Stars at trials for Combined Catholic Colleges 16s girl’s rugby league team for secondary schools titles

Strong, powerful, fit, defensive. The teenagers who starred at Combined Catholic Colleges rugby league 16s girls trials and who made the team for national secondary schools champs.

Winners are grinners. The CCC 16 girls team. Picture: Supplied

A selector has hailed the new Combined Catholic Colleges rugby league 16s girls squad as full of “amazing athletes” after a day of trials in western Sydney to find the 20 teens to represent CCC at the upcoming national secondary schools championships.

The 16s girls will make their first ever appearance at the famous rugby league event this year at Port Macquarie in late September.

A girls competition was included for the first time at the 18s championships earlier this year with the CCC team coached by Scott Ashcroft from St Patricks Campbelltown, a selector for the 16s team on Wednesday.

“The coaches out there are producing amazing young athletes,’’ Ashcroft said.

“In 10 years time the standard in women’s league will be phenemonal.

Winners are grinners. The CCC 16 girls team. Picture: Supplied

Ashcroft said the games played at the trials were all “arm wrestles’’ with defence a standout.

“The games were so strong defensively,’’ he said.

“The contact in the age was excellent and they were real arm wrestles with a lot ending in draws.

A number of players stood out on the day, including Northern Cpuntry’s Emily Dietrich.

“From the first game to the last she was just outstanding,’’ Ashcroft said.

“She has a great kick return and confidence under the ball. She went looking for work.’’

“Lily Ryan, the frontrower, was also very good.

“She is a strong, powerful and very fit ball players who is uncompromising in defence.

Team manager Erin Denham identfied two others standouts from the day.

“Macey Cox, from Northern, was very good with her passing game, kicking game and general play. It’s like she had the ball on a string.

Players of the matches at the CCC 16 girls trials. Picture: Supplied

“She had great leadership and management and was prepared to take on the line.

“Sienna Thomas, she is a great organiser. She is strong defensively and also has a strong kicking game.”

Players of the Matches at the end of the trials were Isabella McDonald (Sydney) and Sienna Thomas (Metropolitan). Tahanni Kaufusi (Southern Country) and Macey Cox (Northern Country). Maretta Fuimaona (Metropolitan) and Lily Ryan (Northern Country). Charlotte Teplicanec (Sydney), Bonnie Porter (Northern Country). Freya Bryant (Southern Country) and Matilda Vella (Metropolitan).

FULL CCC TEAM BELOW

NSW CCC in action against Queensland at the ASSRL 18 years national championships earlier this year. Picture: John Gass

NSW CCC players trialling for positions also attended a development and upskilling session on Wednesday before Thursday’s carnival.

The 16s side heading to Port Macquarie will be keen to go one better than their 18s counterparts who were the only team to beat eventual winners CHS at the national tournament earlier this year.

The CCC team made it into the semis of the 18s tournament before being beaten by Queensland.

The Australian secondary schools rugby league championships for 15 year boys and 16 year girls is penned in for Port Macquarie from September 23-29.

The 16s girls will be playing at the tournament for the first time.

Queensland and NSW CHS in the gran final of the Australian Secondary Schools rugby league titles earlier this year. Picture, John Gass

NSW CCC 16S GIRLS RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM 2023

1 Emily Dietrich McCarthy Catholic College Tamworth

2 Charlotte Teplicanec Bethany College – Hurstville

3 Hannah Ison Caroline Chisholm College – Glenmore Park

4 Freya Bryant James Sheahan Catholic High School, Orange

5 Eliza Taylor Hennessy Catholic College, Young

6 Sienna Thomas St Brigid’s Catholic College, Lake Munmorah

7 Macey Cox St Joseph’s High School Aberdeen

8 Lily Ryan St Pius X Adamstown

9 Bridget Shearer John Therry Catholic College, Campbelltown

10 Bonnie Porter McCarthy Catholic College Tamworth

11 Jessica Stonestreet De La Salle Catholic College – Cronulla

12 Summer Dowell St Joseph’s High School Aberdeen

13 Matilda Vella Caroline Chisholm College – Glenmore Park

14 Holly Williams Kildare Catholic College, Wagga Wagga

15 Ellie Barnett Marist Sisters’ College – Woolwich

16 Emily Castillo La Salle College – Bankstown

17 Alavina Tu’ifua St Vincent’s College – Ashfield

18 Maretta Fuimaono St Agnes Catholic High School – Rooty Hill

19 Tahanni Kaufusi Corpus Christi Catholic High School, Oak Flats

20 Rhianna Quinn All Saints College Maitland