NRL Schoolboy Cup: Farrer MAHS v St Edward’s College
St Edward’s College has knocked out Farrer MAHS with a late intercept try in the opening match of the NRL Schoolboy Cup. THE FULL REPLAY IS NOW LIVE. Also, check out our exclusive pics from the match.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It was the best try of his career and is certain to be on the highlights reel of this year’s NRL Schoolboy Cup.
When Sandon Smith made an intercept with a minute to go in the battle between St Edward’s Gosford and Farrer MAHS it turned the match on its head.
It also broke the hearts of the Tamworth hosts of the opening match of the NRL Schoolboy Cup.
WATCH THE FULL REPLAY IN THE PLAYER ABOVE.
Smith’s full field try delivered the Central Coast school – invitees to the competition this season – an unexpected 18-16 victory over their Tamworth opponents.
“I can’t believe it really. I thought we were gone,’’ said the 17-year-old Smith from Kincumber.
MATCH 2: Watch Patrician Brothers Blacktown vs St Dominic’s College from 12.30pm on Thursday, March 6
“It was a bit of luck, I just took a chance and shot at the line and ended up with the ball in my hand.
“I thought we started really well but then they clawed back and were blowing us off the park. But then a bit of luck came our way.
“It was the best try I’ve ever scored.’’
LIVE COVERAGE OF THE NRL SCHOOLBOY CUP CONTINUES THURSDAY, AUGUST 6
WATCH LIVE: Patrician Brothers Blacktown vs St Dominic’s College
WHEN: Thursday, 12.30pm
Join us for live commentary, video replays and halftime highlights. There will be a full replay after the game.
Smith said most of the team had played limited if any rugby league this season due to the coronavirus.
“We did it for each other out there,’’ he said.
“Tyler Moriarty was a standout. the whole team was great.’’
Shattered were the Farrer team and their standout Mitchell Henderson who scored three tries and all of his team’s points in the thriller.
“It was a killer. Not the way we wanted to finish,’’ Henderson said.
“But it was a great game. I’m proud of the team and it was just good to get some footy.’’
Henderson scored his tries in the 25th, 29th and 31st minutes
Moriarty was first off the rank for St Edward’s in the 9th with Beau Newlands scoring in the 19th and Smithy in the 28th. Smith also kicked all three goals for his school.
Farrer MAHS Team
1 Blair Maloney 2 Felix Cobb-Johnson 3 Tom Matthewson 4 Hamish Heeney 5 Clancy Moore 6 Mitchell Henderson 7 James Marshman 8 Mark Simon 9 Blake Ginman 10 Brad Fernance 11 Jack Todd 12 Toby Taggart 13 Sam Coe 14 Kyle Short 15 Nick Hooley 16 Sebastian Pianko 17 Ethan Antzakles 18 Riley Leonard 19 Latrell Allan 20 Fletcher Wells
Coaches Marty Moore and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs
St Edward’s College Team
1 Ben Dufficy 2 Josh Woutersz 3 Nate McLean 4 Beau Newlands 5 Matt Kuech 6 Owen Flaherty 7 Sandon Smith 8 Mackenzie Zammit 9 Tyler Moriarty 10 Hugh Tmomas 11 Daniel Peters 12 Elias Prokopiou 13 Zac Healey 14 Callum Richardson 15 Ulysses Fotofili 17 Marlon Guest 18 Harry Walker 19 Wiremu Tibbutt Dane Kondrat/Josh Fenwick
Coach Anthony Beacroft
FARRER MAHS VS ST EDWARD’S PREVIEW
By Jocelyn Airth
For 44 years, the NRL Schoolboy Cup has unveiled NSW’s brightest young rugby league talent.
From Peter Sterling and Brad Fittler, to James Tedesco and Nathan Cleary, countless NRL stars have lined up for their highschools.
On Wednesday - despite the great challenges of COVID-19 - Round 1 will kick off and The Daily and Sunday Telegraph has secured exclusive rights to stream the prestigious competition.
Get ready to meet the next generation of rugby league guns.
Students from St Edwards College will make the four-hour trip from East Gosford to Tamworth, to take on Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School.
“It’s a great opportunity for us, we’re normally in Tier B, we don’t normally play in the Schoolboy Cup,” St Edwards coach Jason Carpenter said.
“So the boys are jumping out of their skin, especially the year 12 boys who are playing their last year of schoolboy footy.”
SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM TO CHECK OUT ALL THE TEAMS
The Catholic school might be new to the competition, but it’ll bring plenty of talent.
Look no further than Daniel Peters and Tyler Moriarty, the 2019 Sydney Roosters’ Harold Matthews’ co-captains.
“We’ve got a really good spine, hopefully they’ll show the skill level they have, open up the field and take Farrer on,” Carpentersaid.
“But we’re not a big sports school, so we’re going to go out there and enjoy the opportunity.”
After losing the 2019 Cup semi final to reigning champions Westfield Sports High, Farrer is determined to start strong.
And they’re certainly not writing off their first opponents.
READ MORE: Schoolboy Cup Guide - What you need to know
“We’re expecting St Ed’s to be a very hard game, they’ve come in as invitational, but they actually won their Schoolboy trophy last year, we’ve played them before in junior country cup and they’ve beaten us,” team manager John Lesslie said
Many students from northwest NSW board at Farrer and the schoolboy competition is vital to boosting their rugby league careers.
“A few have contracts with clubs, but to get seen, that exposure is so important to them. It’s been very limited with games this year,” Mr Lesslie said.
“With the no spectator rule, the parents and community were as shattered as the boys, live streaming the games will be somethingfor them.”
The manager said Telegraph subscribers can expect big things from Farrer’s forwards Jack Todd and skipper Mark Simon.
“They’ll lead from the front, they’re two forwards we held onto last year, we’re obviously going to be relying on them in the middle,” Mr Lesslie said.
“And our no.6 Mitch Henderson is quite dynamic in attack and is a good organiser of the team.”
Coached by former NRL players Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Marty Moore, the boys at Farrer are itching to take the field.
“It’s fantastic, I mean the boys are just dying to play football to be given this opportunity, the organisation‘s effort to make it work is phenomenal.”
This year, the competition’s format has changed to a 14-round knockout.
The NSW winner will advance to the National Final to compete against the champion Queensland schoolboy team in either Campbelltown or Redcliffe in October.