NRL Schoolboy Cup: Hills Sports High vs Holy Cross College
Down at halftime Hills Sports High have staged a spectacular comeback to eliminate Holy Cross College from the NRL Schoolboy Cup. Watch the replay and check out the pictures and match report.
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After trailing by 16 points at halftime, Hills Sports High School fought back to defeat Holy Cross College 26-24 in a thrilling Schoolboy Cup quarter final at Ringrose Park.
A dominant Holy Cross outfit wereahead 20-4 at half time - so how exactly did Hills’ head coach Scott Jones fire up the boys in the sheds?
“He said to stay resilient, just stay in the game,” halfback Tyler Bunting said.
“We were still confident, we always believed that we could get the win, no heads were down, it was about keeping our heads up and positive.”
WATCH THE REPLAY IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
Bunting - a member of the Penrith Panthers Harold Matthews side - showed great composure and skill in his first ever schoolboy match, but he was adamant that their quarter-final victory was a true team effort.
“All the boys played well, I actually couldn’t single out anyone, it was all in groups, the middles, backs” Bunting said.
Holy Cross second rower Zayn Wilkins stood out with some strong runs and a fierce first half try.
The Year 12 student said his side was devastated after the loss, but they were grateful for the chance to play footy this year.
“We knew they were going to come through our middle, we started getting flat in the second half and they just rolled through our middle, it was hard,” Wilkins said.
“I’ve got my first HSC exam on Tuesday, so this has been a good distraction, something to take our minds off it.”
In the most exciting and competitive contest of this year’s tournament, Holy Cross dominated the first half of footy.
Halfback Aaron Kurnoff had everything under control and his kicking was pinpoint - he put centre Krystian Mapapalangi over in the sixth minute to open the scoring.
Wilkins then sliced through to extend Holy Cross’ lead to 10-0.
Then, Hills’ attack then clicked into gear. They forced repeat sets and eventually winger Siaosi Kaliti crossed on the left edge to get his school on the board.
But fancy footwork from Holy Cross’ fullback Danny Gabrael and prop Jaxson Rahme pushed Holy Cross ahead 24-4 at half time.
Hills returned to the field, ready to rumble.
Daniel Reardon started the comeback, barging over multiple defenders to cross in the 32nd minute.
Holy Cross responded, via winger Dylan Cowan, but the boys from Hills just kept turning up.
After quick tries to Taylor Mauala and Siaosi Fekitoa, Hills found themselves trailing 24-20 with ten minutes to go.
Bunting then saw space and punted a 30 metre kick for his winger Joshua Mocevakaca to chase.
Mocevakaca scooped up the ball to score and, with Blake Metcalfe’s conversion, Hills they stole the 26-24 win.
Hills Sports High will likely face the winner of Westfields Sports High and St Dominic’s College in their Schoolboy Cup semi final over the coming weeks.
TEAMS
HILLS SPORTS HIGH: 1. Blake Metcalfe 2. Siaosi Kaliti 3. Joshua Mocevakaca 4. Harry Hassett 5. Kamoe Fekitoa 6. Mikey Tannous 7. Tyler Bunting 8. Adam Runchel 9. Drew Lloyd 10. Taylor Mauala 11. Luron Patea 12. Daniel Reardon 13. Lipoi Hopoi BENCH: Laitham Shirley 15. Tevita Petelo 16. Terence Patolo 17. Spencer Tuala 18. Xavier Osekerita 19. Marley Hunter COACH: Scott Jones
HOLY CROSS: 1. Danny Gabrael 2. Joseph Lavaki 3. Krystian Mapapalangi 4. Edwyne Afeaki 5. Dylan Cowan 6. Ati Teaupa 7. Aaron Kurnoth 8. Jaxson Rahme 9. Cougar Wheeler 10. Vaka Aho 11. Brenden Tumeth 12. Zayn Wilkins 13. Sione Latoa-Vaihu BENCH: 14. Dion Lendon 15. Ryan Swain 16. Michael Geddes 17. Watson Bogosi 18. Bailey Murphy
METCALFE DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM WIGHTON
Blake Metcalfe will never forget meeting his idol Jack Wighton — he even took a selfie to make sure of it.
The Hills Sports High School student had just arrived in Canberra, to train with the Raiders’ Harold Matthews side.
“He just walked over at the end of the session and just started talking to us,” Metcalfe said. “He’s always engaging us younger guys … and making us feel part of the club.
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“It was a big fanboy moment, I had to get a photo with him … that’s someone I’ve looked up to for a long time. To get to meet him and be alongside him, that’s pretty special.”
Last year, the fullback joined Canberra’s Harold Matthews side — one year younger than his teammates — and was selected in the under-15s NSW Schoolboy side.
“Peter Mulholland, the recruitment officer at the Raiders, ended up offering me a contract at the Raiders (going into this year),” Metcalfe said. “I love it, the culture down there to other clubs, you can feel how different it is.”
This year, the Raiders’ Harold Matthews captain is determined to keep developing his footy with Canberra, while living and studying in Western Sydney.
“There’s been a lot of travel involved … about 10 of us Sydney boys head down to Canberra on a Wednesday and Friday for full team training sessions,” Metcalfe said.
“On Wednesdays, I’d normally get back to Campbeltown after midnight.
“Then it’s school the next morning, so it’s definitely tough, but I love it.”
On Friday, Metcalfe and his schoolmates take on Holy Cross College in their NRL Schoolboy Cup quarter final.
After progressing through round one via forfeit, Holy Cross coach Tim White said his boys are ecstatic to finally play footy — especially Krystian Mapapalangi.
“Krystian is the most talented centre I have ever had at Holy Cross and I’ve been head coach now for 16 years,” White said.
The star centre dominated in a recent practice match against Patrician Brother Fairfield, scoring one try and setting up two.
“He signed a top-30 deal with Manly recently and I expect him to progress up the grades if he applies himself and gets his training load and application right. I believe Hasler will be good for him as he demands work ethic,” White said.
After the disrupted season, White said he was simply happy that his Year 12 students — who graduated three weeks ago — would get to run out in 2020.
“The whole team is talented but in all truthfulness, a bit underprepared, as we didn’t have a season or any real games at all,” White said.
“So as long as they have fun and compete, I’m happy.”
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