NRL Schoolgirls Cup semifinals live stream: Bass, Hills, Westfields, Erindale all feature in final four

Both were behind at halftime, yet Hills Sports and Erindale College delivered when it mattered most to secure passage to next week’s grand final. Relive all the action from both games.

Erindale College bounced back from an 8-4 deficit to secure a miraculous 12-8 win over Bass High and set up a date with Hills Sports in next weeks NRL schoolgirls grand final. 

Mistakes plagued both teams early in the match and neither was able to gain the upper hand.

Bass finally put points on the board in the 10th minute, with Faustina Akeje ploughing through the Erindale defence, but an unsuccessful conversion only gave Bass a 4-0 lead.

Erindale had a few chances throughout the opening period but a strong Bass line kept them off the scoreboard. 

Bass came out of the sheds in the second half with renewed confidence and it didn’t take long for them to double their advantage.

Anahera Paekau benefited from a strong set and stormed over for a try after just two minutes.

Erindale continued to suffer from mistakes on both ends of the field, but finally put a try together.

Lahni Hall found a way through to bring the Canberra side to within four points.

Bass tryscorer Akeje was sent to the sin-bin shortly after for a hit on Hall and Erindale grasped the opportunity with both hands.

A mistake from Bass, and a quick restart, allowed Uta Uatisone Poka to level the scores at 8-8.

The Erindale bench and supporters could sense victory and fullback Mya McGlynn delivered, finding the try line with just a minute remaining to seal the victory and a grand final spot.

‘I’m lost for words’: Hills pull off amazing second-half recovery

Hills Sports High has pulled off a stunning come-from-behind victory to down Westfields 18-12 and book their ticket to next week’s NRL Schoolgirl Cup final.

Co-captain Olivia Vaalele said it was a crazy game.

“I’m at a loss for words,” Vaalele said.

“We dug deep after being down 6-4 at half time, and came back.”

Westfields wasted no time in getting points on the board, capitalising on a penalty early in their first set for Phoenix Lamese to poke through Hills defence for a try.

The try seemed to motivate Hills, however, and they got stronger as the half progressed.

REPLAY: Westfields Sports v Hills Sports

A disallowed try due to a forward pass only made Hills want it more, and Esther Tuipulotu rewarded her team’s tenacity by collecting the ball off a messy kick to score their first try.

A missed conversion gave Westfields a 6-4 advantage heading into the break.

Hills came out of the sheds firing in the second half and took the lead almost immediately with a try to dummy half Caliche Toki Rimene.

Vaalele said to finally get the lead after a scrappy first half was encouraging.

“It was a massive confidence boost, one that we needed for those last few minutes.”

Jasmine Dooley added a second just minutes after with one of two conversions made by Olivia Vaalele allowing Hills a 14-6 lead just seven minutes into the second half.

But Westfields weren’t ready to give up and a brilliant set play off a scrum saw Layla Tina score. The tough conversion brought Westfields within two points with minutes to go.

Hills sealed the deal in the final moments with a try.

PREVIEW

They are our Next Gen NRLW players about to perform on one of the biggest stages of their young careers.

The top young guns in NSW girls rugby league hit the paddock on Wednesday for the semi-finals of the NSW Schoolgirls Cup.

Westfields Sports will take on Hills Sports in a much-anticipated first semi-final at Campbelltown Stadium. The second will be played between Bass High and Erindale College.

Both matches, along with the subsequent Peter Mulholland Cup schoolboys final four matches, will be LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV. See the full schedule below for details.

WATCH THE PETER MULHOLLAND CUP SEMIFINALS HERE

We’ve checked in with the teams and their coaches to find some of the schoolgirls to watch, and how each teams has made it to the semis.

Hills players Danielle Seckold, Tayleah Pasili and Olivia Vaalele. Picture: Tim Hunter.

HILLS SPORTS

Coach: Patricia Raikadroka

Captains: Olivia Vaalele and Tayleah Pasili

Players to watch – Danielle Seckold, Manua Moleka, Olivia Vaalele

Stand out player in the pool rounds

Naioka Tuipulotu has played almost every minute and has always given clean service out of hooker. Her tackling makes her one of the best defensive hookers seen in her age group.

Danielle Seckold is one of the best full backs in her age group, knows exactly where to be in attack and defence and makes the right decision to pass or run as a full back. Her fitness is second to none and sees her involved in all areas of the game.

Olivia Vaalele leads with her running game and organisation as a half. She links well with her partner-in-crime, Aaliyah Soufan, to utilise the strengths of the team.

