Peter Mulholland Cup

Westfields win last minute thriller

by
dailytelegraph
31/08/2023

Westfields SHS celebrate their 2023 Peter Mulholland Schoolboy Cup win (Photo's : Steve Montgomery)

Westfields win last minute thriller

Author : Katrina May News Corp Sport

Westfields win last minute thriller

Struddys Appareal

NRL Schoolboys grand final live stream: Patrician Brothers Blacktown face unbeaten Westfields

For 59 minutes, Westfields played from behind. But in the craziest of finishes, they poked their noses in front when it mattered most to win their first NRL Schoolboys title in four years. Relive the action.

Replay: Peter Mulholland Cup grand final – Westfields Sports v Patrician Brothers Blacktown.

Westfields Sports High School has produced a stunning comeback victory over Patrician Brothers Blacktown to claim the 2023 Peter Mulholland Cup.

After trailing all game, Westfields took the lead in the dying seconds with a converted try to win 18-17.

It was an incredible end to a game Patties dominated in territory and seemed to have in their keeping. They just couldn’t put Westfields away.

And as the pressure built, Westfields came into their own, producing some incredible last-ditch defence and then peppering the Patties defensive line with charges from their forwards until their opponent’s resolve snapped.

Roy Quiroz-Mapusua was the hero, charging onto a short ball and taking three defenders over the line with him next to the posts. Teammate Lachlan Galvin would have been the most relieved player on the field after spoiling a near-certain try minutes earlier – and then being sin binned.

Celebration time for Westfields after their title success (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

“It was stupid of me,” Galvin said.

“I was shattered, I thought we’d done all that hard work and I’ve just lost them the game.

“But we’re a real brotherhood and they got me the win.

“I’m just really, really happy.”

Galvin said the title had been a long time coming.

“We’ve been wanting this since year seven and now it’s finally happened,” he said.

“We were close last year but got knocked out in the major semi and this year we finally won it, so onto the national final now.”

Earlier, Patties seemed to have a completely different team to the one that lost to Westfields in the opening round back in May and were much more confident and aggressive in the opening exchanges.

Australian Schoolboys Wilson Decourcey broke the deadlock 10 minutes in, finding space with four Westfields defenders around him to plant the ball just over the line.

Patties had all the momentum and winger Aidan Keborian crossed in the corner five minutes later to add a second.

Westfields couldn’t find a way through, until Lachlan Galvin did what he’s done so well this year, and that’s create a big opportunity.

Galvin stormed down the field, dodging defenders until he was finally caught 20 metres out. Fullback Daniel Waqa then managed to push through for a try, and a successful conversion put Westfields back in the game.

So close yet so far for Patties Blacktown (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

A late field goal to Patties Blacktown gave them a seven-point advantage at the break.

But it was Westfields who scored first in the second half when Brycen Anae Roberts touched down – there was only one point in it now.

Patties took a while to respond but Jack Nicholas was in the right place at the right time to score in the corner.

The tension came to a head with minutes remaining as Galvin dropped the ball as he was about to score an easy try.

The resulting scuffle put both Galvin and Patties’ Decourcey in the sin-bin.

Westfields quickly bounced back with a try straight after.

A successful conversion with less than a minute to go out Westfields ahead for the first time all game.

Roy Quiroz-Mapusua converts to give Westfields a thrilling 1 point win (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

Brycen Anae Roberst & Peter Taai celebrate (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

Westfields SHS head coach Troy Wedden with the Mulholland family (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

Newscorp’s Katrina May interviewing Westfields coach Mr Troy Wedden (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

PREVIEW

The season kicked off way back on March 21 at Seabrook Reserve in Melbourne’s western suburbs with a southern pool clash between The Grange and Hallam.

Now, 38 games later, the Peter Mulholland Cup is down to the final two teams.

And that the decider is between these big rivals from the seeded pool could hardly be a surprise. Patrician Brothers Blacktown are peaking at the right time while Westfields have hardly put a foot wrong all year.

The 2023 Peter Mulholland Cup champions will be decided on Wednesday, with all the NRL Schoolboys action to be available LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV, along with the Schoolgirls Cup decider. Check out the schedule below for full details.

NRL Schoolboys/Girls Finals Live Stream Schedule
Wednesday August 30

Campbelltown Stadium

Schoolgirls

11:30am: Hills Sports High School v Erindale College

Peter Mulholland Cup

1pm: Westfields Sports High School v Patrician Brothers, Blacktown

It may have been frustrating start to the year, but Patties Blacktown have suddenly hit a purple patch of form.

They were all-but dismissed as contenders for the Peter Mulholland Cup title after two troubling losses to start their campaign, but Pats are now on the cusp of their first title since 2018.

But standing in their way is footy juggernaut Westfields Sports High School, who boast an undefeated run through the pool and finals stages.

Patties’ season began with defeats to Westfields and Hills Sports, where they gave away comfortable halftime leads.

“It was frustrating,” Pats coach Noah Meares said.

“I think we were the better team for both games, at least for large parts of them. .

Patrician Brothers Blacktown celebrate their win over St Dominic’s. Pic: Katrina May

“I think we were hit with some 50-50 calls that didn’t go our way, and we weren’t able to stem the flow from them, we just needed to be better.”

And better they have been, securing dominant wins over Endeavour (44-6), Victoria University Secondary College (64-6) and St Dominic’s College (32-0) on their way to a grand final berth

“I think the chemistry from working together and trusting the process in what we’re building, returning to what Pats is known for, is giving us motivation,” Pats fullback and Australian Schoolboy Wilson de Courcey said.

“We know we can get it done and that’s just helped our confidence.”

Pats faced their grand final opponents in the opening round, where Westfields came back from a 12-4 halftime deficit to take the win 24-18.

Bouncing back after trailing early on has been a theme for Westfields, who conceded the first try in three of their five matches this season, including their quarterfinal win over All Saints Maitland and the semifinal success over Erindale.

However, Westfields coach Troy Weeden said he wasn’t concerned with the trend and has been happy with the performances.

Westfields player Roy Quiroz-Mapusua. Picture: David Swift.

“It’s probably a good thing actually,” Weeden said.

“We know we can do it no matter what position we are in the game.”

Westfields centre Roy Quiroz-Mapusua shared similar sentiments after the semifinal win.

“I’m not too concerned about coming from behind the past couple of weeks,” Quiroz-Mapusua said.

“Pats are a good side, but I believe in our boys. We’ve done it once, we can do it again.”

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TEAMS

Westfields SHS

1. Daniel Waqa 2. Will Craig 3. Hosea Kedzile 4. Roy Quiroz-Mapusua 5. Saint Fuitimau 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Dion Paranthoiene-Williams 8. Ocean Vauveka 9. Heith Pritchard 10. Kohan Lewis 11. Sosefo Finau 12. Bryonn Laypepa 13. Denzel Schauffhausen-Mino 14. Tyrus Salanoa 15. 16. Markuzz Ofanoa 17. Jeremiah Leatigaga 18. Ryda Talagi 19. Brycen Anae Roberts

Patrician Brothers, Blacktown

1. Wilson Decourcey 2. Aidan Kebourian 3. Joshua Patrick 4. Marcellus Iakopo 5. Jack Nicholas 6. Jared Haywood 7. Jhett Sydir 8. Charbel Kheirallah 9. Lachlan Coinakis 10. Thomas Epere 11. Heinz Lemoto 12. Jacob Halangahu 13. Finau Latu 14. Dylan Brettle 15. Tyson Sangalang 16. Langa Tukuafu 17. Hokafonu Lemoto 18. Alex Futialo 19. Roman Tuaimau