best and Newington College’s Tyrone Taukomo winning the player of the match award for CIS.
NSW CHS then beat Queensland Maroon 20-12 in a high class game to finalise the first day.
Hunter Sports High hooker Luke Huth was their best while Jayden Bishop was adjudged Queensland Maroon’s player of the match.
Today’s program starts with a WA versus Northern Territory match at 10.30am followed by Victoria v South Australia (11.50am), Queensland White v ACT (1.15pm) and NSW CCC v NSW CHS (2.35pm).