Ella Walker stood out in every lead-up match to the semis with her dominance as a middle key in setting the platform for backs. She has since sustained a season-ending injury.

Tia Matthews played almost every minute of every game. A strong, hardworking edge who can also play lock, her repeat efforts and team first attitude will be missed as she too has sustained a season-ending injury.

Manilita Takapautolo playing for the City under-17 women's side against Country.

WESTFIELDS SPORTS

Coach: Bou Ovington

Captain: Manilita Takapautolo

Players to watch: Manilita Takapautolo, Phoenix Lamese and Pauline Suli-Ruka

Manilita Takapautolo is an Australian Schoolgirls representative and an NRLW Development player with the Cronulla Sharks.

She plays back row, centre and is a presence in both attack and defence with speed, size and skill making her a triple threat. She also boasts great leadership.

Phoenix Lamese is a Sydney Gold representative and part of the Central Coast Indigenous Academy, Roosters Tarsha Gale premiership-winning team.

She is training with the Roosters Harvey Norman Squad and plays in the front row.

She is aggressive in both her carry and defensive efforts and boasts a skillset not seen in many middles. She also leads through her actions.

Pauline Suli-Ruka is another Sydney Gold representative who is with the Canterbury Bulldogs Lisa Fiaola Cup Squad and into Tarsha Gale for the 2023/2024 season.

Identified as a talent of the future, she is already part of the Bulldogs’ Pathways High Performance Squad and plays in the back row and front row.

She is fit, fast, has a wide-ranging attacking skills set and is defensively strong.

The Schoolgirls competition has been a huge success in 2023.

ERINDALE COLLEGE

Coach: Ash Barnes

Captain: Lahni Hall

Players to watch: Lahni Hall and Magdalena Velovski

Lahni Hall has been a standout in the rounds matches as captain and halfback.

The teenager boasts a great running and passing game and impressed with some classy plays in her team’s road to the semi-finals.

Magdalena Velovski has been a surprise find for her team. She only took up rugby league this year, with soccer her earlier choice.

She competes on all plays and enjoys the physicality of the game.

BASS SPORTS

Coach: Jonathon Wilson.

Captains: Monica Fasavalu and Trinity Tauaneai.

Players to watch: Monica Fasavalu and Trinity Tauaneai.

According to their coach captains Monica Fasavalu and Trinity Tauaneai have stood up for Bass in the NSW Schools competition this season and are playing alongside numerous girls who made the NSW CHS girls 18s team earlier this year.

TEAMS

Erindale

1. Mya McGlynn 2. Chloe Smith 3. Abbey Brill 4. Uta Uatisone Poka 5. Ella Kelly 6. Sabrina Marela 7. Lahni Hall 8. Alysha Eti 9. Angelina Costa 10. 11. Alyrah Cole 12. Magdalena Velovski 13. Mila Ahkey 14. Leilani Rappana 15. Jaymie Napier 16. Kelly Bateup 17. Layla Irving 18. Angelina Hunter

Hills

1. Danielle Seckold 2. Jasmine Dooley 3. Manua Moleka 4. Shirley Lolohea 5. Esther Tuipulotu 6. Olivia Vaalele (c) 7. Aaliyah Soufan 8. Lily-Ann Abboud 9. Naioka Tuipulotu 10. Salamasina Pupuali’i 11. Tayleah Pasili (c) 12. Shire Thocolich 13. Matoisha Kalepo 14. Caliche Toki-Rimene 16. Faye Hermez 18. Nelina Togia

Westfields

1. Arijana Zammit-Kaipo 2. Arielanna Lole 3. Georgia Bezzina 4. Grace Leiataua 5. Layla Tima 6. Amirah El-Abdallah 7. Jazmyn Panapa 8. Phoenix Lamese 9. Paige Attard 10. Liaina Dimech 11. Pauline Suli-Ruka 12. Manilita Takapauloto (c) 13. Roy Muller 14. Italia Nuku-Mariner 15. Carlietta Ma-Chong 16. Samara Levao 17. Greta Alama

RUN TO THE SEMIS

Round 1

Bass beat Hunter 28–4

Illawarra Sports beat Erindale 22–5

Hills Sports beat Central Coast 42–0

Westfields Sports beat Matraville, 56–0.

Round 2

Hills defeated Hunter 14–0

Matraville beat Illawarra 40–12

Westfields beat Erindale 40–6

Bass defeated the Central Coast 46-0

Round 3

Westfields defeated Illawarra 38-18

Hunter defeated Central Coast 36-0

Bass and Hills drew 10–10

Erindale beat Matraville 28-14.