Sydney Junior Rugby Union grand final: Norwest Bulls chasing more success after milestone year

It’s been a memorable year for the Norwest Bulls and they are hoping it just keeps on getting better with a record number of teams in this weekend’s Sydney Junior Rugby Union grand finals.

Norwest Rugby Juniors U10 Red players. Pic: Supplied

It’s been a big year for Norwest Bulls junior rugby player with milestones, great team success and rep honours for some of the young guns.

Now, four teams will be chasing the silverware this weekend in the Sydney Junior Rugby Union grand finals being played across an assortment of grounds in Sydney on Sunday.

“In last weekend’s semi-finals six of our seven teams were playing and two 10s, the 11s and the under 16 teams all made it through to the grand final,’’ said Norwest President David Ogier, whose daughter Felicity will be playing in the under 10s after finishing her Frosty 7s season last week.

“We’ve also just had a boy named in the 16s Gen Blue program in Luke Mauriti. He’s made it to the highest level of reps and it’s the highest level we’ve seen at the club.

“And we’ve also had an ex-player (West Harbour’s Jono Derwin) make his debut against the Waratahs earlier this year.

MATE V MATE IN SJRU GRAND FINAL

Norwest juniors U16 players. Pic: Supplied

“It’s been a pretty good year all around coming out of Covid and given we are down registrations like just about every other club.’’

Ogier said the only major change at the club has been to upskill coaching staff.

“It’s not that they weren’t skilled but it has helped them convey the message, given them a voice to put things in the right language,’’ he said.

This weekend Norwest Red will play Wahroonga Black in the U10 B matches at Boronia Park. In the U10 F grand final Norwest Blue will tackle the Briars. In the U11 G grand final Norwest will take on the Newport Sharks at Dural. In the U16 A grand final Norwest-Hills will take on Randwick Warriors Green at Melwood Oval on Sunday

Norwest Juniors U10 players have a big weekend ahead. Pic: Supplied

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Last weekend two of the clubs three girls teams competed in the Frosty 7’s semi-final and grand finals with the U11 and U15 Braided Bulls finishing as runner’s up.

“We had six of the seven junior teams, as well as two boys who played in a joint venture (JV) between Hawkesbury/Hills/Norwest in U15s, make semi finals,’’ he said.

“The JV was a result of insufficient U15 boys to form an organic club team. Out of the teams who played this day four have made it to grand finals (U10 Red’s (B Grade), U10 Blue’s (F Grade), U11’s (G Grade) and U16’s (A grade).’’

Also illustrating the success of the club is the selection of Anika Penitani, Odesza and Alaianne Toia and Caliche Toki-Rimene who made the U15 Girls Sydney rep team and Ethan Filipo and Ezekiel Logo who made the U16 Boys Sydney Team.