Livestream: NRL Schoolboys semi-final between Erindale College and Hill Sports High School REPLAY

Hills Sports High School have completed a stunning comeback over Erindale College, scoring on the buzzer in a wild golden point finish. SEE THE FULL REPLAY.

Hills Sports High will take on Patrician Brothers Fairfield in the NRL Schoolboys Cup final after beating Erindale College 22-18 in an epic finish.

It certainly was a nailbiter, with the game going to extra time after the score was locked-up 18-18 at full time.

But it was a try from Hills left wing Sean Pokia that saw the Sydney side claim glory a golden point thriller.

Chaos rules after Hills scores the winning try. Pic: Julian Andrews.

Reeling off their success, Hills coach Scott Jones said: “I feel very relieved as we’re now in the final but I am a little disappointed in the way we played. We were far from our best.”

“We completed at 50 per cent in the first half and 60 for the entire game. To win a semi-final with that completion is pleasing, but we need to be way better than that if we want to win it.”

The upbeat atmosphere at Campbelltown Stadium remained for the thrilling second semi-final game.

The second half was a replicate of the first, with the score tied 6-6 after the first 30 minutes.

It looked as though Erindale was going to finish with no points, before the speedy left wing Will O’Malley stormed through the opposition’s defence.

Matchwinner Siaosi Kiliti. Pic: Julian Andrews.

Hills star Cassius Tia. Pic: Julian Andrews.

Handing off the ball to fullback Sam Gash, they kept themselves on par with the competitions current top ranked school.

It was two consecutive tries from Erindale right wing Jack Clutterbuck and Owen Mccaughan that saw the Canberra side begin to take the lead in the second block, before Hills’ Pokia began his scoring frenzy.

Clutterbuck’s try was particularly impressive, with the winger growing wings as he out-ran the opposition, landing his four-pointer under the goal post.

It was the battle of second rowers as Hills’ Liam Aarons took down Erindale’s Noah Martin at the half way line, preventing a repeat of the Clutterbuck-style try.

The kicking ability of Erindale captain Regan Carr cannot go amiss, with the right center converting three from three.

Jonathan Ibrahim gets his pass away under duress. Pic: Julian Andrews.

Erindale’s Xavier Cacciotti charges into the Hills defence. Pic: Julian Andrews.

PREVIEW: THE 3700KM TREK FOR SHOT AT GLORY

The Erindale College NRL Schoolboys success story this year is made even more remarkable by the sacrifices a number of their squad have had to make.

Their final four showdown with Hill Sports High School will be livestreamed by KommunityTV from 2pm on Wednesday as the second game of a double-header. The first game between Westfields and Patrician Brothers, Fairfield kicks off at 12.30pm.

The ACT nursery is not only set to take on the top ranked school, but their squad has multiple players who have given up so much to play rugby at this high level.

Erindale coach Ash Barnes said: “we have a group of kids that actually sacrificed and moved away from home to come to the school.”

Having given up being with their friends and families each day, reaching the finals is so important for the team.

Right wing Jack Clutterbuck made the biggest move of all, having relocated from Perth earlier this year. Two other young boys also moved from the Western Australian capital but have been out for the season due to injuries.

While Clutterbuck’s parents are unable to attend the semi-finals, the parents of second rower Noah Martin will be at the stadium.

Noah Martin is continuing his great Raiders with Erindale College.

Martin, who represented NSW Combined High Schools in the Australian Secondary Schoolboys Nationals, relocated from Narooma on the NSW south coast.

He has missed games this season due to injury, but Barnes is hoping the Canberra Raiders star will be in the line-up for Wednesday’s game. He has been a key player for the school, having bagged a hat-trick in their opening round against Illawarra Sports High.

Despite being one of the older players in the team, reaching the finals could be the start of a promising career for Hill Sports lock forward Moustafa Dirani.

It was not an easy ride for the 18-year-old, with coach Scott Jones saying: “he was one of those kids, like many others, that wasn’t getting a go, but he just persevered and persevered and now he’s a bit of a success story.”

Moustafa Dirani (second left) is part of an impressive Hills outfit. Pic: Jonathan Ng.

Trailing his peers in terms of skill and physique for years, Dirani did not give up and eventually made then team when he was 16.

His improvement is extreme, with Jones having said he was “by far the best player on the field” in their opening round game against Dirani’s former school, Patrician Brothers Blacktown.

Dirani was quick to praise Jones for his transformation.

“He pushed me. He told me never to give up and keep training hard,” he said.

Coming leaps and bounds under the guidance of Jones, Dirani is now a contracted Panthers player and recently represented NSW Combined High Schools in the Australian Secondary Schoolboy Nationals.

He was also on the brink of the Australian Schoolboys selection.

TEAMS

Erindale

1. Sam Gash, 2. Jack Clutterback, 3. Regan Carr, 4. Joseph Iosefa, 5. Will O’Malley, 6. Ethan Alaia, 7. Blake Hovi, 8. Jordan Eti, 9. Xavier Cacciotti, 10. Jayden Svager, 11. Noah Martin, 12. Max Mercer, 13. Jack Anderson, 14. Owen Mccaughan, 15. Ben McSpadden, 16. Josh Urbaniak, 17. Peter Soward, 18. Alex Sweeney

Hills

1. Blake Metcalfe, 2. Alaa Lababidi, 3. Peteru Pritchard, 4. Albert Litisoni, 5. Siaosi Kaliti, 6. Jonathan Ibrahim, 7. Cassius Tia, 8. Vena Patuki-Case, 9. Billy Scott, 10. Callan Phillips, 11. Liam Aarons, 12. Harry Hassett, 13. Moustafa Dirani, 14. Lorenzo Talataina, 15. Jordan Uta, 16. PJ Sosaiete, 17. Sam Squire, 18. Jordan Blunt, 19. Cooper Rauhihi