Ipswich too good in National Final

Ipswich too good in National Final

Author : Mitch Bourke, Katrina May, Andrew Dawson and Matthew Elkerton Newscorp Sport

Ipswich too good in National Final

Ipswich State High v Hills Sports High School, NRL Schoolgirls Cup national final

The Shalom Sauaso-Kaiah Hansell one-two punch proved too hot for Hill Sports to handle as Ipswich SHS turned on the style to storm to the national NRL Schoolgirls title.

Replay: Ipswich SHS v Hills SHS – NRL Schoolgirls Cup National…
Watch a full game replay of the action between Ipswich SHS and Hills Sports High School in a massive Schoolgirls Cup grand final.

Shalom Sauaso and Kaiah Hansell

Remember the names.

The pair were pivotal as Ipswich SHS crushed Hills Sports High 28-6 in the NRL National Schoolgirls final at Cbus Super Stadium on Wednesday.

Hansell scored three tries in an excellent display of classy finishing.

Then there was Sauaso.

She was pivotal and rightly awarded the game ball after earning player of the match honours, on top of her player of the tournament honours.

One second, she was stopping a certain try with a tackle that was equal parts clutch and crunching in defence. The next, she was driving the footy upfield with a barnstorming run.

She also nailed four of five attempts at goal, including some tricky ones from the touchline.

It should come as no surprise given Sauaso has already represented the Reds in the Super W rugby union competition and has a Broncos NRLW deal.

Ipswich coach Alex Nicholson was thrilled with the performances of both, particularly hat-trick hero Hansell who was a natural hooker playing out of position on the wing.

Dreams do come true

“I suppose dreams do come true,” Nicholson said of Hansell’s performance.

As for Sauaso, Nicholson noted that “it takes a really special person” to nail three conversions from the touchline in a match as pressure-packed as a national final.

“She’s extraordinary, she’s going to do great things after this and she officially has fulfilled everything possible as a schoolgirl this year with her honour belt,” Nicholson said.

“I’m speechless, the feeling’s amazing, the girls are amazing, and their whole community is just so proud of them.”

The match was a tense affair early, with the two sides trading tries inside the opening 10 minutes.

Ipswich took a slender 12-6 lead into the half-time break and then took total control in the second half as they stormed to the national title.

Star Hills halfback and Bulldogs-contracted Olivia Vaalele was a shining light in defeat and kicked superbly.

For Ipswich, the demons of last year’s shock Titans Schools League final, where they coughed up a 26-0 lead to lose to Mabel Park 28-26, have now well and truly been exorcised.

PREVIEW

Hills Sports High will have redemption on their minds as they enter a second-straight NRL Schoolgirls Cup final on Wednesday.

While their coach Patricia Raikadroka was adamant her side was not tapping into the emotion of their loss in last year’s inaugural final, it will be hard for them to forget it.

But it is a different Hills Sports side going into the big dance against Ipswich State High on Wednesday. The grand final will be live streamed on KommunityTV at 2pm. Check out the schedule and more links below.

National Finals Action Photo Galleries

Schoolboy Cup

PBC vs Patrician Bro’s

Schoolgirl Cup

Ipswich SHS vs The Hills SHS

NRL SCHOOLS LEAGUE

NATION FINALS DAY
Wednesday, September 11
CBUS Super Stadium, Gold Coast

KARYN MURPHY CUP

WATCH IT LIVE
9am: Innisfail Secondary College v Caloundra SHS
10am: Caloundra SHS v Stretton Secondary College
11am: Stretton Secondary College v Innisfail Secondary College
3.30pm: Grand final

NRL SCHOOLBOYS CUP

WATCH IT LIVE
12.15pm: Palm Beach Currumbin v Patrician Brothers Blacktown

NRL SCHOOLGIRLS CUP

WATCH IT LIVE
2pm: Ipswich SHS v Hills SHS

QUEENSLAND SCHOOLBOYS TROPHY

WATCH IT LIVE
4.15pm: Columba Catholic College v Xavier Catholic College

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